Chinese Insect Painting

Bees, wasps, butterflies and other insects can be added to flower and blossom paintings to add life and a touch of realism to the composition. Insects gather round the flowers, collecting their fragrance; they climb along stems and alight on leaves. They can be used to hint subtly at the advent of spring, summer or autumn, by their very presence. Butterflies in spring have pliant wings and enlarged lower parts of a body about to lay eggs. In autumn butterflies have strong wings, lean bodies and tails lengthened with age. Flying butterflies have their tube-like mouth appendage curled, but, alighted on a plant, the mouth extends to penetrate the flower and draw its nectar. Although insects, including butterflies and usually placed in flower paintings as an ornamental addition, nevertheless due regard should be paid to the season, to maintain a certain degree of realism.

Painting Insects

There are two methods of painting insects, either with the outline or solid-stroke method. Solid strokes contain both wet and dry techniques (day for the soft wings and head; wet for the top of the head, the eyes and the hard shiny legs.) Bees are often added, if ink has been splashed, to cover up the mistake. As the Chinese bee is smaller than foreign varieties and is regarded by the Chinese as being an emblem of industry and thrift, it makes a very suitable addition to flower paintings.

Order for painting insects (except some butterflies)

Head
Body and wings
Legs

Important reminders

Insects usually have four wings and six legs.
Jumping insects have strong back legs and flying insects have large main wings.
When flying, an insect’s body drops, but its wings point up.
An insect’s legs are pulled up while flying.
When alighting an insect stretches its legs.

Notes on Painting Insects

A small pointed brush should be used.
Hair-line strokes are needed, with even more delicate brushwork for really small insects.
The order of painting is eyes, head, thorax, abdomen, wings, legs and antennac.
The head of the insect (to be painted first) needs a dark shade of ink, with the eyes always black.
Paint the wings of a flying insect with a dry brush, working from the base of the wing where it joins the body and allowing it to fade outward.
Fuzzy insects, such as a bumble bee need a dry brush.
Shiny insects live wasps or beetles need a wet brush.
Solid insects have their legs painted in a series of fine bone type (like calligraphy) strokes with a wet brush and black ink.
Each antenna should be painted in one smooth stroke