There's an extra layer of difficulty when drawing a subject that is tiny, expertly camouflaged, flying, buzzing, crawling, or hopping.
So I bought a Peterson Field Guide from 1970.
It cost $6 from ThriftBooks.com, fast shipping included. This beautifully designed book inspired me to illustrate a field guide page for the elusive insects in Atlanta. I’m sharing my process, so you can create one too!
Step 1. Find out what insects and plant life are in your area.
Take a stroll in nature to see what’s out there.
Snap photos or draw from life.
Visit the library or do a quick online search to learn what kind of bugs are around you. (If you search for images online, I highly recommend setting a 5-minute timer to avoid falling into fun internet search rabbit holes.)
Step 2. Lay out the page. I used a yellow Cretacolor pastel to lightly mark where I wanted to draw the plants and insects. The scanner didn’t even pick up most of those marks, which was nice.
Step 3. Draw & label your insects and plants using your favorite materials. I used watercolor and filmed my process in the video for paid subscribers.
In the video:
I share my process from start to finish, where I battle indecision, distraction, and having more paint on my brush than I like. I share how to avoid muddy colors, and top secret a solution that solves most of my paint problems.
