Meet the Bay Checkerspot butterfly, an ethereal creature with wings as richly intricate as tiny little two-inch Persian carpets. Biologists are struggling to save this species, which has fallen victim to nitrogen emissions from automobiles and the nearly complete build-out of its natural habitat in coastal California. I painted this one for my show, Postcards from the Edge of Extinction, which will open May 5 at the Mobile Arts Council gallery. Here’s how to paint a Bay Checkerspot: first, roughly sketch the main shapes in pencil. Then…
…block in the undercolors. I used gouache, an opaque watercolor paint beloved to illustrators because it is nonreflective and reproduces well. White or ivory wings, dark blackish body, and some leaves to provide a place for him to rest. Next…
…begin developing the details. Paint the outlines of his segmented wing patterns. Add some furriness to his thorax and his plump abdomen. Introduce some shadows along the lower edges of the leaves. Finally…
…work from left to right, using a small sable brush, and add the patterns on the wings. Take time to notice that each fresh row of “checkers” has its own repeated motif. Some look like gothic arches, some like round dots. Comparing the symmetry of the opposing wings will help keep you on track. Each side is a reflection of the opposite wing. I added a halo of soft orange and brown to help blend the whole image together with the old postcard beneath the paint.
(If you liked this step-by-step post, check out my instructions for making your own image transfers.) Enjoy!
P.S. The new year brought the first killing freeze to our Gulf Coast garden. We bid farewell to the broccoli crop and brought in the last of the savoy cabbage for soupmaking. But the collards, which only grow sweeter as the temperature drops, are still big and robust… and the snow peas, as thick and tangled as campaign promises, cover their trellis. Tucked in under a layer of compost, rows of garlic, leeks and onions dream of springtime.
This is so beautiful! I love how you make its body so life-like. Thank you for sharing your skill, Val.
I thought I was the only one whose broccoli died!! It didn’t go at all last year so I was shocked when one died this year.
Permit us a little garden envy, we who have been variously buried in snow, drenched with melting monsoons, and blown about by gales of wind here on the Fundy shores. But looking at that exquisite butterfly suddenly makes it all alright…and is another dream of springtime.
Beautiful illustration, Val. Sorry to hear that you had a killing freeze there on the Alabama gulf coast. It’s usually pretty warm there even in winter isn’t it ? Have y’all had the drought that affected other areas of Alabama ?
Oh, you make it look so easy. But you have me wanting to try!
You are so talented and so welcome for the mention on my blog! I plan on visiting again! Your gouache application is really smooth and effortless! Great inspiration!
Lovely! I just wish I had a smidgen of your talent!
I’ve presented you with an award…..check it out:
http://charleyana.wordpress.com/2008/01/12/they-like-me-they-really-like-me/
These butterflies are charming. You have so much talent and I love to visit your site. Always a new treat to admire.
“Postcards from the Edge of Extinction”, what a great idea for a show.
Your butterflies are so beautiful and so detailed. Thanks for the tutorial. I’ve been wanting to try gouache for a while. You’re inspiring me.
The body is just perfect. thanks for the tips.
Hello from a lurker – your drawings have me wishing I had that kind of patience – you said this was “quickly” painted? I’m just curious how long it took you? With a skilled hand I suppose time flies – maybe that’s what I wish I had (will you tell me to practice?). Thank you for sharing the process!
I just found your blog and your work is amazing! I wanted to do botanical art but I just don’t have the patience. I want to live in the world of your art. 🙂 You’ve been added to the links at my own heArt-a-day blog. (http://heartaday.wordpress.com)
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Great Post 😀
thought you might like my machinima film the butterfly’s tale~
Bright Blessings
elf ~
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