Butterfly Wings

There a finite number of butterfly wing shapes but a seemingly infinite number of Wing patterns. I have been going through my butterfly encyclopedias and sketching some of these patterns. I am working on some collages and I wanted to break down the wing patterns into the basic shapes and layouts. During this process I have come across the exceedingly simple one solid color wing to the outrageously complex mosaic patterns with spots. It's all just camouflage depending on what the butterfly needs to blend in. The ultimate blender is the transparent wing butterfly that is simply a window to whatever environment it is in. This process has helped me understand a little more about butterflies and evolution but mostly given me ideas for creating new butterflies inspired by the patterns of nature.

 

I started just sketching the basic shapes and markings patterns but also did a few in color.

I wasn't trying that hard but I liked how they turned out so I took the the half butterfly sketches and edited them in Photoshop Elements (PSE8) to create a few digital pictures.

A Little Digital Art

I have been busy with a few different things and I am still working on those denim booklets but I still find time to play on my iPad. There are so many great art apps and I particularly like ArtRage. It creates a great simulated painting textured surface and the blending of paint and colors seems very realistic. I like to just 'finger paint' and create interesting digital abstracts. Once I finish a digital painting I often edit it further in a photo app or use the picture in a collaging app.

Fabric Booklet Covers

Today I'm working on denim fabric covers for booklets made of painted scrap papers. The denim is from old jeans and I'm trying to get a nice frayed look. The pages will be randomly painted papers that are a byproduct of my other painting projects. Here are some pictures of the 'ingredients' that I am using.

Completed Collage

This collage took a little more time than some of my smaller projects. It was completed in multiple layers and a number of finish coats that took time to dry. This collage is on a 20 x 20 canvas panel. It includes a number of different papers, acrylic paint, and paint stained cotton yarn. I enjoyed making this collage and have already moved on to new projects. You'll see those later.

Collage Fun

I've discovered that making collages is an ongoing unexpected experiment. This is a photo synopsis of one I am currently working on:

Art in the Dark

What do you do when you have no power for a week? 

And it's 90 to 100 degrees outside...

Stay in the cool dark basement and play on an iPad or IPhone.

This is the photo I took of the derecho minutes before it took out power and hit our area. 

The photo does not do it justice. It looked like a wall of black clouds mowing down everything in it's path and that is pretty much what it did to our entire state. This was only 7:30 PM but it darkened the sky so much the street lights came on. Hundreds of thousands of people lost power all across the state, many for a week or more, including us.

But since my craft room and most of my artwork is done in the basement I had to find other ways to stay busy for awhile. I always have books to read or art apps to use on my iPad. Things are getting back to normal now and I am working on some new painting projects. I did recently finish a blue painted collage and have some other works in progress.

I also managed to do a little sewing and made these pencil cases.

And this cute little booklet.

Until later....

Stay Busy. I do!

Painting

I have been spending more time just painting little canvases (8x10) experimenting with color blends, techniques, and texture. I don't really have a theme or even a mood, just two colors that are inspiring me to play with them. These are some of my play creations: