Bee Johnson Illustration

A Portrait of Peach

2012-03-03T10:34:00.001-08:00

I created this portrait of Peach for her birthday. Peach is a fellow SCAD alum, illustrator, wild woman, and world traveler. She'll try anything once, and her sense of adventure is totally contagious. I'm so glad we're living in the same city now -- after all, who else would casually invite you to an Anthropomorphic Insect Shadowbox Workshop? Here's to another year of nonsense, Peach. Keep it weird!

A Letter To My Very Bad Dog

2012-02-26T08:57:00.004-08:00

My darling garbage mouth:

You will, some day, have to share your mommy. I may dance around the kitchen singing "I'm gonna marry youuuu!" into your snout while I wait for the rice to boil, but let's be honest - an actual man might not be so bad either. You'll always be my right hand mutt. I just can't have you sabotaging my relationships. This means there will be nights when you'll have to suck it up and sleep like a dog on a dog bed. It's really hard to make bedroom eyes at a gentleman when there's a 50 pound pit bull sprawled across your pillows breathing like a serial killer while digesting the dinner she inhaled moments before.

Of course it's hard to ask you to leave. I hate to do it. But when my bedroom door closes, you can't just take a giant crap outside of it. It's rude and a total mood spoiler. And speaking of mood spoilers, it's no fun to come home with your date to find trash strewn across the apartment, either. Nothing says "I'd love to see you again" like excusing yourself to gather the collection of half-chewed yogurt containers and toilet paper rolls lying in tiny pieces all over the living room floor.

And don't even try to pretend it wasn't you, Annie. There's half an old coffee filter (grinds included) still hanging from the left side of your mouth.

You'll always be my baby. My first dog-love. Irreplaceable. Perfect in my eyes, no matter how disgusting you are. Just do me a favor and let me fall in love without having to clean up a hundred messes in between. Men and women are messy enough on their own.

With love and a roll of paper towels,
Bee

Isa in Williamsburg

2012-02-23T16:25:00.002-08:00

Illustration by Bee Johnson

Review as written by Silvia Killingsworth in The New Yorker

Tables for Two | Isa

348 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn (347-689-3594)

These days, Williamsburg draws as much ire as it does hungry visitors. Say what you will about skinny jeans, but the home of the hipster has some of the most exciting new restaurants in New York. At Isa, Taavo Somer (the restaurateur and scene-maker behind Freemans and Peels) has taken a highly personal approach to the space, and, like a teen-ager’s bedroom, it deliberately resists being understood. Some days, the menu is a kooky graphic collage, and until recently the bathroom was a neon-fluorescent hall of triangular mirrors. (Perhaps in response to quizzical attention, it has been toned down.) Geometric forms abound, the furniture looks vaguely Scandinavian—woodsy yet sleek—and the over-all feeling is that of a hippie ski cabin. In one corner, a small succulent potted in a green ceramic mug with an ear for a handle features a button that asks, “Why be normal?”
The food is anything but rustic. The menu lists components only—no sources or even methods of preparation—with the result that expectations are muted. One night, artistically arranged starters of “beet, apple, granola, foie gras” and “tartare, sunchoke, flax soil, crème fraîche” looked ultra-modern, on large, flat plates, as if they had been nicked from a haute-cuisine kitchen. A dish called “calamari, ink, pil pil, dill” elicited another kind of surprise, arriving as a whole squid, completely intact; the flesh was startlingly tender and the ink satisfyingly briny. There are less challenging options: “ham,” “cheese,” and “wings in sticky caramel,” the last being easy to understand and even easier to eat, if a couple of notches too sweet. There are generally only two or three entrées on offer; one night they were duck breast, mackerel, and porridge. “Porridge? For dinner?” a woman asked, of no one in particular. The savory concoction came piping hot, studded with walnuts, radicchio di Treviso, and sharp, salty Gorgonzola; not a spoonful was spared. The mackerel, paired with carrots, yogurt, and egg yolk, could have used more acid but was cooked to perfection. Slivers of rich duck breast and liver were balanced by celeriac and dandelion greens.
Dessert is another juke—instead of sweets and chocolate, there are expositions on taste. Grapefruit curd with mascarpone and a crumble of pistachio and green tea demonstrated the more elegant notes of bitterness, and sunchoke cream with chestnut, black-trumpet mushrooms, and coffee expounded on the sweet-savory spectrum of nuttiness. Diners are often so disarmed by the food that they break the fourth wall to consult with their neighbors. After weighing in on a discussion of ice cubes and exchanging bites, one couple asked another, “Wait, are you having ham for dessert?” Why not? (Open daily for dinner and weekends for brunch. Entrées $16-$33; prix fixe $50.) ♦

