A Swarm of Moths

This is my latest project. The concept is to create a repeat pattern that deals with camouflage using nature as inspiration. I started reading Biomimicry by Janine Benyus, which is all about how we can learn to create a better society with better technology with better ways to fee ourselves simply by looking to nature. Why do we keep reinventing the wheel?

The moths are hand painted in gouache and manipulated in photoshop (I finally updated from CS3 to CS5 and it is a dream!). The branch background is of cut tree branches, originally intended as staffs for last year's Halloween wizard costumes, and photographed on a black background. I dropped in a green pinstripe in the black background for a punch of color.

The same pattern mapped into an interior bedroom space with matching pillows: