Bonnie Bear - In Progress

Right now I am just trying to come up with illustrations to create a well rounded portfolio.  I know that as a hopeful children's book illustrator, that skill set would need to include animals.  I actually love drawing and painting animals!  There's such a great opportunity to create characters.

Bonnie Bear is our newspaper's mascot.  Our school system is also in the middle of a big reading promotion.  I decided to combine the two in a little design that could be used as an ad or poster.

Here's the black and white version after all of the sketching and pen work has been done.

I'm in the process of adding color.  I want it to be very vibrant and colorful so that means lost of layers.  It's going to be so pretty!

Bonnie already an established character.  I did look and see how I could make her recognizable but also to make her my own.  Her basic body shape and sizing is the same, but I made subtle changed to her face shape, nose, and eyes.

New Year/New Blog!!!

It's 2015.  It's a new year.  I'm turning 40 this year.  I've decided that it is time to do what I really want to do.  Don't get me wrong, I love being a teacher (most of the time!) and I love painting custom canvases, but I have always wanted to be a children's book illustrator.  It's a passion that I've just never made the time to follow.  Guaranteed paychecks, life, family...it all got in the way.

I'm rolling the dice.  It's time that I put myself out there and took a chance.

My illustrations are a pen and watercolor combination.  I'm happy to also work in only pen, pencil and colored pencil.  I'm reserving acrylics for the canvas business!  I would love for you to check out the few samples I have posted and pass my name along to anyone you know who needs illustration work.  Thank you in advance!

This is an 8x10 color pencil design that I did on my day off from school.  It kind of sums up how I'm feeling right now.

Please email me at brandie_bc1@yahoo.com with questions or for more illustration information.  If you'd like to see more, I have an etsy shop and a blog for my custom canvases and a blog for my art classes.  

Family Tree Completed

Here's the finished tree!  Isn't it just the cutest thing ever?

The leaves are actually cut out of another piece of watercolor paper that I painted green and then attached.  It gives a nice dimensional effect.  I think this would make a wonderful wedding, Valentine, anniversary or new baby gift.

As an illustrator, a family tree of the characters in the story would be so great in the front cover of the book.  Love!!!

Family Tree - In Progress

Oh, how I love a family tree!  I've done several in acrylic on canvas and am thrilled to be trying one in watercolor.  I've been wanting to do this for a while now.

I started by tracing the sketch onto watercolor paper.  I went ahead and did all of the pen work before I added any color at all.  It looks pretty great just in black and white!  I'm too excited to leave it, though!

I added masking fluid to the little pennants and then went to work with color washes.

I've got a few layers on the leaves and the sky but haven't done much to the trunk.  It's bedtime!  I'll add more and show the finished product soon.

This one is just for me and my portfolio.  I am taking custom orders if you would like your own family tree.  The finished product is 8x10 and arrives suitable for framing.  Email me at brandie_bc1@yahoo.com for more information.

Warren County - Complete

Here's the finished piece!  I am so proud of myself!  It's hard with teaching, mothering, and painting canvases to actually fill orders to carve out time to work on fulfilling my dream of being an illustrator. 

There's a gorgeous tree in the outer frame because Warren County is the "Nursery Capital"!  There are blue and gray diamonds in the inner frame to contrast with the red of the county.  Our county seat of McMinnville is marked as well as all of the smaller surrounding communities.

I can see this maybe being used in Chamber of Commerce materials.  It would be a great cover for a tourism pamphlet.

I wish my camera picked up all the little nuances that go along with using watercolor!  I did all of the lettering,  painting, and pen by hand.

I am currently accepting freelance illustration work.  If you have illustration needs, please email me at brandie_bc1@yahoo.com.  Thank you!!!

Warren County - In Progress

After getting the sketch just right in my drawing pad, I used my light pad to trace it lightly onto the watercolor paper.  I started by added color washes to start building the color and defining the space.

After getting some color built up, I began adding some pen detailing.  I like to do some of this early on to help me determine the color intensity and shades that I'm looking for.

 

Here's another shot of this same phase.  You can also see that I used some masking fluid to keep the frame defined.

Almost there!  

Even though I'd love to see it put to good use, this piece is just for my portfolio.  I am just now getting started as a true illustrator.  I've got tons of ideas bouncing around in my head and can't wait to get them on paper!