Butterfly Study and Prep for Dallas Arboretum Show

I have posted in the past how I have this visual of a butterfly painting in my head, but, it is not complete.  I keep wanting to paint this image of butterflies in flight.  Because of the art show at the Dallas Arboretum, Artscape, I decided to start with some small butterfly studies.  This has taken me to creating abstract patterns using watercolor and a variety of resists like plastic to emulate the patterns found in butterfly wings.  I have some beautiful washes posted on my facebook page.  Right now I am so in love with them, I am afraid to go to the next step because I am enjoying the pattern as it is for the time.  I would be interested in hearing what you think about these first pass washes.  I am not sure if I should use negative painting to create the butterflies or if I should do positive painting on the wings to define the butterflies.  In the meantime, I just keep painting a butterfly every morning.  I was lucky to see a fantastic butterly collection at the arboretum in Montreal.  I took several pictures, but, the vivid silky wings don't come out as fantastic in the photos.

Have a fabulous weekend!  Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts.

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