Friday, 26 June 2015
going with the Flow ...
... A little while back, the lovely folks at Flow magazine contacted me saying they would like to print my 'Believe in Yourself' quote in an edition of their publication Flow Weekly ... I was super thrilled to be asked & my copy arrived in the post yesterday. I'm really excited to be able to share some photos on the blog today as well as a few answers to a few questions they asked me too:
Who are you?
My name is Bee and I am an Illustrator. I work from my little 'Design Hive' studio from home. I live in the heart of the UK near to the countryside. I share my workspace with my husband and the view from our window looks out over our garden.
What does this quote mean to you personally?
I love this quote because its something that can apply to everyone, whoever we are, wherever we live and whatever we may do. I believe self-belief is so important ... if we are allowed to dream and believe strongly enough, we can find magical places in our lives for both ourselves and others.
What do you like about quotes?
They can be so inspirational and encouraging. They can have profound and positive effects on our lives. They can make us think.
Where do you find them?
In all sorts of places: books, sometimes written on walls and there is a great source of quotes on pinterest! I think my favourite place is on the windows at the waiting room at our village train station where some lovely, amusing quotes have been beautifully etched and painted onto the glass!
Are you inspired by another illustrator?
Not one person so much, but mainly in everyday things and the assortment of things I collect and keep around me. My kids are a great source of inspiration! I always have ideas buzzing round in my head. I love an eclectic mix of everything!
Tuesday, 16 June 2015
a big, heartfelt thanks!...
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'thank you nelly' ©bee brown 2015 |
Monday, 15 June 2015
a bit of something that might be useful to someone ....
discussing with her students soon ... I thought this might be an interesting read for anyone thinking about
the same thing so here are my answers on the blog too!!
What attracted you to art licensing and creating art for products?
I think I kind of fell into this really and licensing chose me! I left college being trained as what I'd call a 'regular'
illustrator, making artwork for children's books, educational books and games, editorials, advertising and so on. A
couple of years into working this way, I was contacted by an agency dealing in the licensing of artwork for products
including greetings cards, packaging, homewares etc. and decided it was another string to my bow. I have since left
this agency and am now fortunate to be working with JNA which I love. I guess I'm on a creative journey and this
seems to be my path right now. I enjoy the variety in the work: one day you might be working on a pattern for a little
girls dress and the next it might be wall art. It's fun!
What were you doing previously to art licensing (past profession, etc)?
To add to the above I also used to teach and worked as a Visiting Tutor sometimes for up to 3 days a week. In the
U.K we have a foundation course programme which lasts for a year prior to then going on and doing a BA degree
course. The foundation course covers many art and design related disciplines and I taught in the drawing and
graphic design studios. I loved it but stopped when I moved to live in Paris, France (cos I'm fancy like that!!).
Can you mention a recent licensing client or collaboration that you are excited about?
Yes! I have some wall art prints coming out next year with Oopsy Daisy! They are a company I have long admired
so I'm excited about the collaboration.
What mediums and/or software do you work in?
I love drawing and using digital software. Its my thing right now and the versatility just wows me. Illustrator is the best, but
I'm starting a course learning Photoshop in the Autumn which I'm hoping will allow me to expand on my digital skills. Before
I trained in all things digital I used to make my work just using paint (gouache and watercolour) and i have to be
honest and say i don't really miss it! I just LOVE my computer!! But the market is demanding more painterly effects
right now so I'm hoping that my soon to be new skills in Photoshop and my painting ability will bring another dimension to
my work.
When you create new artwork, do you start with it planned out? Or do you prefer to create art in a more
organic way?
organic way?
Nope, I don't really plan anything work wise!! One thing leads to the next and I love working in that kind of organic way. I
generally 'see' a visual solution to a brief in my mind, then I might sometimes make a few VERY loose drawings and
then just let it grow from there.
What tip do you have for people interested in this profession?
I think my tip would be coming from a 'making-a-living' perspective. its just my opinion but i would say unless you
are in a very fortunate financial situation, don't rely on licensing for your main income to begin with; couple it with
something else. That might be teaching for instance. I have a friend who couples hers with being a dental nurse 2
days a week!! Eventually when things take off and an income from licensing becomes more reliable, you can ditch
the other income steam/s (should you want to/need to).
How much do trends influence your work?
They never really used to. There is a belief that being too influenced by trends actually limits and stifles creativity
because your creative process is being too restricted by the trend boards in front of you! Before I had my kids, I
never followed trends and made an extremely good living! I'm learning to look at trends now and am trying to take
them on board, but it is a different way of working for me. I'm trying to incorporate them into my work but I have to
be honest and say I would rather just go off on my own flights of fancy. I can look at some artwork thats been heavily
influenced by trends and it all looks the same. Its not individual enough. I'm learning!
Do you have a certain method of picking colors for new work?
Colour inspiration comes from everywhere and anywhere. There are always the colours that I'm naturally drawn to,
but I try to shake those palettes up every now and again by bringing new colour in that I might not naturally think
about. This can come from fashion/home magazines, the internet, advertising flyers that come through the door...
anywhere! Its all an organic process, seeing what works and doesn't. I don't pay any attention to colour theory ... I
just work intuitively.
Monday, 8 June 2015
on 'being bohemian'...
... I was out the other night. This is something that I don't do all that often, but I was there, proper OUT, in a bar, in the CITY (wow!), having a chat. As you do...
... And then someone said to me: 'What do you do?'
So I explained, as best as I could. Then they said: "So you must be very 'Bohemian'".
... This stumped me. It wasn't a question or an opportunity for a bit of a discussion. It was a statement of a-mind-already-made-up. I loath it when that happens. That thing of having a W I L D assumption made of you. Do you know what I mean? It's not that I mind someone making an assumption because that's what people do I suppose isn't it? Make assumptions about other people. It's just that I'm totally unprepared for these statement of facts. They catch me off guard. And whether I'm being 'bohemian', or anything else for that matter, is something that takes a bit of thought...a bit of consideration before one declares oneself to the world to be this, that or the other.
I don't like labels. I don't like them because they are 'what they say on the tin'. People are rarely just 'what they say on the tin'. They are uniquely a bit of this, a bit of that and a bit of the other ... A jumble ... a mix and match of individual experiences and an ancient history of genetics ... of different paths trodden ... of other people and personalities met along the way...
... So, am I Bohemian? Well, I've clearly never given this any thought so this needs to addressed and a suitable answer found just incase someone else at some point in the future presumes to make the same statement. I need to have my answer stored away so that the next time, I will have my reply. So, what is it to be 'Bohemian'?
...Well the dictionary says:
1. a native or inhabitant of Bohemia.
Definitely not this.
2. relating to Bohemia or its people.
So not this either.
3. someone who practices an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic, or literary pursuits. Bohemians may be wanderers, adventurers, or vagabonds.
So there we have it. I'm afraid I have to disappoint. I am none of the above. I have to dispel the myth that I'm something extraordinary, exotic or of hugely interesting character ... How I would love to be a romantic, artistic individual, roaming the countryside in my pretty painted horse-drawn caravan searching for artistic inspiration at every twist and turn... but alas and alack, not so.
...So here it is, in plain black and white ... I'm a Mum of 2 who does the school run, goes to the supermarket, pays her taxes and needs to pay the mortgage, and who just happens to draw for her job... So, I'd better hang up my travellers cloak, tie up the horse and get back to it. But, there is one thing I will keep from my explorations Person In The Bar in the Big City: an open mind and my ability to question! x
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