Monarch Amongst Daisies

I've done a painting similar to this, but with a different butterfly. This one was done this morning and is a monarch butterfly. Monarch butterflies are plentiful here during the late spring and summer. I haven't seen any yet this year, but it's still quite early. They would need flowers for nectar, and the flowers are far from abundant right now. They have extensive migration and are actually quite the marvel of nature. The monarch caterpillars are strikingly unique in colors and are found near milkweed plants.

This painting is a 11x14 stretched canvas with the painting wrapping around the edges. Initially, I outlined the butterfly in black acrylic paint, let it dry, then masked it for final oil paint much later at the end. The white canvas was also prepped by painting it forest green (acrylic). This was the base to lay the oils on. A thin coat of clear medium was applied prior to the oils. For oil paint I primarily used titanium white, cerulean blue, ultramarine blue, and sap green. I also used very small amounts of burnt sienna, cadmium yellow pale, and cadmium red light. Brushes used were 2" scenery, #10 flat, filbert, mop brush, and a couple script liners.