Year of the Dragon
Happy Year of the Dragon, friends! This is some henna I created for myself to honor the playful, powerful dragon energy that is rolling with delight into my life.
I am excited to announce the opening of my NEW Art Studio in central Boulder (private appointments only - not open to the public).
I am also making another call for pregnant models and continuing to dive deeper into my passion to celebrate this incredible rite of passage.
Remember, the best way to get ahold of me for a henna session is not through social media messaging (since I only have a very casual relationship with it) but contact me directly:
email skb@sarahkatebutterworth.com or text 303-345-1516
Are you due in 2024? Would you like to be a model? Read about it here…
Elephants in the shade of a tree
Katie expressed an interest in a rainbow, a tree and a few elephants. After adorning her, we stepped outside for a few photos.
Katie returned a few days later when her henna was peaking in color and we took some photos at a beautiful location just on the outskirts of Boulder, Colorado.
Summer Solstice due date
Summer Solstice due date: this baby is due when the hours of daylight are at the maximum. In preparation for this session I pondered the power of the Sun, and also the Moon. So many women find symbolism in the moon phases,marking the time as the moon shifts.
Included in the design is a feeling of motion, depicted in the waves of water, flowing with the movement. “All that falls shall rise again" This concept has become a common request, to honor that some things are being born anew, and old things leaving, dying.
Some mamas hold grief along with the joy of birth.
#prenatalhenna #motherblessing #hennapower #bellyhenna #bellyblessing #bellybump #pregnancyhenna #maternityhenna #boulderhenna #coloradohenna #maternityshoot #sarahkatebutterworth
I sit with this new mama’s intentions and visions, and adorn, petal by petal. Weaving in the meaningful symbols requested and hearing the stories behind them.
It feels like such a blessing, to get to be an artist that creates such meaningful art - both to myself and the receiver.
#hennaartist #hennalove #hennapro #meettheartist #babybumpart #offersoflove #hennaart #blessings #womenswisdom #womenswork #sarahkatebutterworth #boulderhenna
This beautiful new mama returned for photos a few days after henna application and we began in the studio, then traveled to a gorgeous local trail.
Recently in Boulder we've had hazy skies due to a fire in Canada. You can see some smoky Flatirons and the foothills. I find beauty in all weather!
Natural henna stains peak in color after 2 to 3 days and photo sessions aren't delayed due to the weather- though in this case we didn't stay out too long in the smoky air.
Still, she is glowing, the flowers are blooming, the sage is fresh and new.
Whatever is happening in the world, I will still be meeting with mamas to honor their passage into Motherhood.
#mamajourney #maternityart #pregnancy #bouldercolorado #coloradomamas #mamahenna #outdoorslife #pregnantbeauty #maternityphotography #boulderphotography
Horse leaping in the meadow under the moon.
Some women really feel very inspired during pregnancy and come with several images and ideas to incorporate into their henna design. I love getting this input! She had told me beforehand about the horse and I wanted to try something new. Lilies of many kinds also found their way into this belly art.
#hennahorse #allnaturalhenna #boulderhenna #hennabelly #bouldercolorado #firstimemama #celebratelife #pregnantlife #pregnantbelly #uniquehenna #maternityhenna #sarahkatebutterworth
I spent about 2 hours adorning her and then we went for a walk outside and photographed her with some new leaves just coming out. Spring in Colorado is beautiful, it feels like a long time since I’ve seen this new shade of green.
#pregnancyphotoshoot #hennabelly #bellyhenna #pregnant #maternity #maternityphotoshoot #coloradophotographer #boulderphotographer #bouldercolorado #expecting #maternitystyle
She returned a few days later for more photographs when the natural henna stain was peaking in color, which happens after 2 to 3 days. We took some photos in the studio then headed out to a gorgeous location in Boulder, Colorado. The sun was setting and this beautiful first time mama was glowing. I love that I get to witness such beauty!
#pregnancyphotography #henna #pregnantstyle #bouldercolorado #maternityphotographer #naturalhennastain #hennabelly #maternityart #boulderhenna #bellyart #sarahkatebutterworth
Green Goddess of Early Spring
Green Goddess of Early Spring
I love meeting women who are about to transition into motherhood! This beautiful woman is another first time mother. I loved that she gave me some artistic direction by requesting something mandala - like, but gave me artistic freedom to create the details.
#hennabelly #boulderhenna #ritual #honoringmothers #journeytomotherhood #womenswork #riteofpassage #mandala #coloradoartist #meetthemaker #creativewomen #artistmom #creativity #artsymama #sarahkatebutterworth
She returned for photos a few days later and we took some in the studio, then headed outside. In one of these photos you can see behind the scenes - my lovely photo assistant helping to light the pregnant mama. The first few green blades of grass were beginning to come up! So exciting to see green again here in Colorado. She took off her shoes and walked on the earth… so beautiful.
