Saturniid Moth Workshop

Saturniid Moths in Gouache & Watercolor

Dates: Satuday March 7, 2026
Time: 1:30-4:30 PM (ET)
Skill Level: Beginners to Advanced
Live on Zoom

In this immersive 3-hour workshop, you will learn how to accurately draw and paint some of the world’s most spectacular moths — the Saturniids — using a powerful combination of watercolor and gouache.

Saturniid moths (including Luna, Cecropia, Atlas, and Polyphemus moths) are known for their luminous wings, intricate patterns, and dramatic scale. In this class, you’ll discover how to translate those extraordinary features into a scientifically accurate and visually striking painting.

Rather than simply copying a photo, you’ll learn how professional natural-history illustrators analyze anatomy, structure, and pattern before painting — allowing you to create artwork that is both beautiful and biologically correct.

What You’ll Gain From This Workshop

By the end of this 3-hour session, you will:

• Understand Saturniid moth anatomy so you can draw wings, bodies, and patterns with confidence
• Learn how to observe and simplify complex wing markings into accurate, paintable shapes
• Know how to layer watercolor and gouache to create luminous color, sharp edges, and fine detail
• Be able to control transparency and opacity for realistic wing textures
• Create a finished moth study that looks both painterly and scientifically accurate
• Gain skills you can apply to butterflies, beetles, birds, and other detailed natural subjects

This workshop demystifies how artists combine watercolor’s glow with gouache’s precision, so you can move beyond flat washes and achieve professional-level detail and depth.

You will watch Mindy demonstrate the full process — from anatomical sketch to final painted details — while explaining how she makes artistic decisions based on real moth morphology.

The class is live and recorded, so you can relax, enjoy the process, and revisit every step afterward. Handouts and reference images included.

All levels welcome. Reference photos and specimen images will be provided.  Upon registration you will receive a Coupon Code to purchase optional specimens from BicBugs. 

Click here for a recommendation of suggested art supplies.   Please note we will be exploring gouache and watercolor but you are welcome to work with whatever you prefer.