Sketch the Butterfly

• 1). Study the shapes that make up a butterfly, using your reference photo. Sketch the outline of the butterfly's wings and body on the canvas with a drawing pencil. Sketch the basic shapes lightly so the pencil marks can be erased later. Butterfly wings typically have a triangular shape, while the body is oval-shaped.
  
  
• 2). Refine the sketch by drawing more accurate shapes as you form the butterfly. Refine the wings by drawing the curves of the outer edges of the butterfly's wings. Round the edges of the oval body and the head of the butterfly. Erase previous sketch lines with the rubber eraser as you define the butterfly's shape.
  
  
• 3). Draw the patterns within the wings. Every butterfly has a unique pattern of markings on its wings. Study each shape within the pattern. Begin drawing an outline of the shapes -- one shape at a time -- and connect them to create the pattern.
  
  

Paint the Butterflies

• 1). Paint the base color of the patterned areas of the wings using acrylic paints. The base color is a solid, flat color. Colors will vary depending on the type of butterfly. Dip your paintbrush in water, then in acrylic paint, and brush the paint into one shape within the pattern at a time. Use less paint and add more water to the brush to create more transparency.
  
  
• 2). Paint the highlights and shadows within the patterned areas of the wings. Butterfly wings are semi-transparent, so if light is showing through, it will create highlights and shadows. Use lighter paint colors for highlights and darker colors for shadows, or add a very small amount of black or white to your base color to darken or lighten the hue. Dip the brush in paint, and brush excess paint onto a paper towel. Lightly feather the brush to create highlights and shadows.
  
  
• 3). Use your paintbrush to fill in the background and the outlines of the patterned areas of the wings.
  
  
• 4). Paint the body of the butterfly. You can fill the body with one color, or add minute details to the body for a more realistic style.
  
  
• 5). Paint any additional details on the wings, body and antennae of the butterfly.