Nelly Furtado

This is one of my first forays into painting portraiture digitally. Hopefully she's recognizable!

BTW, I'll be updating my website in January. Keep checking back: www.bethanyillustrates.com

Lenny Kravitz

This is a celebrity portrait that I completed recently. It connects to Lenny's self-proclaimed "Love Revolution".

I have to admit, I love his music.

A Work in Progress

I finally bought an easel... the "Weston Full French Easel". I like it as I can fold it up and put it away when I'm not using it. Here it is in action with a recent painting in progress...

Oh, look!

My flying pig made it to the front page of IMAGEKIND! Toot, toot...

Also, my portraiture is featured on VEER's portfolio pages!

Purchasing Prints

Check out my greeting card gallery on IMAGEKIND, I've just uploaded some new images!

Today's Notes

Across the Universe

A narrative illustration responding to the Beatle's song "Across the Universe":

"Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world."

The Secret Garden

This is a sketch I'm working on painting digitally right now... for the book "The Secret Garden" in my digital painting class. It was a favourite story of mine growing up, and I remember listening to a dramatized version on audio cassette.

More Digital Adventures

More painting on my computer... this time I can't take credit for the under drawing (it's my teacher's: Robert Revels) BUT the painting is all mine.

Tools for Repair

Digital Adventures

I've recently been learning how to paint with my computer... created this lady in class today. Fun!

A Late Arrival

She opened the heavy front door as quietly as she could and yet a loud creak reverberated through her Grandma's front room. A cold winter's draft forced its way in behind her and directed her attention toward the one lonely lamp lighting the space. She heard a small moan from behind the couch and realized regretfully that her Grandma had indeed waited up for her. She knew there was nothing she could say so she turned out the light, crept up to her bed in the attic and cried herself to sleep.

Wintery Strings

Her bright yellow cello case trundled along, shielding her from the blustering winds. Glowing brighter than the moon in the night sky her vintage white scarf trailed behind. As she wondered what her Grandma would say at her late arrival she slipped and fell flat on her bottom. What else would go wrong tonight?

Sweet Henry

Packed

Converse Clique

Salon Wall

Some of the work I created this summer...

What I've been up to...

I haven't been doing very much sketching this summer but I've been doing a portrait painting class with Zhaoming Wu. This is my self-portrait in progress... black and white in oil. :)

Union Square 13IV08

... this was done in a new square-sized sketchbook and a favourite green brush pen I haven't put to use in awhile... another outdoor sketch in an inspiring Union Square.

Happy Easter!

I couldn't resist doing SOMEthing illustrationy for Easter. This is drawn by hand then painted in Photoshop.

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

Union Square 9III08

Coffee, Sunglasses, Wine glasses...



..."No no no no no" from a drunk man, "Yip, yip, yip" from the dogs...



...sun off the buildings, relaxing with a friend and my sketchbook.

Self Portrait 26II08

Well, I usually don't post more finished work here, but I wanted to share another self-portrait. I painted this in Adobe Photoshop - in black and white, and then 'glazed' some color over it using layers. I like the back lighting and then the secondary light source revealing form on the left.

Life Sketches: Redding

Life Sketches: Stoning Mary

A couple sketches I did tonight of Calgary band 'Stoning Mary'... braved snow and cold to go hear them and had a great time!

Go check out their music on their myspace page.

The Impulse to Soar