Insect Painting in progress

 The next three paintings in the butterfly series will feature the egg, larvae, pupae and adult stages of the same species of butterfly. 

I am quite certain many of you will recognize this caterpillar and the species of butterfly it belongs to. The toxic plant it feeds on is called milkweed (swamp milkweed in this case) and the noxious substance is absorbed by the insect and persists in the butterfly stage to make it unpalatable to any would-be predators.

The pastel painting below of the larval stage will also include the egg stage as I will add tiny egg cases on one of the leaves.

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Painting in pastel

I woke up early this morning to work on the little bit that needed to be done to call this miniature painting finished! This butterfly painting is the second in a series of four.

The most challenging aspect of  this painting was reproducing the profusion of tiny white flowers but I enjoyed it immensely!  Of course, adding the details of the beautiful tiger swallowtail was also fun.

The photo reference I used for this painting was taken in my own garden when my Bridal Wreath Spirea was in full bloom. 

"Swallowtail and Spirea"
(Papilio canadensis) and (Spiraea prunifolia)
pastel
6" x 4"
SOLD

Miniature Wildlife Painting in pastel

I have been working today on a second butterfly painting of a Canadian Tiger Swallowtail resting on a bridal wreath spirea. The bush in my garden was in full bloom and so recreating the profusion of tiny white flowers is taking more time than any other element of this composition.

 I have accomplished much more than what I am showing on the progress shot but won't reveal any more just yet...

Great Mormon Butterfly Painting in pastel

I have been commissioned to paint a series of four little butterfly paintings and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to use my own reference photos! I have been wanting to paint more butterflies and now I have no more excuses.

The specimen featured in this painting was from a photo I had taken several years ago at our local    butterfly gallery at Science North. The Great Mormon is a common species of swallowtail which comes from tropical Asia.

Great Mormon Butterfly (female)
(Papilio memnon)
pastel
6"x4"
SOLD

Silvery Blue Butterfly (male) Painting in Miniature

Today's work in the studio resulted in a miniature butterfly painting using pastel on sanded paper. Yesterday, I spent about an hour working with my photo references to come up with the resulting composition and then I was able to actually paint it in one day.

Most of you may not realize this tiny butterfly which is resting momentarily on a single blade of grass has a wing-span of only about an inch!!!!  (which means one fore wing measures less than a half inch).   In addition to the striking blue metallic color of the upper wings, you should also notice the fray of tiny white hairs on the outer border of the wings which is characteristic of this species.
I called this painting "A Wink of Blue"  because you only see the intense color when the male opens his wings and it is only for a fraction of a second (like most butterflies, they keep the wings folded unless in flight)! The painting therefore acts as a "teaser" to the observer, offering only a partial glimpse of those splendid blue wings; something that can be easily missed in the blink of an eye.

"A Wink of Blue"

male silvery blue butterfly

(Glaucopsyche lygdamus)

4.5" x 3"

pastel on sandpaper

Cat and butterfly portrait

I've just recently completed yet another Christmas commission. It is a graphite pencil drawing featuring a beloved rescue cat relaxing in a field of dainty daisies.
The original reference photograph featured "Puppy" the cat resting on a webbing lawn chair.

Reference photograph: http://www.colettetheriault.com/descriptions/petdescriptions/Domestic_cat.php