Alpine Butterfly: watercolour painting by Marion Shepherd, 1999 [1 of 14]

ALPINE BUTTERFLY
Imperial White
Delias harpalyce
This butterfly is found in south-eastern Australia in open forest and roadsides. It is a colourful butterfly, for while the upper side of the wings are greyish white with black around the edges, the underside is dramatically patterned in black, red and yellow. I painted this from a photograph taken in the Victorian countryside around Mt Buffalo. Painting on black paper is a challenge but gives particular impact to this work.

© Marion Shepherd 1999, 2006