Each day I try to do at least one sketch of something around me. Some days it’s done live, plein air. Other days I’m moving quickly so I snap a photo and sketch in the evening, as I did tonight. Here I offer the photo, the rough sketch, and the finished product. I used to worry about every line, every fine detail. The more I do this, the faster I get, and the more pleased I am with both process and product. The photo took me about five minutes of standing still in my garden. The pen sketch took 2 minutes, and the watercolors took another five. Time well spent.

And i am happy to report that when i took the photo of the watercolor my phone identified the species correctly.

A small butterfly with gray wings featuring orange and black markings is perched on a white, spiky flower against a blurred green background.A detailed pen sketch depicts a butterfly labeled Strymon melinus perched on a spiky flower head identified as Eryngium yuccifolium, with handwritten notes mentioning the date, location, and observation details.A delicate butterfly with grey and orange markings is perched on a spiky, round flower head with fine details drawn on a brown sketchbook page.