When Eddie Martinez’s son developed a fascination with butterflies, he called the insects “buflies.” Granted, he was two at the time. The boy inspired his father, an artist known for making large pieces, both abstract and figurative. Martinez began his joyful, colorful, and textured “Bufly” series in 2021. On a monochrome background, he applies a combination of oil, enamel, and spray paint in strokes, creating rawness and a sense of urgency. “I have to override my impatience for the sake of letting it become the painting it needs to become,” Martinez told T Magazine in 2023. Before becoming a full-time artist, Martinez worked as a handler and part-time curator. Today, he still needs to engage in a variety of activities. “I paint in different modes at different times,” he says. This June, Martinez presents seven “Bufly” paintings made specifically for the Parrish Art Museum. —Jeanne Malle