An Illustrated Investigation of Agraulis Vanillae and its Larval Food Plants

To create my work, I directly observed caterpillars, chrysalises, and adult butterflies. I used a variety of media to depict salient aspects of gulf fritillary anatomy and to follow the species through its life stages in connection with its passionflower hosts. I focused on accurately recreating what I observed, as well as breaking down the organisms into their component colors, lines, shapes, and values. In my work I emphasized natural textures, which vary greatly as the caterpillars undergo their morphological changes. As a result of this project, I improved my observation and life drawing skills and learned how the process of creating art can be used as a method of investigation and learning about scientific topics, as much now as throughout history