Illustration Friday :: Swarm

Swarm [swawrm] – noun

1. A body of honeybees that emigrate from a hive and fly off together, accompanied by a queen, to start a new colony.

2. A body of bees settled together, as in a hive.

3. A great number of things or persons, especially in motion.

It’s not quite a swarm, but I’m sure you get the idea.

I came across the painted background which I did last year, for a painting I wanted to do of a tree silhouette against the sunset. It was a particular tree I drove past most days. I actually didn’t get round to completing it, but since I re-found the watercolour background, I thought a little ink would look nice over it.

A Butterfly & A Toadstool – Part II

Watercolour and Acrylic Ink on Daler Rowney Rough Aquarelle 140 lb.

I was in two minds about the detail on the butterfly. I knew if I used black ink, it would make the butterfly look harder and more prominent, whereas white highlights and softens. I think the black would have been too strong in this case.

A Butterfly & A Toadstool – Part I

I started a new painting last night. I’m experimenting again. The next bit will be to add some ink detail.

Sketchbook Project

In the middle of November, I made a split-second decision after seeing a tweet from The Art House Co-Op, for the deadline to sign up at midnight that night, to sign up to the Sketchbook Project. I’m very behind, and it’ll be submitted late (I was unwell throughout December) however, I still hope to submit it – I can’t let myself not submit it! (Although it feels a huge shame to send away so much work which I won’t get back. At least it will be in the Brooklyn Art Library.)

These are a few of the pages I’ve been working on the last few days.