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Queen Butterfly

Queen Butterfly line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Queen Butterfly full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Queen Butterfly was completed on 11.4.2010. I wasn't familiar with this species, but upon seeing one at a Butterfly House (I forget where now) I decided to render one. I hadn't done a side angle shot of a butterfly, as its tempting to always draw from above looking down at the wings. But that isn't always the most beautiful or interesting view of the butterfly that may be had. The drawing is based on a photo by Bob Barber.

Information about the Queen Butterfly:

Queen Butterflies are members of the genus Danaus. It is a 'brush-foot' butterfly. It has a wingspan of 2.75-3.25 inches (70-88mm) It is native to North and South America and is closely associated with the milkweed plant, which it gets nectar from, lays it's eggs and the caterpillars then feed on, which makes them poisonous to predators. It is sometimes mistaken for a Monarch Butterfly, but the coloration of the Queen Butterfly is more brown or chocolate compared to the bright orange of the Monarch.