This creation story begins with a simple act of kindness. During my New Orleans art market days, I made quite a few artist friends, one of which offered to give me a large cypress clock in exchange for a painting, some art prints, and stickers. Although my artist friend had thrifted the clock with high hopes of turning it into something new, she’d grown tired of it taking up space in her apartment. She told me she just knew I’d be able to paint something worthwhile quicker than she could. I hurriedly picked up the cypress clock from her with this giddy excitement in the pit of my stomach - a hit of artistic creativity coursing right through my veins.
And then it sat around my art space for two years.
Until about six months ago, this cypress clock was a sad, abandoned art project waiting for its time to shine. One evening over the winter holidays, my grandfather visited and caught a glimpse of the cypress clock in the art closet. For context, my grandpa helps bring all of my wooden art creations to life, from slicing wood to building birdhouses for me to paint. He said, “Are you ever going to do anything with that?” Before I could formulate a good excuse for why the cypress clock was still sitting there, he said, “I’ve got an idea for you. I have this cypress tree that needs to be cut down; what if we turned the tree into a table with the clock as the tabletop?”
My eyes grew as wide as a full moon, “absolutely, let's do it.”
Preparing the Cypress Clock to Become a Table and an Art Canvas
Gramps and I got to work, sanding the resin and clock fixture off the cypress clock and sawing and leveling the cypress tree for the base. I like to look back on this portion of the process as a blip in time, but these tasks were daunting and lengthy. Luckily, Gramps is retired and very, very bored, so he wanted nothing more than to help me complete this task. My hand sander was not serving me well at all, so Gramps offered to use his orbital sander to work down the thick layer of resin. Once we turned the cypress clock portion into a blank, smooth canvas, Gramps secured the cypress tree base to the new table top.
Painting a Dragonfly on the Cypress Table Top
This cypress clock was made to complement some kind of winged creature, this I knew since I first saw the clock and picked it up from my artist friend. The biggest obstacle was choosing which flying insect I was committed to looking at daily for the months to come. Did I mention this upcycled table isn’t being sold? So, actually, I had to choose something I was down to look at every day for the rest of my life. Talk about pressure… After a few weeks of contemplation, I chose the mystical and wise dragonfly to bestow upon this stunning behemoth of a cypress table.
Why I Chose to Paint a Dragonfly
Throughout the most troublesome eras of my life, I’ve always been visited by dragonflies. I love being outside and adore little creatures, so I never thought to do a deep dive into their meaning until they started to show up in my life again the past year. Frankly, I struggled a lot with my self-confidence in 2023 after nearly giving up on my creative journey in favor of a stable nine-to-five office job. I was so close to taking the easy road. When I woke up *third eye open*, I had to face a lot of internal demons, specifically ones that showed up in my creative practice. For me, painting this dragonfly was symbolic of fighting off the repeating patterns, retraining my thoughts, and building back the confidence to create. As this cypress table painting tested me, the more meaningful this dragonfly became.
Spiritual Symbolism of the Dragonfly
Dragonflies start their lives in water, undergo their metamorphosis on land, and then, once mature, soar sky-high. Throughout their lives, dragonflies must be alchemists to survive — learning to live in water, on land, and in the air. All the while, they persist as beautiful, energetic creatures. The spiritual symbolism of dragonflies aligns with their life cycle across almost every culture, each portraying them as symbols of transformation or good luck charms through change.
The dragonfly’s life cycle symbolizes transformation and adaptability, from shedding old habits and patterns to embracing change. Dragonflies’ connection to water symbolizes the subconscious mind, serving as a call to look deeper within oneself or the aspects of life. Dragonflies' energy is magnetic; how they flit around and gracefully hover evokes joy and happiness. Dragonflies emerge as a reminder to connect with strength, resilience, and happiness through adversity and change.
