This piece features a diana fritillary (Speyeria diana). This butterfly displays a unique genetic trait called bilateral gynandromorphism. The mutation that causes this happens very early in embryonic development, and this fully developed being is split evenly down the center - the left side of this butterfly is male, and the right side is female!

This mutation occurs in many animals, but it is particularly visible because of the Diana fritillary’s sexual dimorphism; on this single animal, we can see the slight asymmetry in wing size and the marked differences in coloration characteristic of both genders. This butterfly was made using multiple reference images.

This drawing was made in colored pencil on Duralar film, scanned, and reprinted at 6x6 on environmentally friendly Hahnemühle bamboo paper.

This original is not available.