It’s always fun seeing how a drawing progresses, growing from a sketch into something life-like. When I remember, I try to take a photo of my day’s work so I can look back and see how much I’ve accomplished. Conveniently, it also makes a great slideshow when I’m done!

The painted lady is one of the most widespread butterflies in the world. They can’t survive cold weather, so most of the population dies every fall, with only the butterflies in tropical areas surviving. But those that do survive keep reproducing, and as the weather warms, the butterflies migrate toward the pole, each generation making it a little farther until by late summer even the arctic circle can see them.