Bee's Illustration Blog

IF: Wrapped

2009-08-15T01:06:00.005+01:00

'Wrapped around ears'....

This is an ACEO (original) I sold recently on Ebay as part of a set of 4 'Bubblegum Bunnies'

Watercolour wash base and Prismacolor pencil.

For Bella

2009-08-07T11:29:00.003+01:00

I believe this award was created in support of Bella Sinclair whose husband sadly passed away suddenly in June. It recognises the amazing artwork, inspiration and friendship Bella has shown through her wonderful blogging.

I have long followed Bellas blog and so was doubly touched to receive this award from the lovely Brigitte. Forgive me for not passing it on (as those that I would pass this onto have largely been covered by other bloggers). However I do want to display this in support of Bella and the importance of the care and inspiration this online world can provide artists at all levels x

IF: Idle

2009-07-24T16:10:00.005+01:00

Well I've certainly been idle with my illustration blog of late, so really had to play along with this weeks theme!

Hope you like my idle pair.

IF: Adapt 'Bear for Mikka'

2009-05-29T20:36:00.004+01:00

I found a request for people to draw a bear in memory of the death of a young husband and father - Mikka - via Kathy Hares wonderful blog. Seemed like an appropriate entry for this weeks IF as Mikka's family will truely had to adapt to a new life after this terrible loss.

Here is the little bear I've sent, but you must see Kathys beautiful illustration and maybe send your own...

IF: Cracked

2009-05-27T15:30:00.002+01:00

Hope to add some colour to this little guy later.

IF: Impossibility

2009-04-21T17:27:00.004+01:00

'Mouse explains the impossible events to bunny who listens closely'

Bit of a stretch I know and not a great scan, but I can't miss another week of IF!

Downloads for Sale!

2009-03-23T15:54:00.003Z

Another mini project! I'm selling a few simple line illustrations for cardmakers and crafters. Initially in standard JPEG format, but I am experimenting with different formats.

I would love to hear suggestions and welcome examples of what people create out of my images.

Many thanks to Anne for all her help and advice on this venture.

Click here (or the link to the right) to go my downloads webpage / shop.

IF: Legendary

2009-03-19T22:56:00.002Z

My intention was to draw the legendary Loch Ness Monster for this weeks topic, however this character appeared instead!

Never mind, I think this little guy has potential...but maybe not legendary...

IF: Breezy

2009-02-27T22:50:00.003Z

I imagine that even a light breeze will play a big part in this scene.... will the tiny flower bearing fairy be blown towards or away from the object of its affection?

Not a new illustration unfortunately, but one I'm quite fond of.

IF: Flawed

2009-02-05T22:54:00.004Z

A little sketch to recognise my flawed start to 2009, I've really neglected posting on IF with my new online adventures (http://www.mjbee.etsy.com/ and www.folksy.com/shops/Bee )

Must try harder!

[Updated to inc a colour version - digital]

New Year, New Project

2009-01-19T14:37:00.005Z

Well, I've taken my first steps towards online selling via Etsy. Small beginnings, I'm starting with note cards but hope to sell a few bits and add to the range (along with improving my dodgy photography!). All very exiting, hope you'll check it out!

IF: Clandestine

2008-12-29T17:11:00.004Z

Although pets were allowed at the lighthouse, the tenants thought they ought to keep their particular pet a secret.

Award!

2008-12-06T17:24:00.004Z

Thanks to Monica at Me-Bear Creations for this award!

I'd like to pass it on to a few of my favourite bloggers for their talent and creativity;

1. The winner may put the logo on their blog

2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award

3. Nominate 5 blogs for the award.

IF: Balloon

2008-11-28T18:54:00.002Z

IF: Opinion (sought)

2008-11-24T11:11:00.006Z

Would love your opinion on my new characters...(am I exploiting this weeks word?!)

IF: Pretend (Trick or Treat)

2008-11-17T00:10:00.001Z

IF: Wise

2008-11-10T20:44:00.003Z

Keen to start learning!

IF: Repair

2008-10-24T14:17:00.001+01:00

Someone had better repair the lock on that door before these creatures escape!

IF: Late....run bunny, run!

