Thistledown Studio : Nan Wilson : Rochester, NY

news | new works | making of a life cycle painting | newsletter

New Works

My aim is to attract people to natural subjects through my art, and to share interesting information about both the creatures and the host plants that sustain them.

Each of these originals is a new watercolor done on 16 x 20 inch arches paper. Below these images are examples of the information provided on the labels of all my works.

COMMON BUCKEYE (Junonia coenia)

A migratory butterfly,it favors southern regions but is seen across most of the US. In summer adults move northward sometimes reaching southern Canada. Its larval food plant is toadflax, plaintains, snapdragons and others. Large southward movements can be seen in the fall, especially on the east coast. Its can be seen in gardens, open fields and along roadsides. with a wingspan of 5-6 inches, this silk moth is large and declining in population. Its caterpillar is parasitized by a tachnid fly. Food plant of the caterpillar are trees and shrubs such as cherry, apple, ashes, beeches, birches, elms, maples and poplars. The cocoon is spindle shaped and attached to an exposed branch in a tree. Also found on the ground on loose leaves. It flies from May to June with one brood. Increasingly common in urban and suburban areas.


TWELVE-SPOTTED SKIMMER (Libellula pulchella)

A wingspan of two inches, this dragonfly perches on shoreline vegetation. The female lacks the white patches. Males are territorial and perform vertical loops with competing males. They inhabit ponds, lakes and sluggish backwaters, occasionally bogs and alkaline wetlands. They can be found throughout the USA. This is a small to medium dragonfly 1.0 to 1.7 inches in length. During maturation the abdomen and dorsal area turns primrose blue, about nine days for males, slower in females. Outer half of each wing can be tinted brown. Females have interrupted yellow stripes on abdomen. Found in most still waters and commonly found throughout. Found in mid-June to September in the north USA and Ontario, Canada. They perch with lowered wings on erect stems. Much territorial action flying under opponent and forcing out of area of water. Has been seen migrating in small numbers.


WHITE PEACOCK (Anartia jatrophae)

This is a tropical brushfoot, common in Florida and South Texas, straying northward. It can be seen along roadsides, fields, and gardens. The larval food plants are water hyssop, green shrimp plant, frogfruit and others.



what's new? | new works | shows | newsletter


Home | About the Artist | Galleries | Mat Colors | Shows | News | Contact

Upstate, New York

Adirondack Mountains

thistledownstudio.com