Flat lay of hand-painted beetle and butterfly illustrations on textured watercolor paper.

A Closer Look: My Hand-Painted Beetles & Butterflies

August 2, 2025

Many of you have shown so much love for my ‘Vibrant Beetle’ art print, and this time, I wanted to explore them further using traditional materials like gouache and watercolor. All the shapes in this collection are based on real beetles and insects, but the colors are entirely my interpretation: bright, expressive, and full of personality.

Inspiration from Nature

My fascination with beetles and insects began after visiting the Exquisite Creatures exhibition by artist and naturalist Christopher Marley at the Science Museum of Minnesota in 2023. Seeing the incredible diversity, colors, and forms of these tiny creatures up close was so inspiring; it made me want to capture their beauty in my style and voice.

Insects are often overlooked, but when you take the time to observe them closely, their shapes and patterns are truly stunning. I was especially drawn to their symmetry, textures, and unexpected elegance. This collection is a mix of those natural inspirations with my personal, playful use of color.

A Note on Christopher Marley's Work

Some of you have asked whether Christopher Marley collects live insects or animals for his artwork. The answer is no, his work is deeply rooted in respect for the natural world. He legally sources specimens through a global network of zoos, aquariums, scientists, and indigenous communities. Many insects are reclaimed after natural death, collected as bycatch during fishing, or harvested in sustainable ways that support local economies. He’s also developed a unique freeze-drying method to preserve them without harmful chemicals. You can learn more about his work at exquisitecreatures.org.

My Painting Process

For this series, I started by preparing the backgrounds using watered-down watercolor and gouache. I wanted them to feel soft and transparent, not too heavy, just enough to tone down the natural white of the paper and give each piece a subtle foundation. This light base makes it easier to add color later while keeping the focus on the insect itself. I used large sheets of Arches cold-press watercolor paper and cut them into smaller sizes.

Soft washes of watercolor and gouache drying on Arches cold-press paper, A peek of the studio as paintings dry and settle.

Each insect began with a loose sketch using a watercolor pencil, just enough to suggest placement without leaving behind distracting lines. I love how this approach keeps the composition open, allowing the natural flow of watercolor and gouache to lead the process. It creates space for spontaneity and lets the final details emerge organically, without feeling overworked.

From there, I slowly built up each painting using gouache, a medium I love for its vibrant, opaque color and ability to create beautiful texture. One of the challenges and charms of working with gouache is its unpredictability: the paint often looks darker when wet and dries to a brighter, more luminous finish. So I need to stay mindful while mixing, anticipating how the colors will settle.

I just love playing with colors, blending, layering, and seeing how they interact on paper. Gouache invites that kind of exploration. It’s a quiet, meditative process, and as each tiny creature slowly takes shape, I find myself connecting more deeply to its delicate form and unique character.

Sketchbook Studies & Behind the Scenes

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen some of my butterfly and beetle studies in my sketchbooks! I’m including a few of those photos here to give you a closer peek behind the scenes.

My Favorite Art Supplies

Many of you have asked what materials I use for painting, so here are some of my favorite tools from this insect collection:

Paper: Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper – 140 lb
Sturdy and beautifully textured, this paper handles both watercolor and gouache beautifully. I use large sheets and cut them into smaller sizes for flexibility for this collection.
Gouache: Holbein Artists' Gouache and Winsor & Newton Gouache
My go-to for vibrant, opaque color. The paint goes on smoothly and holds detail.
Watercolor: Holbein Professional Watercolors
Sketching Tool: Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolor Pencil
I love using this pencil for initial sketches; it dissolves into the paint without harsh lines, so I don’t have to worry about erasing. I used the color ‘Beige red 132’.
Brushes: Princeton Select Artiste Paintbrush
They are excellent control and fine points, which are perfect for delicate insect details.
Watercolor Travel Palette: MEEDEN Empty Watercolor Paint Palette with 48 Half Pans
Mixing Palette: Gurygo 2 Pack 10" Bathroom Tray
Reference Book I Used: Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Insects

One of my favorite insect reference books: full of beautiful close-up photos that help me study details like wing patterns and body shapes.

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Want to see all the supplies I regularly use in my work? I’ve organized them in my Amazon storefront, including everything from paints and brushes to paper and tools I trust in my daily art practice.

Coming Soon to the Shop!

This collection has been such a joy to create, and I can’t wait to share more of it with you. Some of these new beetle and butterfly paintings are already available as prints, and others will be added soon. Thank you for following along on this journey. I loved creating this collection and can’t wait to share more with you soon! newsletter subscribers will be the first to know. Stay tuned!