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Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterfly line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Monarch Butterfly full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Monarch Butterfly was completed on 10.17.09. Butterflies are a pleasure to draw. I love the symmetry of their wings and the bright, vibrant colors. One of the great treats of drawing an animal like this is beginning to understand their anatomy. Butterfly wings are one of the greatest wonders in the insect world. They are very light but also strong and durable considering their construction. This monarch's wings are 'perfect' but in studying the butterfly I noticed that generally all butterfly's wings have at least minor damage to the outer parts of the wings. But that's the great thing about illustration - you can make nature perfect. I had to re-draw the Monarch as the one I had identified as a monarch was actually a Viceroy Butterfly.

Information about the Monarch Butterfly:

Monarch Butterflies are found wherever milkweed and related plants are found. The milkweed provides the Monarch with an intriguing form of protection, since the milkweed juices assimilated by the Monarch make it poisonous to predatory birds. The beautiful orange color of the Monarch butterfly serves to teach predators that their intended meal might be toxic. The states of Idaho, Texas, Minnesota and Illinois have selected the Monarch as it's official insect. The Monarch can also be found in New Zealand and Australia.