09-12-2014, 05:45 AM
I saw your question in stream but couldn't answer them on time. So here's what I usually do. Partly due to old school fine art training, I always aim to draw something directly from observation... without paying a bunch. For entomology it's easier to get real specimens because there are a good mix of live bugs even in the middle of a city. Pick up dead bugs. Get a net to catch live ones (eg. moth). Go to a local museum/historical society/botanical garden/park/etc etc, and sketch from their preserved specimen. Try to - despite the extra, cumbersome work - bring a little ruler with you and at least keep the proportion in check. Always state if it is drawn to 1:1 scale, or enlarged or minimized.