Butterfly Wing-Scales.
These paintings are depictions of the surface of butterfly wings, which are covered in millions of tiny vibrant scales. Some of these pieces are based on actual butterfly species, others are looser interpretations of the concept.
Created with oil pastel, watercolour and gouache on thick and textured watercolour paper. The hydrophobic nature of the oil pastel repels the water-based (hydrophillic) paint, trapping it within each scale. These paintings are built up in many layers to develop the nuanced and shifting colours. Some have a scattering of metal-leaf accent scales to catch the light.
The paintings are framed under glass, raised up to appear like it is under a slide of a microscope or in a white museum specimen box. It casts a small shadow and appears free standing under the ultra-transparent glass. The slight undulations of the paper, combined with the raw edges of the artwork, creates an organic effect of a giant museum specimen.
