Challenge > Draw a Butterfly Challenge Winners

Challenge #1: Draw a Butterfly
APRIL 2020 • CHALLENGE CLOSED

Great work! We are so impressed with everyone’s drawings.

Hall of Fame Gallery

This Challenge was to use these instructions to draw a scientific illustration of a real butterfly. Here are our top picks!

Deeptanava R.

Age 9
California, U.S.A.
"A North American female Monarch, milkweed butterfly or Danaus plexippus (family Nymphalidae)"
Judge's Comments:
Very precise. The colors are so bright and I love the shading!
Akifa H.

Age 14
New York, U.S.A.
Judge's Comments:
Beautiful background. The colors and contrast make the butterfly pop!
Claudia A.

Age 8
Madrid, Spain
Judge's Comments:
I like the unique details of this butterfly drawing. Excellent use of color!
Eleakim C.

Age 6
New York, U.S.A.
Judge's Comments:
Very nice! I like the enthusiasm shown through caption and title.
Ferdinand M.

Age 12
Dresden, Germany
"Free as a butterfly! I hope that soon all people in the world who are in quarantine or in hospital will feel free again!"
Judge's Comments:
Very nice shading!
Helena A.

Age 8
Madrid, Spain
"Blue Butterfly"
Judge's Comments:
Beautiful lines and use of shading!
Joel B.

Age 8
Madrid, Spain
"The beautiful Queen"
Judge's Comments:
Very nice shading. It makes the butterfly come alive!
Izaskun R.

Age 9
Madrid, Spain
Judge's Comments:
Very rich in color and textures!
Milena B.

Age 9
Spain
"Magellan’s Iridescent Birdwing"
Judge's Comments:
Interesting choice of butterfly and nice colors!
Kennedy L.

Age 12
Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Judge's Comments:
Pretty! It's unique and it shows good use of color.
Vanessa

Age 7
New York, U.S.A.
Judge's Comments:
I like the creativity with the background!
Tomas S.

Age 11
Montevideo, Uruguay
"I love drawing and science! Last year I visited your Museum. Thank you !"
Judge's Comments:
Good perspective and details!
Julia M.

Age 11
New Jersey, U.S.A.
"Monarch butterfly sitting on grass with wings open."
Judge's Comments:
The mixture of orange and red tones is really nice!

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Honorable Mention Gallery

Here are more butterfly drawings that inspired us!

Carolina F.

Age 7
New York, U.S.A.
"I love the Xerces blue! This is a butterfly that got extinct years ago because people destroyed the fields where it lived in California."
Judge's Comments:
I love the blues and painterly quality.
Aaliyah C.

Age 12
New York, U.S.A.
"This picture represents one of many monarch butterflies who stayed behind while the others are flying away in the distance."
Judge's Comments:
Very nice details and background!
Protikshha A.

Age 9
California, U.S.A.
"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies."
Judge's Comments:
Nice choice of butterfly!
Abdelrahman Q.

Judge's Comments:
I like the bold colors. And what a fun antenna!
Aleksandra F.

Age 13
New York, U.S.A.
"Taiwan Beech Hairstreak"
Judge's Comments:
Lovely lines and colors. Beautiful details.
Álvaro M.

Age 8
Madrid, Spain
"Mariposa Monarca con colores fantasía (Monarch butterfly with fantasy colors)"
Judge's Comments:
Vibrant colors! If only butterflies could be rainbow colored.
Amaira S.M.

Age 7
New Delhi, India
Judge's Comments:
Nice shading and contrast!
Cece G.

Age 10
Virginia, U.S.A.
"What a good day."
Judge's Comments:
The habitat background makes the drawing come alive!
Timothé R.

France
Judge's Comments:
Creative pattern and unique composition!
Ciera P.

"My butterfly is electric and it can go really fast! Go go go!"
Judge's Comments:
A very creative, fantastical butterfly!
Daniela S.

Age 8
Madrid, Spain
Judge's Comments:
Interesting design for a butterfly!
Fahmida O.

Age 13
New York, U.S.A.
"This is a drawing of a monarch butterfly."
Judge's Comments:
I like the bold lines, unique shape, and shading!
Federico M.

Age 6
New York, U.S.A.
Judge's Comments:
Very interesting background for the butterfly to flutter in!
Sacha C.

Age 9
New York, U.S.A.
Judge's Comments:
Nice use of water color. It's pretty and fantastical!
Katie W.

Age 11
New York, U.S.A.
Judge's Comments:
Beautiful and brilliant colors and shading!
Lauren L.

Age 9
Northumberland, United Kingdom
"I like the monarch butterfly because of the vibrant colours and how it glides with the wind."
Judge's Comments:
Good shading, fun background, and nice caption!
Leila P.

Age 4
New York, U.S.A.
"Red Butterfly"
Judge's Comments:
Great work tracing and coloring!
Mabel Z.

Age 5
North Carolina, U.S.A.
"This butterfly collage was created in multiple steps. First, I drew the outline of a butterfly. Then, I cut up and ripped lots of colored pieces from magazines and glued them onto my drawing."
Judge's Comments:
A very fun collage!
Maxwell L.

Age 13
Judge's Comments:
Bold, clean lines and very carefully done!
Nicholas J.

Age 11
New York, U.S.A.
"Flight among green pastures"
Judge's Comments:
Very bold, lovely colors!
Olivia B.

Age 9
New York, U.S.A.
Judge's Comments:
I like the natural environment and the leaves!
Olivia L.

Age 11
Northumberland, United Kingdom
"Do you know Magellan birdwing butterfly are known for their size and the color of their large wings? Their wings change color depending on the angle you see them on."
Judge's Comments:
Excellent research and captions!
Rose G.

Age 11
New York, U.S.A.
Judge's Comments:
Beautiful... Feels like it's flying off the paper!
Julia B.

Age 9
Madrid, Spain
Judge's Comments:
Beautiful colors and great choice of butterfly!
Branden L.

Age 11
Judge's Comments:
Nice depth and perspective!