Beekeepers’ Conventions
Since my first attempt at a bee-related drawing “Overload,” didn’t please me, I tried again. I grabbed a piece of copy paper, pulled out the grade school colored pencils that I had in an old art box, and started doodling.
Keep in mind, I had no art training and no idea what materials to use. I really wasn’t even sure I could draw bees! But I had promised my husband that I would produce a drawing for him to donate to the Indiana beekeepers spring convention auction.
“Beekeepers’ Spring Convention” • 2011 •
8.5x11 pen & colored pencil on smooth white copy paper
This time, I approached it like a news story. I had a plan, and came up with what would be the basic drawing method that I’ve used ever since.
First, I came up with a loose concept for the picture, concentrating on the main facts. Having been to several business conventions, I knew they were normally pretty boring. But since this convention included a beekeepers’ school, I started with a simple scene showing a teacher instructing two new beekeepers at a hive. Then I imagined what else would be going on around this class.
What else? Surely the bees would be having a parallel convention, with a bit of human interaction as they aimed their stingers at one of the beekeeper’s red polka dot undershorts? Birds outfitted like Olympic judges perched on an overhead branch to rate the competition.
The finished drawing was colorful, but had I known better, I would have used a heavier art paper. However, the drawing made about $35 for the auction, so it was the encouragement I needed to try another drawing.
“Beekeepers’ Fall Convention” • 2011 •
11x17 pen & colored pencil on textured white Bristol
I realized copy paper was not a good choice, and switched to a Bristol drawing paper when I attempted a second drawing. This one was a donation for the Indiana Beekeeper’s Fall Conference auction. I figured since this was the annual meeting and not a “school,” maybe the beekeepers might enjoy a game of “Don’t Spill the Honey” between speakers. And of course, the local honeybees also have returned with their own parallel games.
This picture sold for around $50. Unfortunately, it hadn’t occurred to me either time to sell a print, and not the original drawing, so all I have of both these drawings are copies photographed from my phone. Not good, but at least there’s a record!
Creating – and finishing! – these drawings was a huge motivation for me to continue drawing, and it has become much more than a hobby.
I’ve since taken classes, started to study a bit and read a few artist’s magazines, and joined an artists’ network, which has been invaluable for advice and morale support.
I decided early on that I was OK with any path this took – straight art, commercial ventures, or falling back on drawing solely as a hobby.
Onward!