2008-10-23T23:07:00.002+01:00

Appropriately late bunny doodle for this week

IF: Strings

2008-10-13T14:27:00.001+01:00

The Quentin Blake Website

2008-10-10T16:20:00.010+01:00

Have a look at the official Quentin Blake website, particularly the section for 'Illustrators', there are video clips and slide shows of his working processes. It's always fascinating and a great privilege to see behind the scenes of artists at work, especially such inspirational characters like Blake.

IF: Sugary

2008-10-03T16:04:00.003+01:00

This is one I did a little while ago as part of a series of bunnies, it seems to fit the theme this week.... a 'sugary sweet' bunny with cake!

IF: Packed

2008-09-26T19:18:00.002+01:00

Play time is over and all the toys are packed away...

IF: Clique

2008-09-24T22:30:00.002+01:00

Left out of the clique :(

IF: Island

2008-09-15T20:07:00.005+01:00

What a great word! Wish I had time to do something new this week, but I will have to settle for posting an older one.

IF: Clutter

2008-09-05T18:22:00.002+01:00

This is a pen drawing I did a couple of years ago when practicing illustrating to a story. I looked on the internet for a short childrens story that might be suitable and came across a website called 'Short Stories', and using the Children's section I found a simple story about a girl with an untidy bedroom.

It's a great way to discipline yourself and develop a character...that said I only got as far as this line drawing and a rough story board!

IF: Memories

2008-08-31T21:23:00.004+01:00

Does swinging from trees have to become a childhood memory when your feet touch the ground?...

IF: Routine

2008-08-28T16:49:00.004+01:00

Just a quick sketch. This is me, back to school (just realised I haven't drawn any clothes on! May have to redo this post.)

I teach philosophy part time and it's just as big a shock for teachers getting back into the routine of school after a long summer...I've forgotten everything!

Award!

2008-08-25T20:01:00.006+01:00

Thank you to the wonderfully talented Kristin for nominating me for this blog award, she has been a great source of inspiration during my blogging adventures this year with her charming illustrations and encouraging comments. Thanks Kristin!

This adorable bear is one of my favourite posts from Kristins' blog....

And now for my nominations, the wonderful work of....

Art of the Masses

Elise's Art Garden

Ice-Cream Monster Toon Cafe

Plentiful As Blackberries - Steve Morrison

Ryan Loghry

Sarah Preston-Bloor Illustration

The Enigma

And here are the rules:
1-Display the logo on your blog
2-Link back to the person you received the award from.
3-Nominate 7 other blogs
4-Put links of those blogs on yours
5-Leave a message on their blogs so they know they've been nominated.

Faces

2008-08-20T23:58:00.003+01:00

IF: Detach

2008-08-20T23:40:00.003+01:00

As I've been a bit lapse with my IF posts recently I'm hoping this just about covers the last two topics...see how the ballooning bunnies 'detach' and 'sail' away...

IF: Poof! (Tinned Genie)

2008-08-03T16:55:00.003+01:00

The lid of the can sprang open and 'poof', a genie appeared!

Art Lesson

2008-08-03T16:26:00.011+01:00

After attempting to draw cans for last weeks IF entry, my frustration at having no formal training in art reared its head again. So I asked my husband (who does have an art and design background) to give me a few lessons on the basics. He's been a great help in showing me ways to improve my drawing, especially on how to get a better sense of perspective. The following are a couple of pages of his explanatory sketches.....

My homework and practices.....

And a much improved 'tinned tentacle'!

IF: Canned Creatures

2008-07-29T14:42:00.002+01:00

Lunch anyone?....

IF: Enough

2008-07-19T21:20:00.007+01:00

Bunny decided he'd had enough of the bath tub and made for his escape [click on image for detail]
(Rather a tentative link, but I needed to draw a bunny this week!)

IF: Foggy

2008-07-14T18:36:00.003+01:00

Quick sketch in my moleskine.

2008-07-10T18:20:00.003+01:00

Many thanks to the lovely Bella Sinclair for nominating me for an award, I never win anything and am very touched! This blogging adventure has been a wonderful experience and I've discovered a great, supportive community through Illustration Friday.

