Yesterday Afternoon I Dragged My Friend To Denge Wood Forest. While There, I Spotted One Of My Top Five

Some wonderfully vibrant rainbow corn that we grew at work. They are like little gems and almost look photoshopped.

I have been making some posable insect themed dragon wings. I am planning to make some articulated paper dragon dolls/puppets for stop motion animation purposes. And also because I love derpy little dragons.

The orange and white one is based off a male orange tip butterfly and the other two are based off different species of lantern bugs.

They are made with watercolour paper, watercolour paint, ink and split pins

Some work acquaintances asked me to make them a butterfly hair clip after they helped me with an open day.

The first requested one based on a large emerald moth and the second asked for a peacock butterfly.

I am quite pleased with them so I thought I would share how they are made on the off chance that someone else wants to give it a go.

What you need:

- Denim or other suitably thick fabric from unwearable old clothes

- PVA glue

- acrylic paint

- embroidery hoop (optional but helps keep fabric flat)

- paper + tracing paper + pencil + scissors

- hot glue

- French barrette hair clip (alternatively you could stick it to a fridge magnet or something else)

How to make:

1. Prep the fabric by cutting a section, securing it in the hoop, then painting it first with PVA then with two layers of white acrylic paint (letting it dry between each application)

2. Find reference photos of desired species, preferably with wide open wings and taken from above.

3. Sketch half of the moth or butterfly onto a piece of paper.

4. Trace each wing separately on to the tracing paper and transfer to the fabric. Then flip and do this again so the wings are mirrored. Also do this for the body

5. Paint with acrylic paint.

6. Cut out and assemble with hot glue.

7. Stick it on to the hair clip (or other item) with hot glue

If you do make one, I would love to see them.

If you can access this on Netflix please, please watch Scavengers Reign. I can't describe how amazing it is. Stunning visuals, immaculate and fun world building with a spectacular array of alien fauna and flora, beautiful character driven storytelling.

I am going to start rewatching it as I can't get it out of my head. I really need a second series. Please watch this.

It can be a bit gory in places (but most of it isn't) and does deal with some heavy topics but these were handled in such a careful way so please don't let it put you off if you think you can handle it.

Scavengers Reign 1.02 "The Storm"

I attended an invertebrate show with my friends a few months back and ended up picking up four atlas moth cocoons towards the end.

I wasn't sure if they would emerge successfully but yesterday I found the first one sitting on my wardrobe.

Isn't it beautiful!

If the others hatch out in time then I will hopefully have some fertile eggs. I really want to see the whole life cycle of these amazing things.

Moth Dress by Cat Johnson Photo credit: Christina Solomons 

A short clip from the safari at Port Lympne zoo as well as some pretty little common twayblade orchids that were growing there

Backgrounds and geographical structures are things I, currently can't, but would really like to be able to draw/depict. and these are rendered so beautifully that I am saving it for inspirational purposes

Art by Gui Yuan

Some wild fungi photos that I have taken this autumn. It always amazes me how quickly the fruiting bodies develop and the immense diversity of forms and colors that they can take.

I will probably be using this account to store photos that I have taken so I can use them later on, for work or in my art. Hopefully others will find them interesting or useful as well. I will avoid posting my art and other unrelated posts here.

The top one is the cap of a fly-agaric (a fairytale toadstool). I don’t know what species the others are but they were all photographed in the southeast of the UK.

Some of my old photos of orange flowers. They make me feel happy so i thought i would share them.