"Worn Traveler"

Back in 2011, when our Lantana was at their fullest, we welcomed a visitor to our back yard.  An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (derived that from my butterfly book).  Talk about a photo ham!!!  It was sooo cooperative in letting me take pictures, even up close and personal.  Either that, or it was very, very hungry!  I had a field day snapping my camera.

reference photo

One day, sometime later, I was going through my photos, trying to get inspiration for what to paint next.  I started cropping this photo, and came up with the 8" x 16" format.  I liked the way the lantana lead the eye to the butterfly.  Going through my pastel papers, I could see that the yellow/gold pastelmat would be good for the yellow/gold in the butterfly, leaving the paper to show (that's what instructors drill into your head).  So, the journey began.  Some of the leaves were changed, because I also wanted them leading the eye toward the butterfly.  The colors of the lantana were changed for more of a contrast to the green background.  There are lantanas that color.

"Worn Traveler", 8" x 16", Pastel

Framed(too much light on it)

This painting was a very good learning experience for me, and I loved doing it.  I have a lot of notes attached to cork board, above where my pastels are kept.  They are notes I've taken in class, from books, and dvds, on composition, design, etc..  I periodically go back over them, to see if I'm doing what they recommend.

"Worn Traveler" was entered in C.L.A.G.'s 2012 annual show, and received Third place in the Pastel/Drawing category.  The biggest award I received was a lady telling me her "want to be an artist" granddaughter wanted to save her money so she could buy it.