Butterflies in Colored Pencil

Draw four of the most beautiful butterflies you’ve never heard of – each using a different technique, inspired by a woman naturalist from previous centuries. We’ll draw each butterfly with its host plant or nectar plant. An additional full-length video lesson, Butterfly Drawing Basics, is included.

Our colored pencil projects will explore:

• Intense tropicals on a black background

• Formal but whimsical butterfly illustrations of the Colonial era

• Elegantly lush drawings of butterflies and caterpillars in the Age of Exploration

• Drawing a labeled butterfly specimen from a 17th Century noblewoman’s collection

LESSON 1: FAITHFUL BEAUTY BUTTERFLY

Welcome to our first colored pencil subject, a tropical moth with a dazzling color and pattern. I had never heard of the Faithful Beauty (Composia fidelissima) until I began researching the life and work of Maria Martin Bachman. Her story is full of surprises. I hope you enjoy meeting her.

I recommend watching both videos and printing the pdf files before you begin to work. The video password for this course is always flutter