insects

Insects, in their small way, add life to a painting. Their filmy delicacy and intricate design have long made them favorite subjects for Chinese and Japanese artists. They are usually painted in their preferred surroundings, the dragonfly flitting humorously through swamp grass, the butterfly among flowers, the cicada on the cherry tree where he steadily drones his late-summer song.

For winged insects such as the dragonfly, butterfly, and cicada, painting the wings first will establish the position of the body. Using a soft brush with pale tones, with light, simple strokes paint the wings of the insect, leaving white space in between for the body. Then, changing to a small hard brush filled with noboku, suggest the eyes, head, and body. With a very thin brush, delicately paint in feelers, legs, outlines of wings here and there, and indicate any filmy little veins in the wings. While it is well to be familiar with the anatomy of these little creatures, it is the animation of their flight and their actions we wish to convey with a minimum of detail.

The cricket, the spider, and the grasshopper can be painted with yellows or greens or browns, as well as with black. In painting these wingless insects, begin with the body, perhaps loading the brush with one color plus black. With one pressure stroke the body is painted. Then with a thin brush and noboku, outlines and sections of the body are suggested, and the head and eyes painted in comparative detail. The leg strokes on these insects are very delicate and springy, suggested with quick, free strokes of the brush. Little areas of white paper showing in the body of these insects make them appear alive and in action.