After Brunch We Stumbled Home

2012-02-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

In an effort to amp up my editorial portfolio for an upcoming meeting with an artist's rep, I'll be illustrating a series of past restaurant reviews from The New Yorker's Tables for Two section. This first panel is just an experiment - like stretching before a workout - and it pays homage to BRUNCH. My friend Al first introduced me to New York's fascinating brunch scene, which is more of a social sporting event for the city's most polished and professional alcoholics than it is the grits-n-gravy post-church gatherings I grew accustomed to seeing in the South.

Al and I have plans to document these drunk brunches in all their boozey glory, but for now, I'm focusing in on tablescapes alone. It's an interesting challenge to capture the vibe of a restaurant without showing any patrons, and I'd like to take that approach in this upcoming series of editorial spots.

I'm thinking, too, in the name of research, that brunch might not be such a bad idea this weekend. After all, what better way to spend a Sunday than stumbling around wondering who'll save your sloppy, sangria-soaked soul?

Cut Paper Personalized Notecards

2012-02-15T11:33:00.000-08:00

I created this notecard set with 4 colorways as a gift for Rabia, one of the warmest, most generous women I've had the pleasure of knowing in New York. Happy birthday!

Eyes to God

2012-01-11T21:55:00.001-08:00

I was waiting for the D train yesterday and this woman kept yelling "KEEP THEM EYES TO GOD!" and I thought, you know, on an elevated platform with trains barreling towards you, that might just be the quickest way to meet him.

Sleep Cycle with Annie

2012-01-09T23:22:00.000-08:00

Patterns and Ponytails for Fall

2011-11-22T18:28:00.001-08:00

Street Repeats II : Constructive Color

2011-11-22T16:54:00.001-08:00

I was on my way to meet a friend at the Hudson River Cafe last week when I passed this sharp little construction site at 132nd near Fairway Market. I was already running late but decided to stop and photograph the wall anyways -- palettes like that are too good to pass up! I may not be punctual, but I'm productive, and I think as long as I can wrap a gift in my reason for being late, people will learn to forgive me. At least I hope that's the case.

Street Repeats I: Finding Pattern in Harlem

2011-11-21T04:54:00.001-08:00

Paranoid Kid

2011-11-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid and the doorbell would ring, it could only mean one of two things: Publisher's Clearing House or Serial Killer. My sister's room had a view of the front porch, so I would tiptoe to her window and peek through the curtains to see who was knocking. If there were no balloons, camera crews, or giant checks, someone had come to kill me. This was just the way life worked, and I had plenty of episodes of NYPD Blue to prove it.

Usually the person knocking was a man in a brown uniform with a package and clipboard, but I was no fool. He could just as easily deliver a box from Land's End as he could a crushing blow to my skull, and I had too much homework due to find out.

To this very day, I feel my heart skip a beat when someone knocks at the door unexpectedly. In this neighborhood, it's usually a meter reader or a confused kid with a carton of General Tso's Chicken meant for the apartment below, but there's definitely still a part of me that jumps straight to Murderer.

When I created this illustration, I wanted to show a braver version of myself answering the door. Braver and in the form of glaring triplets, because that's about as intimidating as it gets.

Sneak Peek Apollo

2011-11-12T16:47:00.000-08:00

Here's a sneak peek snippet of the jacket art I'm creating for a monograph to be published by Cambridge University Press in the next year. I was inspired by one of my favorite vintage children's books -- a 1956 Golden Book edition of The Iliad and the Odyssey, illustrated by Martin and Alice Provensen. I stumbled across a copy in really good condition while visiting my sister in Philadelphia and couldn't believe my luck. The nice old man who owned the bookshop gave it to me for next to nothing, along with a folio of Paul Colin posters and a 1986 re-issue of Owen Jones' The Grammar of Ornament, a gorgeous ornamental motif sourcebook first published in 1856.

