Thanks for the comments, here is the rest of the series....
Typically I try not to "start with dessert"... the fun of painting the detailed subject. Instead, I try to really concentrate on everything together, especially the backgrounds. I usually cover the whole paper with a few washes before working on any one area too much. Having to preserve the white of the paper for the wing and eye highlights made me hold off on putting any real color on the actual dragonfly until other elements got established.
There are so many incredible bird books, but few on dragonflies.
An opportunity for someone with a talent for painting dragons and damsels...Hmmm, let's think...Who can we think of?...
Mike
Ha, now that would be a fun project to work on.
I wonder how the idea would sell. The book industry is having tough times...who isn't though? For now it is fun to be painting them without a strict goal in mind.