Renewal
There is an impossibility in a butterfly. That somehow a caterpillar can transform so miraculously into a jewel of flight. It is a reminder that within all of us is the ability to change, to transform and to wake up in the morning with a renewed spirit.
Butterflies are also amazing painting subjects. The colors and patterns nature has provided are a beautiful fit to the vibrant pallet and varied techniques of alcohol ink. The wings dazzle in the light. They pair with the vivid colors of flowers. The make us smile.
Our subject this week Swallowtail, allows us to play with all of these elements. The wings are almost like stained glass panes illuminated from behind. We get to play with color, light and composition.
Enjoy this week of renewal and joy as you play with in the world of butterflies.
Creative Sparks
- A dandelion with its seeds spreading in the wind
- A seedling just sprouting through the spring dirt
- A sunrise
Swallowtail
About this painting: This painting is one of my very favorites – it is hanging in my husband’s office. One of the things that I like most about it is the softness of the color transitions in the wings. The piece has a lot penwork which can get very tight. But by using alcohol to soften the edges, you can create a more subtle look.
Challenge Level: ✮✮✰
Why: This is not a difficult painting, but some attention to detail is necessary for the wings.
Predominant technique: Masking over an inky background with direct painting and penwork.
Inks: Citrus, Bottle, Sunset Orange, Sunshine Yellow, Espresso, Red Pepper
Reference image: https://pmp-art.com/craig-c-jo…Please credit Craig Johnson, Wings of Life – Tiger Swallowtail if you post on social media and better yet, join pmp-art so that you can share your painting there as well.
Project Steps:
- Beginning with a light pencil sketch on Yupo, mask the outlines and light areas
- To create the background, drop ink beginning with Citrus and Bottle, then Sunset Orange and Sunshine Yellow
- Use the brush to fill in any white spots while the ink is still wet, adding additional ink as necessary
- Use the cotton ball to add soft texture and remove lines
- Add in additional ink – Sunset Orange and Citrus
- For more texture, canned air and alcohol are used
- Let dry
- Remove the masking fluid
- Use th brush and Sunshine Yellow ink to paint in the lighter parts of the wings
- Continue painting in the details of the butterfly with Bottle and Sunset Orange
- Paint in the flower with Sunset Orange
- Using Espresso ink, add in the first layer of dark values
- Continue adding in dark lines and values
- Switch to the sepia pen for a softer brown look
- Use the brush and alcohol to soften the pen
- Lift highlights with the pointed swab and alcohol
- Increase intensity with additional yellow ink
- Lighten and blend with the pointed swab
- Note that I am using a differently shaped swab here
- Continue refining the color and value
- Tighten the edges with the black pen
- Add more color to the flower with Red Pepper and Espresso for the stems
- Add texture to the flower with the brush and alcohol
- Additional color is dabbed in
- Make final touches with the black pen, softened by the cotton swab and alcohol, and the white pen
Video Notes:
This is a remake of the original Swallowtail video with voice over. The video has lots of closeup shots so that you’ll be able to see the pen and brushwork easily.
Cherry Blossoms
About this painting:
Light and airy, Cherry Blossoms is a straight forward spring painting – sketch, mask and paint! As an artist, you are free to be as loose or as detailed as you’d like in the flowers. I chose a focal flower for my lightest and most defined area and then left the rest of the blossoms very loose – this balance is up to you. I think that you’ll enjoy this one!
Challenge Level: ✮✮✰
Why: While the painting is not complex, finding the balance of detail and looseness can be a little bit challenging, especially with very pale subjects.
Predominant technique: Masking and direct painting with an inky background.
Inks: Cloudy Blue, Pink Sherbet, Cool Peri, Espresso, Currant, Terracotta, Amethyst, Flamingo, Wild Plum
Reference image: https://pixabay.com/photos/che…
Project Steps:
1. Draw a loose outline of the branch and blossoms in pencil on Yupo
2. Lighten the drawing with alcohol and a cotton ball
3. Mask the entire drawing and let dry
4. Pour Cloudy Blue, Pink Sherbet, Cool Peri and some 91% alcohol over the paper to create a smooth background. Remove excess ink with a cotton ball. Let dry flat.
5. Splatter the background with alcohol and a 1″ chip brush. Let dry
6. Remove the masking fluid
7. Paint in the branches beginning with Espresso
8. Add more color to the branches with Currant
9. Lift lighter areas and add texture with the pointed swab and alcohol
10. Add a base layer of ink for the flowers with Pink Sherbet
11. Blend and lift highlights in the blossoms with the cotton swab and alcohol. At the same time, soften the edges into the background
12. Paint shadows in the blossoms with Cool Peri
13. Intensify the pinks with Flamingo and purples with Amethyst
14. Lift with the cotton swab and alcohol
15. Add more color to the branch and bud with Terracotta and thickened Espresso
16. Blend the flowers and soften with a light pink marker
17. Continue lifting with the cotton swab and alcohol
18. Accentuate the dark values in the branches with a dark brown marker and the sepia pen
19. Add details to the flowers with a brighter pink marker
20. Add additional ink to the flowers using either bottled ink or markers in the background and lift with the cotton swab and alcohol as necessary
21. Add final details with the sepia pen
22. Add a tiny bit of splattering with the tooth brush and Wild Plum and alcohol
23. Use the white pen for final highlights
Karen Walker Art 