Dragonflies Across the Globe
Dragonflies have spent over 300 million years on earth, generating insurmountable stories, myths, and beliefs about them - what famous creatures. As such, many peoples and cultures have their own experiences with the dragonfly’s spiritual meaning. These ethereal meanings tied to dragonflies come from native cultures, religions, and beliefs, most of which were intertwined with nature and wildlife, something I believe brings much more clarity to living this life on earth. I will do my best to do these beliefs justice, but there is always a wealth of information on the internet for even deeper dives than what I’m supplying here.
Here’s what I’d like to share:
- In Japan, the dragonfly, or tombo, symbolizes joy and rebirth. Japan is known as the island of the dragonfly, and its national emblem is also a dragonfly.
- In China, dragonflies symbolize good luck; when one lands on you, it is considered a sign of good times ahead.
- In Europe, dragonflies were once called “horse stingers,” referring to the legend that horses could grow wings and transform into dragonflies.
- Irish lore professed dragonflies were a high-speed transportation method for fairies.
- Celtic legends claimed dragonflies were associated with dragons, the guardians of sacred things and magical places, helping people see the unseen or the truth.
- In some Native American traditions, dragonflies hold the spirits of loved ones who have passed, symbolizing ancestral guidance and protection.
- For the Pueblo and Hopi tribes, dragonflies symbolize transformation and healing. Medicine men and women often invoked the spirit of the dragonfly to assist in healing.
- For the Navajo tribe, dragonflies symbolize the element of water.
- Plains tribes used the dragonfly to symbolize invincibility and protection to ward off danger.
As I wrap up the final touches on this piece, I can’t help but thank my muse, the dragonfly, and its history for inspiring me and guiding me through the hardships of this painting and my life.
Finishing Touches: From Cypress Clock to Dragonfly Cypress Tree Table
Alright, let’s bring it back to the present-day earthly plane and finish this cypress dragonfly table. Once I completed the painting I coated it in an acrylic finisher to protect the paint from the next layer of coating: epoxy resin.
The final step of this process was to layer a thick, shiny coat of epoxy resin over the tabletop. The resin process included two coats of epoxy, each with a 24-hour cure time. Despite my years of experience with epoxy resin, I did run into a little cloudy area right in the center. Yes, I was devastated at first but then I remembered this is the first time I've ever worked on a piece this large.
Once the resin layers were cured, Gramps and I sanded off any excess resin and coated the underside of the tabletop with polyurethane to seal everything in.
We attached little rubber feet to the base and viola! The cypress clock that spent years floating between owners and hiding in closets metamorphosed. This dragonfly cypress tree table is ready for a lifetime with me, a reminder that no matter how long it takes, I, too, will fly.
Commission Inquiries
If you’re interested in commissioning a piece like this one, my books are open. Of course, this dragonfly table can never be replicated, but I’m more than capable of bringing new visions to life. Please contact me at info@swampsprouts.com with any questions or ideas, and we will work together to bring something magical into this world.
About Swamp Sprouts
Swamp Sprouts is a raw and earthy reflection of my need to nurture the creative spirit and advocate for mental health. Louisiana's enchanting swamp creatures are just one of the many inspirations for my hand-painted artwork and illustrations. Every painting and illustration is made to promote positive transformation within, building a world where self-love and unity rule.
While my specialty is original acrylic paintings on wood slices, digital illustration has helped me reach new audiences and offer affordable versions of my art to the community in the form of prints and stickers. I also enjoy working on commissions for local businesses, whether that's through painted murals or custom digital illustrations.
I am currently based in Slidell, Louisiana, and my artwork can be found in-store at Green Oaks Apothecary, Roots: Plants + Coffee, and Vintage Finds. Swamp Sprouts can also be found throughout New Orleans, Louisiana.
Every second, dollar, and awe-struck moment spent on this website helps fuel the creative work I share. I'll never beg you to buy something, but I will always advocate for supporting artists however you can — your support is an energy exchange I value more than words can say.