Exploring New Techniques: My Second Pattern with Butterflies

Fresh off the success of my first floral watercolor project and armed with new skills and an upgraded version of Photoshop, I decided to create my second pattern. This time, the subject was butterflies. I wanted to try something different, something I had never done before, which led me to explore various new techniques and methods.

Creating the Butterfly Wings

To start, I created a template and traced out some butterfly wings on watercolor paper. I used a wet-on-wet technique to paint them, which involves applying wet paint onto wet paper to achieve a beautifully blended, soft-edged look. Once the wings were dry, I added texture by stamping over them using black gouache and a kitchen sponge cut to the shape of the wings.

Digitizing and Arranging the Elements

Next, I moved to Photoshop to refine the design. I carefully edited out the excess watercolor around the gouache stamping and started arranging the wings. My goal was to create both full butterflies and half-wings to depict butterflies in flight. I duplicated some elements to make complete butterflies and left others as halves for a dynamic effect.

Adding Butterfly Bodies

For the butterfly bodies, I used a black Sharpie on paper to draw simple yet effective shapes. I scanned these drawings into Photoshop and incorporated them into my digital design, adding a handcrafted touch to the pattern.

Experimenting with Recoloration

One of the most exciting parts of this project was experimenting with new recoloration techniques. I split the butterfly layers in Photoshop and recolored one of the layers, resulting in a split pattern colorway. This technique allowed some butterflies to appear in green and blue hues, while others remained in their original purple and rose shades. The contrast added depth and visual interest to the pattern.

Future Plans

As someone who loves butterflies, I anticipate that this will be just the first of many butterfly patterns I create. The process of experimenting with new techniques and overcoming challenges was incredibly rewarding. I look forward to applying what I've learned to future projects and continuing to explore the endless possibilities in pattern design.