Initial thought
Ever since I saw the butterfly with the owl’s eye, I wanted to put it on real cat’s face. I tried it once 5 years ago but didn’t like it half way there. So that piece was left behind and collecting dust.
In the second color layer, I realized something. I missed the point of having an “eye” spot on a butterfly’s wing. In my old work, the eyes were still cat’s real blue eyes but not the yellow spots.
Five years later, I discovered a reference photo. It showed a white cat with half of its face fading in shadow. So I can’t help but put a butterfly on its nose. The yellow spot finally becomes the cat’s eye. An false eye.
Digital concept
They are different. The real eye has shadow. The yellow is more gradient with highlight. The false eye spot on butterfly wing has no shadow. Looks more flat. But when you look at both eyes direct, it would give you this eerie feeling.
Summary
This is relative a simple and straightforward piece to me. I am happy that I finally close the loop and can get this idea out of my mind.