Illustrated Checklist of Nepal’s Butterflies – Colin Smith
There are two reasons for producing this book. First I wanted to update my checklist of Nepal’s Butterflies. This was first published in Natural History Museum Journal Vol. 2;3 in 1978. Two ammendments in 79 and 80 brought the original 567 species up to 592. As we now have over 640 species recorded a new edition clearly worth while.
The second purpose is to record in colour the collection of Butterflies of the Annapurna Regional Museum, P.N. Campus, POKHARA, where I have been working for many years. Though this Museum now attracts many tourists, it was started nearly 30 years ago for the benefit of the local Nepalis to enhance their awareness of the natural beauty of this National heritage. Butterflies are marvellous and beautiful insects, but also very fragile. It seems a shame to kill them, except that by doing so we can with care preserve their beauty for generations to come. Some of the specimens still on display were collected a quarter of a century ago.
In this booklet I try to show every specimen that is in any way significantly different from its neighbour; thus including season forms or any unusual varieties. I also show male (m), and female (f) if different, and undersides (v) if helpful. In all more than 70% of the specimens in the collection are given.
Identification of butterflies by some-one unfamiliar with them is generally easier from photographs of set specimens than from any number of descriptions and keys. This booklet therefore should be invaluable to visiting Naturalists as a pocket field guide. It is also important to the specialist collector, since apart from its profuse illustrations, it gives the most complete list of Nepal’s Butterflies that has been published to date. Note to save space in the list, the Authors and Dates of the scientific names are given in the index. Two questions I am often asked are “What is the best time of year to visit Nepal for butterflies?” and “Where-abouts in Nepal to look form them?” The second depends somwwhat on the first, and both depend on which butterflies in particular you wish to find. If you are not so particular then even in the middle of winter you can find 50 different species of butterflies at lower altitudes (as I recently recorded in Chitwan National Park). Otherwise the next section may help you.
Illustrating Butterflies Workshop
Illustrating butterflies is wonderful, but has its challenges. I recently taught a two day workshop to Northamptonshire Botanical Artists’ Society which focused exclusively on painting these gorgeous insects.
Introduction to Butterflies
We began with handouts and an introduction to the variety of insect life. Touching on complete and incomplete life cycles, we also learnt their anatomy. For information about insect anatomy, check out my earlier blog. Discussion on how to go about illustrating butterflies followed – cut to white on a page, or with their host plant, or perhaps a flower they frequently visit?
Sketching Butterflies
I’m fortunate enough to have a large collection of old Victorian lepidopteran specimens (thanks to my lovely costume-designing friend Wendy). The students took these to their desks for study drawings.
Symmetry is so helpful when illustrating butterflies, and I showed a few cunning tricks that allow you to flip a drawing. It means you only have to draw half a butterfly! Push through paper, burnishing, and tracing were discussed. I also explained that with such detail, a good hot press watercolour paper and an excellent brush is essential. I currently love Stonehenge Aqua and Fluid 100 paper, both available from Jackson’s, I also am wedded to my Winsor and Newton series 7 brushes.
Colour maps
Once a butterfly has been drawn up, I often get terribly confused by which colours go where. I showed the class my technique of colour-mapping. Literally, you map the colours, first by coding areas of colour with letters or shading and later by laying down a very pale base layer of watercolour. This is invaluable in helping you sort out what colours go where. For more detail on this approach, have a look at my blog on illustrating a Death’s head hawkmoth.
Building colour when Illustrating Butterflies
Another tutor demo showed how I use tons of tiny brush marks to build up the colour of their wings. These marks need to follow the shape of the wing below. We talked about wing structure, the importance of veins, and had the chance to examine butterfly wing scales under the dissecting microscope.
Once these marks are dry, a top colour wash helps add depth to the wings. I showed the class how vibrant Doctor Martin PH inks can be when diluted and mixed with a watercolour matrix.
A detailed account of this layering of brush marks and washes can be found in my earlier blog.
Illustrating Butterflies: Student work
All the students worked incredibly hard for both days, and created some stunning work.
Some were firmly out of their comfort zone. One lady has a terror of dead butterflies, yet managed to do a lovely illustration of an Elephant hawk moth.
Another student had never worked with watercolours before, preferring coloured pencil.
Some students worked really fast and completed illustrations featuring plants and butterflies.
Others focused on the minutae of an individual wing.
Conclusion
I was blown away by their work ethic, positive attitude, and illustrations.
I’m taking on less teaching commitments as there’s more commissioned work around than ever before. To have such an enjoyable workshop was a treat, and a good way for me to learn new tips from my students, as well as being able to share some of my techniques for illustrating butterflies.
Below is a video which shows my technique for illustrating butterflies.
