FOCUS STUDY - Te Aitanga Pepeke painting

Lily Duval

Lily Duval is a contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand artist and illustrator whose work sits at the intersection of art, science, and conservation.Her practice focuses on the beauty of the 'ignored' the insects, plants, and critters that make up the backbone of our ecosystems. Through detailed watercolor and ink illustrations, Duval aims to elevate these small species, giving them the same importance as our more famous animals like the Kiwi or Kea.Through her art she encourages viewers to look closer at the natural world. Her work serves as a visual reminder that we are connected to our environment, and that understanding our native biodiversity is the first step toward protecting it

FOCUS STUDY: Acrylic painting

You will be select an insect portrait to study for your final painting

Look through the works of Lily Duval and look at the different ways she represented an insects colours, shapes and textures. Look at how they have applied paint and look to find evidence of what you did on your bee.
In your visual diary - experiment with ways you are able to capture the colours, shape and textures of various parts of your insect and continue to do this while you are painting
We will be creating a background using the same methods as your skill building with the Bee exercise, experiment with how to apply it and how to use it in layers to achieve tonal differences.

Lily Duval sees... (Watercolour effect)

We will paint... (Expressive Acrylic Technique)

Iridescent, transparent wings (Thin glazes)

Scraping/Sgraffito & Dragging: Painting a dark layer, letting it get tacky, then dragging light, thick paint over the top with a palette knife so it catches the ridges. Scratching vein lines back into wet paint with the end of a brush.

Soft, fuzzy hairs on thorax (Tiny, fine brush marks)

Dry Brush Scumbling: Using a stiff, mostly dry bristled brush with thick paint, scrubbing it roughly over the surface to create a scratchy, fuzzy texture.

Smooth, shiny exoskeleton (Perfect, flat washes with sharp highlights)

Impasto Blocking & Palette Knife: Applying thick, buttery slabs of paint with a flat brush or knife. Not over-blending. Letting the shine come from the actual glossy thickness of the acrylic paint itself.

Complex, mottled colours (Wet-on-wet bleeding)

Broken Colour: Picking up two colours on the brush at once (e.g., orange and brown) and laying them down in a single stroke without fully mixing them, so streaks of both are visible.

Materials Needed:

painting surface
Printed Text
Acrylic paints (various colours)
Gesso
Paintbrushes (various sizes)
Instant Coffee
Carbon paper
Palette
Water container
Paint cloth

Step 1: Prepare Your Surface

Begin by applying gesso to your surface, ensure that you have an even base with no large lumps or brush strokes. If two layers are required go back over it with a second layer.
Second Colour Wash: Apply a colour wash over both external areas of your surface, again using a tissue to add texture. Dry the area. Repeat for all further areas of darker tone.

Step 2: Painting the Insect

Transfer Outlines: Use carbon paper to transfer the outlines and basic details of your insect onto the stained background. Add a thin layer of gesso to the surface to give a sound surface for your acrylic paint to bond to. When dry, redraw the details of your insect onto the gessoed area. Using washes of paint, add in the larger areas of tone to your insect.
Begin to add thicker paint using the techniques we have practiced by painting the eye and surrounding details accurately. Consider which techniques would be most effective for the texture to be created.
Build Shadows and Values: Start painting the insect's body by adding dark shadows first (purples and blues), followed by mid-tone values, and then lighter tones. Work in blocks of colours to define the different parts of the insect.
Add Further Details: Use your artist model as a guide to add further details. Use a small flat brush with dark values to create lines and textures.
Highlighting: Use lighter values to add highlights to areas where light hits the insect.
Texture and Blends: Experiment with different paint applications (dry brushing, stippling, glazing) to create texture and blend colours smoothly. How has your artist model applied paint? Experiment in your book first if unsure.
For difficult details, you may like to use colour or a white pencil! Think about those brightest small highlights, such as eye reflections.

Tips:

Less Paint, More Control: Use small amounts of paint on a dry brush or sponge for stencilling and detailing.
Work in Layers: Build your painting with layers of colours and values to create depth and realism.
Refer to References: Use reference images of your insects for accurate colour and texture inspiration. Use Artist model images.
Take Your Time: Painting important details like eyes, wings, and the smallest features requires patience and attention to detail.

By following these steps and tips, you'll be able to create a beautiful acrylic painting of an insect with a well-prepared background and intricate details. Remember to enjoy the process and let your creativity guide you!

tutorial videos below if you need more help on how to apply your paint!

Transfering the outline

Building up layers

Fine details

Success Criteria for Students

Colour: Have you used a heightened, interesting colour palette inspired by nature, rather than just flat brown/black?
Texture: Can I physically feel the ridges of paint on the canvas? Does the fuzz look different from the shell?

Energy: Does the painting look bold and confident, with visible brushstrokes, rather than smoothed out and perfect?

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