This was a very fun class, just in time for spring and the arrival of butterflies! I am starting a project to paint the different kinds of butterflies that I see this summer and I just saw my first one of the season yesterday! I loved the techniques used in this class -- wetting 2 wings at a time and dropping in the paint, letting it dry slightly, and painting in the spots and lines so they can blend a little, just like the design on butterflies with the feathered edge patterns. After this first step was done, I finished off the fine details with a black fine liner, gel pen and Posca pen. This class has made it easier for me to easily paint butterflies that I discover this summer!

Island Marble Butterfly: this is a very rare butterfly only found on San Juan Island, WA. This marble pattern is on the underside of the wings, so this is what would show when their wings are folded and they have landed. They are about 1.75" and its host plant is the field mustard.

Yesterday, I saw my first butterfly of the season -- a Mourning Cloak!

The Mourning Cloak emerges in July, hibernates in winter, and then emerges again in spring when the temperature is over 60 degrees F! I love their rich brown color. I used a blue Posca pen to draw in the blue dot markings at the edge of the wings.

I enjoyed using this technique with a dragonfly, too!