Egg, Moths,Daisy and Dusty

Hi,I've been painting my IO Moths and just finished them. I like the female better than the male, her colors are much bolder and richer.She is the dark quinacrodone burnt orange and red rose deep one.

While I've painted my painting buddies( Daisy and Dusty) are laying beside me,and yes they are both ill. Hopefully after the antibiotics kick in they will be back to their old selves. I hope so. We've had a week of ups and downs with them.Poor things!

Oh the egg-- did you see the wooden egg in the photo of the moths. What do you think it's for?? Well the Chincoteague Decoy and Art Festival asks the artists to paint one egg each for them to auction to support the show.I'm thinking of using sharpies on it in different colors and squiggles.. what do you think.. talk to you later. Diana

Watercolor of an IO Moth

hi! This morning I started this little painting of an IO Moth. I save butterfly and moth wings and bodies for reference.(They are amazing up close.) I'm only showing you the tiger swallowtail butterfly and this I believe is a viceroy's wings. I have more but after sometime they fall apart and aren't so pretty. I don't capture them. I just pick up ones I find.First I sketch them on my watercolor paper and then slowly paint each wing. I love the color of this female moth-I used quinacrodone burnt orange,red rose deep and a violet for the upper wing. The male is sketched in under it--Can you see it on the watercolor paper?.. and will have yellow wings with the same bulls eye.Another moth I adore is the Luna Moth.No they aren't out yet, I'm pushing for warmer weather!- and we had 2 inches of snow last night. take care and stay warm. talk to you soon,Diana