Plurality of Worlds: Watercolor Illustrations & Objet d'art

[AZ Traveler]

With recent success (= pleased with the results) and confidence in my transition from acrylics to watercolors, I have taken the plastic wrapper off my watercolor A3 Moleskine Folio. I begin with a return to my creative and entomological roots, of which I am most familiar, with the first element of a larger composition of beetles arranged diametrically - or at least, that's the plan. Remember, I'm working in a 12X16-inch (330 x 457 mm) format.

Here is my basic setup organized on W&N Cotman watercolors ...



and the finished illustration ...



Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Cerambycidae
Subfamily: Cerambycinae
Tribe: Rosalini
Distribution: Europe; extirpated in some parts, listed as endangered or protected in others.

The illustration is approximately 6X8-inches.

Best wishes, ...
Delbert

http://crookedbeakworkshop.blogspot.com/

[robertsloan2]

Congratulations, Delbert! Your beetle book is going to be gorgeous. You have a knack for picking the beautiful ones. I love this blue beetle, it's colorful and detailed and fascinating. Your setup looks great too. I should finally get around to getting a hair dryer, it's too easy to forget to buy one because I keep my hair so short.

[JTMB]

Very nice beetle, Delbert! I'm a bird, not a bug, person but look forward to seeing more of your critters. Speaking of beetles, though, on an annual raft trip I do in central Oregon, the last few years we have a big, clumsy-flying beetle (I think it's a beetle, anyway) that periodically bumbles into our card games at night when we have the lantern on. It also bites. I tried looking it up online and think it was something like a Seven-striped June Bug or something like that. Does that ring a bell at all?

[vhere]

looking good

I often use touches of cp over watercolour to enhance. I think it would suit your subjects to help get the irridescence of some beetles.

[DrDebby]

Delbert, I really like your beetle. Of all the insects, I think beetles and butterflies are the most colorful. Looking forward to seeing more.

[AZ Traveler]

Good morning ...

I serendipitously found this video of a live Rosalia alpina, posted above ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYcRg...eature=related

Breathtaking.

Robert, Thanks for your continued praise of my wc efforts. The little travel blow drier is very convenient for its size. A technique left over from my acrylic days to hasten wash and shadowing coverage.

John, Thank you. A "seven-lined" june beetle is a common name for the Scarab genus Polyphylla, of which I described a new species in 1998 discovered during my sand dune ecology work. **See "My Scientific Publications" list on my blog link above.**

I also have an affinity for birds.

Vivien, Thank you too. I must confess, I am unfamiliar with your reference to "cp" ...

Debby, Your comments are appreciated. Indeed, beetles and butterflies can be spectacular. But, there are also other groups that give us a moment of pause. For example, the tropical Phasmatids, related to Praying Mantis, that mimic pink and white orchids as a means of stealth.

The hardest part of all this is trying to choose which beetle to paint ....

Best wishes, ...
Delbert

[mhimeswc]

I'm not a "bug person" either, but that one's kinda pretty. Nice job!

[vhere]

cp = coloured pencil sorry - just laziness in not typing in full

I've used it in touches with the watercolours in the Canson book thread if you want to see it in use

[ReggieS]

Delbert,
This is terrific! People don't realize how beautiful bugs can be! Can't wait to see the ones to come!

Reggie

[Faafil]

Delbert, this is beautiful! Looks very 3D, and I really like all the detail - well done!

(from someone who is not fond of bugs)

[HarvestMoon]

Delbert- I love the beetle, and the paint sets look so wonderful too!! Thanks for sharing with us all!

[Brenda Y]

Delbert,
I echo everyone else. . .this is going to be a GORGEOUS journal! I was thinking you may want to take a look at Daniel Smith's interference paints for adding a sheen. I'd apply the interference after the piece is completed and dried. Just a light layer would give the iridescent sheen (interference is more of a sheen and not the glittery look that some of the iridescents have). Here is a good write up and small demo about it
http://www.danielsmith.com/Item--i-E-InterferenceMagic

And here is a nice small set (this is actually the set I own and it's very adequate!)
http://www.danielsmith.com/ItemSearc...-sets--srcin-1

Of course, your beetles are very lovely without a sheen, but this may add another dimension to your work that you would find pleasing.

[Davkin]

I love illustrations, and yours is perfect. Great lookin' bug.

David

[robertsloan2]

I love all the Daniel Smith Luminescent watercolors. I use Interference Green as an iridescent white, because it's richer flashing between green and red violet -- and it will glaze over anything so well. I collected a spectrum of Luminescents in all three types, Duochrome, Interference and Iridescent, and they're great with regular watercolors. They don't always give a greeting-card look if I'm using them with strong colors on a serious subject. Brenda, that's a tempting small set of Interference, I use so much Interference Green that I might get it sometime.

[prismalos]

I don't have anything else to say that hasn't been already said, so I'm just commenting to let you know that I like the illustration and I am looking forward to seeing other species that you'll paint.