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Monarch butterflies have been a constant thread throughout my life, symbolizing both beauty and transformation. Growing up in Santa Cruz, I remember hiking with my mom and our dog Zoe to see the monarchs clustered together on the trees during their migration from Canada. As a child, I thought it was one massive butterfly, a moment of wonder that has stayed with me ever since.

 

That memory became more than just a childhood experience; it shaped how I see the world. The monarchs taught me to pause, to appreciate small wonders, and to recognize the beauty in transformation. Those early lessons continue to influence who I am both as an artist and as a person. As I grew older, I carried that same sense of curiosity and resilience with me.

 

During college in Silicon Valley and later while living in San Diego for work, I continued to encounter monarchs, each time feeling the same connection to my younger self and to nature. They became a symbol of growth and continuity, a reminder that change can be both challenging and beautiful. This lifelong bond is why I chose to animate them, to capture not only their graceful movement but also the emotional meaning they hold in my own journey of growth and self-discovery. After completing the monarch animation, I was drawn to create one of the Western Tiger Swallowtail.

 

I used to see these butterflies all over California, from the creeks and gardens of Santa Cruz to the paths around my college campus in the Bay Area. When I later relocated to San Diego for work, the transition was difficult, and I often felt out of place. Then I started seeing the swallowtails again, their bright yellow wings catching the sunlight just like they had back home. Seeing them brought a sense of comfort and familiarity, reminding me that home is not only a location but a feeling we create through the people we love and the places we grow to cherish. Both butterflies, the Monarch and the Western Tiger Swallowtail, represent different parts of my life and how I have grown through each stage. Together, they symbolize change, adaptation, and the strength found in rediscovery.

 

Through animation, I hope to share their movement and beauty while also expressing the deeper story they have helped me tell about resilience, belonging, and transformation.