#maternityhenna #hennabellyblessing #bouldermamas #pregnancyart #naturalhenna #hennastain #mamacelebration #bouldercolorado #boulderhenna #sarahkatebutterworth
Mountains and birds
This sweet pregnant woman came in with ideas of eagles or hawks, a tree of life and a mountain landscape. I loved creating this design, and lost myself in the details of this art. Layers of sediment, bushes and flowers were also incorporated.
#bellyblessing #uniquehenna #maternityhenna #thirdtrimester #coloradohenna #rockymountains #pregnancyrituals #pregnancyart #hennapro #freehand #prenatal #sarahkatebutterworth
She returned for more photos after a couple days and we traveled to some local ponds to capture her pregnant beauty at sunset. My wonderful photography assistant photographed me taking photos as well!
#pregnancyphotography #maternityphotoshoot #henna #pregnantstyle #bouldercolorado #maternityphotographer #naturalhennastain #floral #hennabelly #maternityart #boulderhenna #bellyart #sarahkatebutterworth
Flowers and bird
Hi, my name is SarahKate and I love to paint with the unique medium of henna. In this way, I live my purpose: celebrating the incredible transformation into Motherhood with artistic rituals. I feel such creative satisfaction in hearing a woman's visions and then spending a couple hours shaping the images. I am guided by my Muse, who tells me when the art is truly finished.
If you are curious what it means to have a muse, I invite you to watch Elizabeth Gilbert's TED talk, Your Elusive Creative Genius. Your Elusive Creative Genius
In this image I have painted a bird, representing the father, who enjoys flying through the air (paragliding).
This is the mother’s 2nd child, and a rose represents her 1st child.
#bellyhenna #hennabelly #boulderhenna #hennaartist #localartist #coloradoartist #meetthemaker #creativewomen #artistmom #creativity #artsymama #sarahkatebutterworth
It’s so meaningful to me to honor pregnant women with art!
#naturalhenna #maternityshoot #maternityhenna #pregnantbelly #hennabird #boulderhenna #coloradohenna #pregnancyhenna #hennabelly #henna #sarahkatebutterworth
It was a beautiful day in Boulder, Colorado and we took photos inside the studio and then headed out to a beautiful trail for more photos. Gorgeous goddess!
#naturalhennastain #hennastain #boulderhenna #coloradohenna #bouldercolorado #henna #hennabelly #sarahkatebutteworth #maternityphotoshoot #pregnancyphotoshoot #maternityphotographer
Flowery Moon
What season were you pregnant in?
I love getting outside to capture the beauty of the season along with the beauty of pregnancy. This is my favorite type of art to create.
#winterpregnancy #winterhenna #moonhenna
This lovely pregnant mama came in with a request for a moon. I loved creating this design for her. As I was adorning her, my photography assistant took this photo of me doing henna, and you can see the henna on my palm. The palm can stain very dark!
#bellyhenna #hennabelly #boulderhenna #colordadohenna #pregnancyhenna #henna #hennaartist #naturalhenna #bellyblessing #prenatal #bellybump #localartist #moon #sarahkatebutterworth
She returned when the henna was peaking in color for more photos. We stepped outside and got some photos by the little creek in my neighborhood.
#allnaturalhenna #boulderhenna #hennabelly #bouldercolorado #firstimemama #celebratelife #pregnantlife #pregnantbelly #uniquehenna #maternityhenna #sarahkatebutterworth #hennastain
Cycles of life
This mama-to-be had a couple requests. The first was that I add something reflecting the cycles of life into her henna. I pondered on this for days, until I saw this swirling image - the wheel of the year, the spinning of time. In my mind I saw energies stretching up - the flower opening. I also saw energy heading down, back to the earth to be composted. I showed her an example when she arrived and added many flowery adaptations.
Her 2nd request was a Hamsa. The Hamsa is a protective symbol, and it also represents blessings, power and strength. I placed this on her hand so she could continue to see it when her belly was covered and remember her blessing.
#hennarequests #hennalove #freestyle #nostencil #hennadesign #hennapro #hamsahand #eyeofprotection #hennablessing #maternityart #boulderhenna #hamsa #bodyart #cycles #sarahkatebutterworth
This sweet mama-to-be returned a couple days later for photos. This is when the henna is peaking in color. Henna naturally stains the skin and then exfoliates away, with the design lasting 1 to 2 weeks.
It was cold - it’s winter in Colorado! There’s a wonderful little trail near my studio that we walked on, capturing her beauty with the winter landscape.
