dragonfly art

Mother Nature by Lisa Goesling

Top: Art of a Catkin from a Pussy Willow and a Fingerprint. Bottom: Lacy Leaf and Dragonfly by Lisa Goesling

Top: Art of a Catkin from a Pussy Willow and a Fingerprint. Bottom: Lacy Leaf and Dragonfly by Lisa Goesling

Have you ever noticed how much nature's patterns repeat themselves? I first became truly aware when I was drawing a dragonfly. Not long before, I had completed a black and white scratchboard of a leaf eaten away by bugs. I named it Lacy Leaf because the patterns were so delicate and intricate, just like a fine piece of lace. 

When I began to study the dragonfly, it too had a detailed pattern, much like the leaf. I was stunned by how the same seemingly random shapes fit together to form a majestic dragonfly. 

Just the other day a friend came across one of my scratchboards of Pussy Willows. Her immediate response was, "they look like fingerprints!"

By this point, I was well aware of designs repeating themselves in birds, insects, plants and flowers. What I hadn't considered was that we share similar patterns with the rest of nature. All I had to do was to take a closer look. 

The Nature of Design-Pattern by Lisa Goesling

The Nature of Design-Pattern

Copyright While a bug is different than a rock, their basic patterns are so similar. The repetition of shapes throughout the dragonfly are repeated in the leaves and rock. Shapes, repetition, pattern, line and texture, all fundamental properties of both nature and design.

The Nature of Design-Pattern by Lisa Goesling-Copyright

The Nature of Design-Pattern by Lisa Goesling-Copyright

Flight by Lisa Goesling

Dragonfly by Lisa Goesling            Copyright                                                                            

I am lucky enough to reap the benefits of drawing this creature that my friend Renee photographed. Can you believe the amount of detail and design that is involved in these delicate insects? Perfect for this medium! Those beautiful transparent wings dotted with gorgeous patterns are actually quite strong. Dragonflies have been clocked flying almost 60 mph!

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