Grace Huang

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Butterfly Prints

Analog Graphic Design, 2D, Natural Form Abstraction

This is a series of 2D designs based on a butterfly silhouette I abstracted. This project explores the relationship between foreground, middleground, and background, as well as positive and negative spaces.

The butterfly I was assigned to abstract was the Papilio Helenus butterfly a beautiful black swallowtail with delicate red spots.
Duration:
3 Weeks
Course:
Studio Design, Fall 2023
Role:Individual
Tools:Bristol Paper, Procreate, Markers, Magazine Scraps






Phase 1: Black and White


To explore positive and negative space relationships
in its purest form, I started the project with two silhouettes. 

Phase 2: Two Butterflies


The next prompt was (1) using two butterflies of the same size, and (2) using two different sized butterflies. 


Phase 3: Collages

Our final prompt was (1) using natural materials and found scraps and (2) using paper to collage our butterfly silhouettes from Phase 1. I experimented with lots of layering and also variation in texture, including text. I played with balance spontaneity and precision with rips versus cuts, which resulted in different forms.



Process Snapshots:

The abstraction process required a lot of meticulous changes to the form. straying away from the representational. Starting from a raw silhouette, changes were made to the shape of the body, curve of the wedges and tail, and size of the wings to capture the essense of the butterfly.