Monarch Butterfly Watercolor Tutorial

Full disclosure, I have never been a “butterfly” person. My best friend actually is, so I am not a stranger to their charms, but I did not develop the same love for them as others have throughout the years. Even though we actually raised butterflies growing up a few summers, I guess they didn’t stick with me all that much. I actually prefer birds in the winged-beauties category.

But… I may have converted! This monarch butterfly painting was so much fun, and I found it addicting. I have a full series of butterfly paintings to create this month (let me know if you want to see those videos too), and I can already see that I am going to have a ton of fun with them! Will they replace flowers in my heart? Not likely, but it’s nice to create something a little different now and again, right? Anyway, I’ll show you what I have planned for these beauties in a few weeks—until then, let’s move on to the TUTORIAL!

Masking Fluid video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf8RxD_jIb8

*PRODUCTS USED:

Masking fluid: https://amzn.to/2L4sd8T
Drawing Pencil (HB): https://amzn.to/2S5TYic
Eraser: https://amzn.to/2t7KHdG

BRUSHES:

“Standard” Brushes: https://amzn.to/2XsTGYt
Watercolor Brushes (I mostly used Round 6): https://amzn.to/2Jj604X
This kit offers a great variety: https://amzn.to/2XxDGzv

My Watercolor Palette:

Ivory Black: https://amzn.to/2JwygzF
Chinese White: https://amzn.to/2JwygzF
Cadmium Red: https://amzn.to/2JwygzF
Alizarin Crimson: https://amzn.to/2JwygzF
Burnt Umber: https://amzn.to/2JwygzF
Raw Sienna: https://amzn.to/2JwygzF
Sap Green: https://amzn.to/2JgXFi8
Yellow Ochre: https://amzn.to/2JgXFi8
Cadmium Yellow: https://amzn.to/2JwygzF
Ultramarine: https://amzn.to/2S3cjfx
Indigo: https://amzn.to/2JwygzF
Terre Verte (Yellow Shade): https://amzn.to/2JwygzF
Burnt Sienna: https://amzn.to/2JwygzF
Permanent Rose: https://amzn.to/2JwygzF
Rhodonite Genuine: https://amzn.to/2HzPFYr
Jadeite Genuine: https://amzn.to/2HzPFYr
Amethyst Genuine: https://amzn.to/2HzPFYr
Mayan Blue Genuine: https://amzn.to/2HzPFYr
Hematite: https://amzn.to/2HzPFYr
Piemontite Genuine https://amzn.to/2HzPFYr
Deep Scarlet: https://amzn.to/2ZjlV85
Lemon Yellow Hue: https://amzn.to/2ZkJ8KX
Hooker’s Green: https://amzn.to/2ZkJ8KX
Cadmium Orange: https://amzn.to/2ZkJ8KX
Viridian Hue: https://amzn.to/2ZkJ8KX

*As an amazon associate, I earn a small commission on some of the links in this post.