I suck at butterflies!!!

My butterflies have come a long way since my first attempt a couple of years ago.  Ashlea Henson, your butterfly tutorial is one of the best I've seen, and is what I base my butterflies on now!  Thank you

clare, that is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

Here's a few recent butterflies

I like that tribal body on that butterfly! cute!

dunno why I never thought to use stencils on butterflies-but i'm gonna get started today!!!!!

I've been practicing, but I'm not quite happy with mine yet either. Take what you like, constructively criticize away!

have you ever heard of a technique where you take a damp brush and gently blend your linework into your base work to create a "fade away" effect instead of a harsh line of division?
I think it would make all the difference, because you have a good shape, good wing detail, nice colors, and the body is in a great position.

I'll give that a try. Now I have better brushes they might do what I think I'm telling them to do.

I have trouble with them too but one video that really helped me is on Jacana Face Painting's YouTube channel. The butterfly she makes is so cute. You should check it out some time.

Dear Savvy:
I like all your butterflies...
The only thing I can suggest is on your last butterfly...
the colours of blue and purple are beautiful. LOVE the dot details. If I were doing this butterfly, I would slant the wings away at a 45degree angle, at both the top and bottom, to allow more room for the antennae. This will be a more delicate butterfly with those bold details. I hope this helps.

Try the 'always wicked' small teardrop sponges. My favourite!

Savvy - My suggestion is if your linework is not yet perfected try using a lighter color to outline. The black is too bold and it takes away rather than adding to your butterfly.