#pregnancyphotography #maternityphotoshoot #henna #pregnantstyle #bouldercolorado #maternityphotographer #naturalhennastain #floral #hennabelly #maternityart #boulderhenna #bellyart #sarahkatebutterworth
Henna through Birth
This wonderful mama came in with a request for a tree, and I was excited to show her an idea for a tree I’d drawn in my journal. This design took about 2 hours to create.
#henna #hennabelly #boulderhenna #pregnancyhenna #maternityshoot #freehand #maternityart #hennaart #bumphenna #mamahenna #treedesign #maternityart #sarahkatebutterworth
We took a few photos in the studio, then walked outside to capture her beauty outside in the snow.
#pregnancyphotography #maternityphotoshoot #henna #pregnantstyle #bouldercolorado #tree #hennabelly #maternityart #boulderhenna #bellyart #sarahkatebutterworth
She returned for more photos in the studio when the henna was peaking in color. To my surprise, a few days later, she gave birth and sent me a photo from the hospital showing her brand new baby laying on her henna belly. What a delight! I asked if my photography assistant and I could visit her and take some baby photos, and she thought it was a great idea.
#newborn #bellyhenna #allnaturalhenna #postpartum #henna #birth #baby #bodyart #motherhood #mother #ritesofpassage #boulderhenna #coloradohenna #hennaforbirth #sarahkatebutterworth
The baby in these photos is just 3 days old! What a precious dear one. I loved seeing this beautiful woman’s transformation into motherhood.
#womensart #hennadesigns #hennaadventures #baby #newborn #postpartumphotoshoot #empoweredbirth #hennabelly #sarahkatebutterworth #coloradomamas #hennastain
A Sacred Rite of Passage
What does a modern day Mother’s Blessing look like? I have been to over a hundred different gatherings of women like this, and each one is unique. It is one of my absolute favorite things to witness: to see women caring for each other, pledging their love and support, creating rituals to honor the rite of passage into Motherhood.
This particular celebration of pregnancy was by far the most impressive! It included many blessings, speaking aloud the blessings offered with each bead in the necklace that was formed as they strung it all together. It included a lot of flower petals - sacred mandalas the women created that were later showered over the new mother. There were women on the couch, stitching embroidery into a baby blanket. I spent 2 hours adorning this beautiful mama, and then did a little photoshoot. Then they all DANCED together! And most impressive - the father-to-be was outside with his circle of friends, having his own ceremony around the fire. Afterwards the men came inside and there was a joyous feast.
Many people refer to this as a Blessingway, but that is a specific Native American tradition for the rite of passage. What we create is not a #blessingway, since that is not our heritage and we are not invoking the traditional spirits and so forth. Instead, this is a #MotherBlessing.
#ritual #mothersblessing #rewildingwomen #motherblessingceremony #blessings #bellyblessing #honoringmothers #ceremony #wombyn #divinefeminine #womensupportingwomen #sisterhood #mamablessing #journeytomotherhood #sisterlove #sacred #babyshowerideas #femaleempowerment #sacredfeminine #womenswork #mothersceremony #riteofpassage #womenscircle #sacredcircle #modernsacredcircle #togetherwerise #sarahkatebutterworth
What an incredible celebration this was! When I arrived, the women paused their ritual and the mama-to-be told me about her design ideas. She brought out this gorgeous, detailed image of a kind of tree of life, with each branch containing a different animal - probably over a hundred were pictured! She wanted me to include as many animals as I could, as well as an unborn baby.
As I went along I received specific requests for a fern,mushroom, moon, stars and worm. So creative! I am grateful to get to spontaneously stretch my artistic skills like this!
#unbornbaby #mushroom #turtle #elephant #hennabelly #pregnancycelebration #bellyblessing #boulderhenna #coloradohenna #mamatobe #motherhood #prenatalhenna #adornment #hennaart #sarahkatebutterworth
Moose, Spruce and Acorn
The process of getting a henna design is one of co-creation! I love listening to women tell me their ideas and then I allow them to spontaneously come together. This particular design took 3 hours to create, other designs take about 1 ½ to 2 hours.
After we discuss design ideas, women are welcome to dress up colorful silky things before we begin. The mama (or mama-to-be) sits in my special henna throne for adornment, relaxing with her feet up and pillows supporting her. I always take a moment to create sacred space and set intentions. Sometimes, this is the first ritual a woman has to honor her rite of passage. When the design is complete, I always take photographs in my home studio.
#ritual #sacredart #empoweringwomen #sacredspace #riteofpassage #bodyart #mothertobe #babybump #prenatalhenna #expectingmom #creativewomen #hennabelly #hennaartist #sarahkatebutterworth
I love it when mamas come to me with unique ideas! This mama was pregnant with her 3rd child, and told me her family has a tradition to name the fetus - the first unborn baby was referred to as Moose, the second as Acorn, and this little one is Spruce.
