Sunday 20 May 2012

why did the butterfly?

Following a bit of serious online research into what butterflies (both home-grown ones…..

and the more exotic) look like…..

as well as some individual research using classroom books…..

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into how, in particular, butterflies have both sides the same (that’s called ‘symmetry’ as Maddie reminded us) we thought we should maybe have a go at drawing and then painting our very own (as-anatomically-correct-as-possible, but quite iNdiVidUaLLy patterned) symmetrical butterflies.

To which end, we started with an oil-pastel lozenge shape; long and thin, right down the middle of a piece of A3 paper.

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(You can maybe see how we found the middle?)  Next we added two curved antennae…..

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followed by wings in two parts; a larger upper part and a somewhat smaller bottom bit.

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After which we drew a pattern on the wings which was the same on both sides.  Or as close to the same as we could manage!

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Next we used bright watercolour paints to decorate them – again making sure that both sides…..

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were the same.

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A fine paintbrush and a delicate touch (as befits a butterfly) was the order of the day. 

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Once butterflies had been completed, a background of a contrasting pale colour was added.  The dirty water from washing paintbrushes seemed perfect!

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And here now…..

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we have…..

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a positive rabble…..

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of the most beautiful brightly-coloured symmetrical butterflies!  Glorious against their contrasting pale dirty-water backgrounds!

Ain’t they just wonderful?

PS  And yes, rabble really is the collective noun for a group of butterflies. 

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