Draw a Monarch Butterfly with Me
The essential, community-based component of the public art installation, ''Follow the Monarchs''
How Did We Get Here?
"Draw a Monarch Butterfly with Me" is part of a project initiated in early 2025, culminating in an art installation with an entomological theme: monarch butterfly migration!
Conceived of and orchestrated by Clare Wuellner, her vision for the art installation is based on the migratory habits of the monarch butterflies that overwinter in the Sierra Madre Mountains in central Mexico, where the butterflies cluster on branches of the towering oyamel fir tree.
The installation required hundreds of hand-drawn butterflies, drawn and contributed by hundreds of volunteers who each drew their own monarch butterfly using a tutorial developed and tested by Clare Wuellner.
Because of the public's contributions to the installation, it had to be highly accessible to everyone. The perfect venue was offered by Dr. Pamela Owen (Assistant Director of the TMM), who agreed to host the installation in the Texas Science & Natural History Museum.
What better home for a science-based, community-driven, art installation?
PRoject Update
FAQ & Trivia
Can you tell me a little bit about the project?
“Draw a Monarch Butterfly with Me” is part of a project called “Follow the Monarchs” funded in part by the City of Austin’s Office of Arts, Culture, Culture, & Entertainment in early 2025. The project culminated in an art installation and science exhibit about monarch butterfly migration.
The installation was conceived of and orchestrated by Clare Wuellner, who holds a Ph.D. in entomology. Dr. Wuellner’s vision for the art installation is based on the migratory habits of the monarch butterflies that overwinter in the Sierra Madre Mountains in central Mexico. This is where the butterflies cluster and “roost” on branches of the towering oyamel fir tree.
The installation required hundreds of hand-drawn butterflies, drawn and donated by hundreds of volunteers who used a monarch drawing tutorial developed and tested by Dr. Wuellner.
Because the installation depended upon the community’s support and participation, its location is a public venue, accessible to all. The monarch butterfly installation found its perfect “landing place” when Dr. Pamela Owen (Assistant Director of the TMM,) agreed to host the installation in the newly renovated and updated Texas Science & Natural History Museum.
How many butterflies are in the installation?
As of March 7, 2026, there are 1,074 butterflies in the installation, but that number will continue to increase: “Follow the Monarchs” is a dynamic, community-supported installation that welcomes new drawings of monarch butterflies from anyone in the world.
Who drew the butterflies?
The butterflies were drawn by hundreds of people, from all walks of life, from all over the world. In fact, the butterfly artists represented in this installation are from 32 countries from around the world. The oldest person to draw a butterfly for this project was 94, and the youngest was 3!
Is it too late for me to have a butterfly in the installation?
Absolutely not! "Follow the Monarchs" is a dynamic, community-driven installation, and new butterflies will be added as they arrive. Dr. Wuellner would be delighted to add your butterfly to the installation.
Where do I learn how to draw a monarch?
1. Email drawamonarchbutterflywithme@gmail.com to schedule a monarch drawing workshop (in-person or virtual).
2. Purchase Dr. Wuellner’s drawing tutorial book, “How to Draw a Monarch Butterfly,” sold in the "Merch" section, below.
3. Watch Dr. Wuellner’s video tutorial on YouTube.
How long will the installation and exhibit be here?
“Follow the Monarchs” will be at the Texas Science & Natural History Museum for a year and possibly longer
Why do some butterflies have a symbol on their backs?
The symbol is shorthand for “First Instar,” which is the term for the first larval stage in insect development. Butterflies with this symbol on them were drawn before this project was formally begun.
Before receiving the Nexus Grant to create this art installation, I had drawn hundreds of butterflies with people who had taken their butterflies home with them. Before they left, I often took photos of their butterflies. From these photos I printed reproductions on archival paper and included them in the installation as the pioneers of this project. Because these special butterflies were from the first stage of this project, I deemed them the “first instars.”
About the Butterflies &
The People Who Drew Them
List of Countries Represented
The installation includes butterflies drawn by people from all over the world!
1. Albania
2. Algeria
3. Brazil
4. Canada
5. China
6. Colombia
7. Cuba
8. Dominican Republic
9. France
10. Germany
11. Iceland
12. Iran
13. Israel
14. Japan
15. Mexico
16. Morocco
17. Netherlands
18. Nigeria
19. Pakistan
20. Panama
21. Philippines
22. Portugal
23. Russia
24. Saudi Arabia
25. South Korea
26. Spain
27. Tajikistan
28. Turkiye
29. Ukraine
30. United States
31. Vietnam
32. Venezuela
Is it too late for me to draw a butterfly for the installation?
“Follow the Monarchs” is a dynamic installation, intended to accommodate as many butterflies as people donate. Dr. Wuellner would be delighted to add your butterfly to the installation.
We LOVE receiving hand-drawn monarchs from you in the mail!
Draw A Monarch Butterfly With Me
c/o Clare Wuellner
P.O. Box 9321
Austin, TX 78766
Monarch Drawing Tutorial Video
Click the button to go straight to a Monarch Drawing Video Tutorial that shows, step-by-step, how to draw a monarch butterfly using the same method used in workshops!
Video includes full instructions for creating a monarch that can be part of the art installation in the Texas Science & Natural History Museum in Austin, TX. See video description for details.
About Clare Wuellner
Artist & Project Manager, ''Follow the Monarchs'"
Scientist by Training | Artist at Heart | Educator by Nature
"Understanding science has amplified my wonder at the beauty of living things, and this, in turn, informs my art. The meaning of these gifts can only be realized when they are given to others: the real meaning in life comes from sharing with others what is known and what is possible."
Dr. Wuellner is an artist and educator based in Austin, Texas.
She lives with her family and a dog in a house full of love.
Merch
Need more information
about Monarchs?
Monarch Watch is where you'll find the most up-to-date information about monarch butterflies
Monarch Watch is an education, conservation, and research program based at the University of Kansas that focuses on the monarch butterfly, its habitat, and its spectacular fall migration. Some of its programs include:
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Monarch Tagging Program: Started in 1992, this is a large-scale community science program to help understand the dynamics of the monarch fall migration. Each fall, the public can get involved as community scientists and tag migratory monarch butterflies using specially designed adhesive stickers as the butterflies migrate to Mexico.
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Monarch Waystation Program: This program began in 2005 to encourage people to create Monarch Waystations, habitats that support monarchs and other pollinators and include milkweed and nectar plants.
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Free Milkweeds Programs: Monarch Watch distributes flats of free milkweed plugs to qualifying schools, educational nonprofits, and large-scale restoration projects to help create and maintain monarch habitat across the monarch breeding range.
Learn more about Monarch Watch, its programs, and how you can get involved in supporting monarchs at www.monarchwatch.org.