This morning I walked out of my house to go to work and just look who greeted me with a good morning surprise!
It’s a plume moth! I think it is a Cnaemidophorus rhododactylus Plume Moth, but if you can’t pronounce it like myself, than don’t worry about it!
Well, I was so excited that he came for a visit…and I never think anything is by chance…but a scheduled blessing (yeah, it happens), that I decided to study him the best way I know how…sketch him!!!
It’s amazing how intimately you can learn something if you just try to draw it. Even if you think you can not draw, but love science, just try sketching your subject. You will have to look over every inch very slowly. Talk to yourself in you head, for example ask yourself: “Where are his darkest/lightest features, what markings or spots characterizes this species from another, where is the light coming from, where is the shadow casting, what is that shadow color…blue? purple?” You will be amazed at how well you become acquainted. The next time you encounter your subject, maybe years later, your memory will recall the information thanks to the few minutes you spent drawing!
Let's Paint Nature! 
I so agree with what you explain in this post. You really have to “see” something in order to sketch it and once you start to add color, well you get to know it intimately.
This is a lovely sketch of a beautiful creature.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
I would never have guessed that was a moth..
Always love to see your drawings!
Barb: Spoken like a true nature/sketch researcher! Isn’t it a wonderful way to learn? Why didn’t I learn this way in school?
Thank you so much!
Dawn: To be honest, I didn’t know what it was when I first saw it…I had to look it up and I was pretty sure it was some sort of moth. Thanks!!!