It is a difficult job choosing just a handful of people to nominate but I've gone for the wonderful work of the following bloggers who have inspired and amused me so often with their art and comments.

The rules of accepting are as follows:-
1) Put the logo on your blog.

2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.

3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4) Add links to those blogs on yours.

5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

IF: Sour

2008-07-08T21:47:00.005+01:00

How to create a sour puss!

I know our cats have their favourite spots, so I think this dog is pushing his luck...

Fierce dragon in colour

2008-07-06T13:06:00.003+01:00

IF: Fierce (or one dragons' efforts)

2008-07-02T21:57:00.006+01:00

I think I'll have to concede that this dragon will never be fierce, but he's trying!

[Any tips on adding colour would be greatly appreciated. I try out lots of different media, but struggle to find one I'm really successful or consistent with.]

Kiwi

2008-06-24T00:46:00.002+01:00

Doodle inspired by Bella Sinclairs' funny entry for IF's 'Punchline theme.

IF: Hoard

2008-06-21T17:35:00.003+01:00

'With the advantage of unusually long arms, Molly is able to hoard her favourite toys so that the other children don't get a look in!'

IF: Forgotten (the way home)

2008-06-09T11:07:00.003+01:00

This is an older piece but it seems to fit the theme well and is a nice chance to post something a bit different.

IF: Baby

2008-05-31T20:22:00.003+01:00

'Mum keeps a watchful eye on her babies as they try out their new wings.'

(Since encountering the truely wonderful art of Jennifer Meyer and her adorable 'fairy bunnies' I've been sticking wings on everything!)

Another photoshop effort

2008-05-29T17:41:00.002+01:00

IF: Worry

2008-05-25T11:43:00.007+01:00

This fairy has every right to look worried....

IF: Wide (Fat Fairies)

2008-05-19T20:49:00.005+01:00

These wide mouth little guys are set to get ever wider tummies as they work their way through this pile of fairy cakes.

The colour version is my first effort with digital colour / Photoshop, which is a media I'm completely clueless in...any advice gladly received!

My first idea was actually to have a large snail making its way along a narrow lane, the snail would have been a 'wide load' due to an extended shell - visualise porches, turrets, extra rooms... Unfortunately I couldn't make this work, would love to see someone else to have a go!

IF: Electricity

2008-05-10T19:30:00.004+01:00

Renewable energy?...

IF: Seed

2008-05-05T20:53:00.006+01:00

Ok, so technically it's a blade of grass and they don't come directly from seeds, but as I missed my first IF last week since starting this blog, I wanted to ensure that I posted this week (does missing last week count as a 'wrinkle'?!)
This is an older illustration in a media I am really hoping to get back into (acrylic paints and ink).

IF: Primitive

2008-04-19T18:34:00.006+01:00

Possibly stretching the topic a bit this week, but here goes....

I've been experimenting with last weeks dragon sketches (middle picture) which were drawn from a dinosaur toy (above) with the aim of creating something new. Here comes the tentative link... so, this entry shows the earliest or 'primitive' stages in the process and the newly enhanced version!

I'll keep playing around with the new dragon character if he proves to be a hit.

IF: Fail (or...'If at first you don't succeed...')

2008-04-16T23:46:00.004+01:00

A few failed attempts usually come before success, as is the case for the character above.
Another sketch and just in time this week as I've been away, back to colour next week! This is a study of a rather cute dinosaur toy, I think he makes for quite a nice character so might revisit him again.

IF: Save (save the birds!)

2008-04-05T01:09:00.006+01:00

A very quick sketch today, and the link to this weeks IF topic 'Save' isn't wonderfully expressed.

Basically I was going for a continuation of my cat theme from the 'Leap' and 'Heavy' topics, where the cat saves, rather than eats the cute birdies. Unfortunately I don't have time to develop this idea this week, hence the sketchy sketch!

IF: Homage to Pooh

2008-03-29T14:12:00.010Z

A double homage, to the wonderful characters of A.A.Milne and inspiring illustrations of E.H. Shepard from Winnie-the-Pooh.

