ButterflyGarden

I love to see the butterflies dance in my garden when I look up from painting the house. Here are a couple shots I took during a break last week. The Monarch is on my Carefree Beauty Rose. Japanese Beetles have tried to devour the roses, but I keep picking them off into soapy water. When asked why I don't just put chemicals on my plants, I tell them there are too many insect friends - butterflies, bees, dragon flies and others.

This butterfly is on my butterfly bush. I can't remember the name of this butterfly, but welcome your comments to remind me.

Illustration Friday - Plain Butterfly 1

I've been checking out Illustration Friday for a few months and finally I'm submitting something for the weekly topic.

This week is "Plain". I have the perfect piece. In my last post, I showed one of many versions of a Blue Morph Butterfly's wing.

This submission is acrylic painted on 12x12 masonite. I prepared the board with heavy gel medium to give some texture to the painting. I covered it with black Liquitex heavy body paint. The next step was done with watered down Liquitex gesso. Originally I had planned to add colors, but I liked this piece just like this.