As soon as I heard this I started envisioning a mountain scene and I really love how it all came together! There was a lot of detail in this adornment, which took 3 hours to complete.
#moose #acron #spruce #fetusname #henna #bellyblessing #uniquehenna #maternityhenna #thirdtrimester #coloradohenna #pregnancyrituals #pregnancyart #hennapro #freehand #prenatal #sarahkatebutterworth
After this sweet mama’s henna adornment, we took a few photos in the studio. I’ve been collecting all kinds of beautiful silks and skirts for over decades now and I love this part of the session - the part that feels like dress-up. 20 years ago, my young daughters were dressing each other up in my many skirts and silks, and I credit them for encouraging me to dress up the lovely pregnant women that came into our home then.
#bumpstyle #pregnantandbeautiful #maternityportraits #boulderphotographer #henna #inspirepregnancy #bouldermaternityphotographer #bouldercolorado #maternityshoot #maternity #sarahkatebutterworth
This mama returned for a snowy photoshoot when her henna was peaking in color! The dark henna paste comes off after a few hours and then the design takes 2 or 3 days to come to it’s darkest color - which is different for each woman.
It was cold, and this mama wore her coat in between shots.
#coloradohenna #maternityphotography #pregnantbellyart #hennabelly #boulderhennaartist #boulderhenna #maternityart #babybumpart #hennamountain #pregnancyphotos #coloradomamas #sarahkatebutterworth
Pregnant Models Needed for 2023!
I am delighted to announce that I am starting a new Pregnancy Art Project!
I have missed the incredibly creative opportunities for expression through the art of adorning pregnant models.
I am currently accepting model applications for pregnant women through December 15, 2022 and will be scheduling all the dates starting in January 2023. If you know someone who may be interested in participating, please feel free to share this information with them.
To apply:
My heart is glowing, ready to flow out in the form of celebratory art, honoring this new generation being born.
I embrace my calling and open myself to new beginnings.
Feeling the love on my birthday, wearing birthday henna!
Hello friends and fans of my artwork!
I doodled this in my journal during a women's gathering this summer
It's been about 3 years now since I last communicated with you publicly on this blog, and so much has transformed.
Another doodle from my journal during a class. It’s how I relax and learn.
Since the pandemic, so many of the things in my life felt like they burst into flames and went up in smoke, like
my marriage & kids at home
my art studio
my former website
my email list
Fresh birthday henna this summer.
If you want to keep hearing from me, please scroll to the bottom of this page as you read it and at the bottom there's an opportunity to keep in touch and get a few of my Art Updates a year.
I have some good news!
I love playing with new shapes.
I have spent the last 2 1/2 years as an "empty nester"
healing
continuing my henna only by request
dreaming up my rebirth
This winter I officially turn the page and start a NEW CHAPTER in my life.
A new body of work is calling to come forth:
A New
Pregnancy
Art Project
Yes! I am calling out for models and if you are interested check out my page on Models.
Pregnancy henna from a few years back.
More exciting news:
I am happy to announce that I have
a new Art Studio in Boulder!
I found a wonderful little sanctuary in North Boulder and I've created a cheerful, colorful space with your comfort in mind. Sit back in my brand new henna throne with a cup of tea and tell me your visions. Together we will have a little ritual to set intentions and I will begin the adornment.
My birthday henna, after applying henna a 2nd time and waiting 3 more days. It was incredibly dark for so long!
I love how the henna lasts a week or two, reminding you of your intentions, acknowledging where you are in life right now. The henna is temporary, but the photos I will send you last forever.
My rate is $100/hour, with a 1 hour minimum when booking at my home Art Studio.
House-calls and Parties start at $300.
Sessions include a brief photo session with the best 4 images (watermarked) sent to you by email.
I am currently booked through 2022 and will be making new appointments in 2023.
Please note that my new Art Studio is NOT open to the public, and is BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Feel free to contact me for a henna session in 2023 -
303-345-1516
- or email SKB@SarahKateButterworth.com
I'm taking a winter break, one last nap in the den, before coming out into the light ready to start fresh. I've been deep in the dark world of transformation these past 2 1/2 years and I'm only just now emerging to the public and opening my studio books for clients.
Here are two of the hundreds of models for my last art project honoring the Sacred Feminine. Such sweet memories….
An Update on my Sacred Feminine Art Project:
I unexpectedly and suddenly stopped painting models for this project in the spring of 2020, and slowly came to realize that this project is complete.
I am currently involved in the delicate process of going through thousands of photos and creating a thick book of wild art, which I hope to print in 2023.
Let's stay in touch!
People on my newsletter will be the first to hear about future model calls and other special events and opportunities.
Birthday henna from 2021!