These are from my grandmother’s sketchbook, dated 1937, so I presume it was either during or before her stint at art college.

Lee Franclemont (nee Emily Pfaff), ‘Design Motifs’, 1937, charcoal on paper. Photo credit Kelise Franclemont. Private collection.

Lee Franclemont (née Pfaff), design motifs for repeat pattern, 1940s, pencil on paper. Photo credit John FN Franclemont. Private collection.

I’d been thinking about a tattoo for ages, so when I saw these pages, that was it – the butterfly is now on my neck, incorporating her favourite colour, “aqua” (not blue, not green, but AQUA). If she were still living, I doubt my grandmother would approve of the tattoo, but hopefully her ghost would be pleased by my choice of design! 😉 Thanks Grandma, I might do the birds next…

The butterfly tattoo taken from my grandmother’s sketchbook. Photo credit Tom Butler.