Sophia Voelker (Black Butterfly Studios) -Jan 2026

What draws you to your specific/preferred medium?

The mediums I prefer to use are acrylic paint, porcelain air-dry clay, and

driftwood.

• Acrylic is a highly versatile material, encompassing paints,

varnishes, polymers, and finishes. The fact that all of these

materials are water-based and non-toxic strengthens my support

for their use. In addition, the compatible mixing between acrylic

mediums can result in a highly textured finish resembling impasto

- modeling paste mixed with acrylic paint.

• Porcelain air-dry clay allows me to create small, playful, or

impactful, high-quality sculptures without the need for a kiln. I

start with a skeletal armature made from aluminum foil. The

armature is shaped and compressed into a form, which is then

covered with air-dry clay. Layers of only clay are added as

needed to complete the sculpture. The sculpture is then left to

air dry for up to 24 hours, depending on thickness.

• Driftwood is a natural art piece on its own and, sometimes with

embellishments, gives artwork movement, warmth, and

ruggedness.

What result can a finished piece or your process yield that makes you feel

rewarded or proud?

Since I create the majority of my artwork at night under LED, I need to test the

paintings’ lighting before I sign off on them. Artwork can look very different

under artificial lights and a plein air setting. Tone, saturation, hues, and the final

emotional effect change either subtly or dramatically depending on my desired

end result. A great example was a painting titled, Explore, depicting an

illuminated portion of a forest. The balance of saturated colors, shadowing, and

placement of a bright focal point was one of my biggest ‘Ah-ha’ moments.

How do you plan your pieces, and how do you decide when they’re finished?

Sometimes I know immediately, based on a sketch I scribbled as a general

concept, and other times I am intimidated to finish for fear of wrecking the final

appearance.

I had a 30 x 40 acrylic painting on gallery-wrapped canvas hanging at home for

almost a year because I believed it was unfinished. It wasn’t until visitors to our

home commented on how eye-catching the art piece was. I then knew that

the painting - titled Ruler of the Soul - had to be seen by the public. It immediately sold at the 2024 Paoli Art in the Park art fair. Overthinking the process can delay discovery.

Where do you draw inspiration for your forms/designs?

My creativity is sometimes sparked by the simplest, mundane objects, such as

a large empty vitamin bottle. Take off the top, tip it upside down, and it

becomes a display case for a miniature, clay Venus flytrap. This concept would

be a new piece for my Itty Bitty series. My humorous, mischievous side is

expressed through my Itty Bitty collection. This series consists of small standalone

clay sculptures or small paintings that include clay figurines.

Artwork entailing a more thought-provoking subject matter covers my diverse

cultural background and belief in practicing self-care, mental wellness. The

Peace of Mind semi-abstract series is a display of my appreciation for natural

surroundings, having lived in St. Thomas, St. Croix, Nevada, and now southern

Wisconsin. Oftentimes, I meld all these experiences into one painting, producing

an amalgamation of serene scenery.

How and where did your art practice begin?

My practice officially started in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2012, before I became

a mother. I gradually grew more confident in continuing as a professional artist

while still living in Nevada. Eventually, my family moved to Wisconsin, where I

started over and learned how to connect with the art community in Madison.

I am self-taught as far as painting, sculpting, and digital art. The only medium I

learned while in college was charcoal and pastels. I now prefer to create art

using acrylic mediums, driftwood, and clay, and produce digital renderings.

 Upcoming events/sales/where can your work be purchased?

Purchase details:

• Collectors can purchase my original artwork through either of these

methods:

• Any artwork on display at the Art Hub gallery located in

Cambridge, Wisconsin

• On my website blackbutterflystudio.com, with free shipping

included

• At art fairs where I am participating

Email me at blkbstudio@gmail.com to set up purchases through my Venmo account and delivery to the customer’s location.

• Upcoming events can be found on my Instagram account

@theblackbutterflystudio and on my website

blackbutterflystudio.com . Stay tuned for 2026 event details!

How does being involved with a community art space like Art Hub impact

your art practice/business or ability to celebrate and network amongst other

artists?

Thanks to Art Hub:

• Community art spaces, such as Art Hub, lend artists/creatives a

chance to exchange ideas, sales opportunities, public feedback, and

memorable art event experiences. When I share with individuals

another location outside of Madison, where to find my art, it lends

more recognition to my small business.

• I have a newfound respect for plein air. So much patience, artistic

forgiveness, and soft skills are involved during this creative process.