How to Paint Whimsical Butterflies
Whimsical art is amusing, fantastical and playfully odd, many times in a childlike way. Artists use many different types of mediums or materials to get their imaginative take on sometimes mundane objects. Butterflies are one object you can draw in a whimsical way. A butterfly begins life as a caterpillar. After transforming inside a chrysalis, the caterpillar emerges as an adult butterfly with large, colorful wings. Study real butterflies or images of butterflies to capture the magic of a butterfly, and perhaps its metamorphosis, in a whimsical painting.
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Things You'll Need
- Butterfly reference
- Drawing paper
- HB Pencil
- Paint
- Watercolor paper or canvas
- Brushes
- Small plastic cups
- Eraser
Instructions
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Sketch drawings of your butterfly reference. Look in biology books about butterflies or look outside for butterflies. Draw different viewpoints and angles to get a feel for the subject. Also, sketch scenery, or background for your butterfly. Butterflies drink nectar from flowers, so perhaps a flower can be part of your sketch. However, you are creating a whimsical painting, so consider placing your butterfly in an amusing or odd situation to play around with the idea of butterflies.
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Consider your sketches and and draw a final drawing that your painting will be based on. Think of the colors you wish to use, and keep in mind this is a whimsical painting. You should be as free and as fantastical as you want.
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3
Draw your image lightly with charcoal or pencil onto your prepared canvas or watercolor paper, using your sketch as a guide. You can later erase the pencil lines, or if you are using oil and acrylic paints, the sketch marks will not show through.
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Brush on paint to your prepared canvas or watercolor paper. Keep colors light and brushstrokes loose, to keep with the whimsical theme. Play around with your painting and keep a lively, happy frame of mind. Your mood can transfer to your artwork. Always take a step back to view your painting. Make adjustments as necessary.
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Erase any unwanted pencil marks, especially if you are working with watercolor paints. Let your painting dry before hanging.
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Tips & Warnings
Complete a whole series of whimsical butterfly paintings.
Experiment with backgrounds and colors for your painting.
Paint in a well-ventilated room if working with oil paints.
Use a drop cloth to protect your floors from paint.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Butterfly image by Dennis Carrigan from Fotolia.com