I wanted to interpret the characters and stories into my own style, but have found myself needing to study them a bit first, so for now I've included essentially a copy of one of Shepard's illustrations (above) and a couple of sketch studies (left). The wonderful thing about Shepard's simple, effective drawings is that you just can't capture the Pooh character making it even more special.
This weeks IF has inspired me to revisit these lovely stories and images, not least because they are loaded with lots of philosophical and zen thoughts too! (see 'Pooh and the Philosophers' by John Tyerman Williams and 'The Tao of Pooh & The Te of Piglet' by Benjamin Hoff).

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T13:36:00.002Z

Spare a thought for the Easter Bunny..

The washing line pencil sketch...

2008-03-23T13:34:00.001Z

IF: Pet Peeves

2008-03-22T19:37:00.011Z

I imagine a pet peeve of many children may be to have their favourite toy hung out to dry and worse still, when all their favourites get strung up at once!

As for my own pet peeves (and pet related ones at that...)

Why don't our cats realise from our reaction to mouse body parts in the house that we don't view these as 'presents'?

And will Claude please use the proper cat door instead of expecting us to let him in (and why do we keep letting him in!?)

Flying Hippo!

2008-03-21T18:01:00.003Z

An older drawing but wanted to include this as it ties in nicely with last weeks IF theme of heavy. This character is certainly heavy but manages to fly pretty well (reminds me of bees and how unlikely their flight is)

IF: Heavy (or...'is kittys luck in?')

2008-03-15T19:49:00.005Z

Thought it might be nice to continue the 'kitty & bird' theme from my entry for IFs 'Leap' topic and to have a go at applying a bit of watercolour in this sketch... small steps, I hope to get more confident in this medium.

IF: Garden

2008-03-08T20:18:00.004Z

'Rabbits in the veggie garden'

This started out with industrious rabbits tending to their own vegetable patch...but turned out to be some fairly cheeky rabbits stealing them instead. Dig faster bunnies!

IF: Leap

2008-03-01T17:26:00.006Z

Baby birds leap from their branches in a brave attempt to learn how to fly. (There may be further leaping to follow once the cat shakes off his surprise!)

Started this little scene on Thursday night, so just had to work it up for this Fridays' theme. I was also determined to add colour (which I find a challenge) and having seen a number of fantastic posts recently that have used colour pencils I thought I would have a go here.

IF: Multiple Bunnies

2008-02-23T13:05:00.003Z

Couldn't resist doing this little sketch for this weeks theme!

IF: Theory 'What is it like to be a bat?'

2008-02-20T21:06:00.004Z

Philosopher Thomas Nagel offered an objection to the Mind-Brain Identity theory (which seeks to reduce all mental states to brain states, arguing that there is nothing that cannot, ultimately be explained in terms of our material brains and therefore observed).
Nagel points out that however much we might learn about bats say, their bodies, brains, behaviour etc.. we can never know what it is like to be a bat. There are private, subjective experiences that bats and the rest of us have which cannot be observed, therefore something remains mysterious about the mind even if we know all there is about the brain.

IF: Choose

2008-02-08T21:46:00.001Z

'She went into the pet shop to choose a puppy, but just had to have the elephant!'

The Blanket sketch origins

2008-02-08T21:42:00.000Z

This is how the blanket sketch below started out, I've popped it in as I prefer it to the colour version.

IF: Blanket

2008-02-01T22:21:00.000Z

The importance of a small blanket...

IF: Wizard's Hat...a spell gone wrong?

2008-01-25T19:39:00.001Z

'The seventh of a seventh son

born with wisdom rare

hush falls as the chosen one

casts an ancient stare.

A lifetimes work of sorcery

the burden soon to come

this the price of wizardry

only claimed by some.

Sacred books to read and know

an endless task for most

novice failings soon will show

as misused spells will boast!'

Wizard's Hat (in pen)

2008-01-25T19:34:00.000Z

Microcosm

2008-01-20T16:02:00.000Z

IF '...rains mainly on the plain.'

2008-01-19T22:44:00.000Z

The end of the festivities

2008-01-07T18:44:00.000Z

IF: 100% Sorry

2008-01-06T18:41:00.000Z

Windmill

2008-01-05T18:16:00.000Z