There's quite a bit more to this illustration, but for now, this close-crop can serve as a teaser.

Illustration for This Land Press: Nicolas Cage's Agent by Tao Lin

2011-11-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

Jeremy at This Land Press asked me to illustrate a short piece about Nicolas Cage by Brooklyn Lit Boy Tao Lin. Nicolas Cage's Agent ran in the November 1st issue. Check it out here.

And while I never expected Nicolas Cage to be fan of my work, I can now say for sure that he won't be.

Fashion Illustrations for Pima Doll

2011-10-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I was hired to illustrate the look book for Pima Doll, a playful new line created by Ashley Arbaugh and Arturo Vera. Rather than simply shooting the models in the garments, Ashley wanted to blur the boundaries between photo and illustration by using realistic renderings of the models with the photographed clothing mapped onto the drawings. The first part of the project was similar to the portrait work I do for White Pepper -- I created heads only, which we spent several weeks perfecting as a group of characters for the line.

The next step was to get the models into the outfits, illustrating whatever limbs were needed to complete the pose. With over sixty final drawings, plus plenty of preliminary work, this was a really fun, really challenging project. As an illustrator, it was refreshing to work collaboratively with a photographer since it's more common to hire one or the other for a project like this. I believe the website is still under construction, but keep your eyes peeled for the online shop!

The High Road

2011-10-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

It's getting pretty tough to convince people I work digitally when they see pieces like this. While the illustrations I create for clients tend to be tight and graphic, my personal pieces are becoming more and more painterly. It's so nice to be able to express ideas in both styles.

Ultimately I'd love to transfer some of these illustrations to board and get back to working with a palette knife, but supplies are expensive and I'm a total klutz with a significant security deposit to lose if I make a mess painting in my little room. Which I totally will.

Tent Revival

2011-10-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

I finally signed up for a card with the New York Public Library and spent a free afternoon tiptoeing around the building. It's breathtaking, romantic, and the perfect place to go when you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. (Plus, I love the lions, particularly the left one. We have a statue-girl-love thing going on.) Across the street on Fifth Ave is the rental branch, and I've been haunting the DVD stacks on my lunch breaks, picking through archival footage of early roots music in southern America. I guess I miss home.

This week's winner was Down Home Music, a collection of black and white footage shot in 1963 by Dietrich Wawzyn and Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie Records. The performances range from gospel and blues to hillbilly and country with a few tent revivals in between for good measure. Incredible stuff.

In another life, I would have pursued ethnomusicology as a major, so finding inspiration for my personal work in this area is a really satisfying way to combine interests and respond visually to the music and culture I grew up around in Memphis. I definitely recommend this DVD if you have time to hunt it down at your local library!

PS, Gauguin, you're getting to me.

Tire Swing

2011-10-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

Just finished a 48-illustration project that I can't yet share with you. Until then, here's a personal piece to celebrate fall. Hope you're all enjoying the beautiful weather!

Portrait of Celeste

2011-10-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

For Ray. And what a beautiful woman she was!

This Land Press | Alan Heathcock's "Streetlamps"

2011-09-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Above is an illustration I created for This Land Press in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The illustration was paired with a piece of short fiction by award-winning author Alan Heathcock. Check out the illustration on TLP's Imaginary Oklahoma section of the site. It was a pleasure working under the art direction of the multi-talented Jeremy Luther, whom I met years ago through my dear friend from Memphis and incredible illustration mentor John Lee. And while I'm on a linking binge, y'all should check out the work of Derrick Dent, yet another Memphis illustrator with mad skills whom I had the pleasure of hanging out with during his recent trip to the city. Must be something in that midsouth water!

Note: Sadly, the color in the illustration was distorted on the This Land Press website. What you see on the blog is the actual palette! Damn you, web optimization. Ah well.

Angels In Heaven Done Signed My Name

2011-09-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been combing through the Alan Lomax video archives for inspiration. This illustration is based on gospel footage from St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetville, Arkansas, circa 1978. Great stuff.

That one.

2011-09-05T02:08:00.000-07:00

Auction House Heroes, #2

2011-08-30T22:54:00.001-07:00

The Insect Collector.

I wish I could sell the roaches in my apartment for half of what this stag beetle went for!

Auction House Heroes, #1

2011-08-28T09:39:00.001-07:00

Power bidders/compulsive collectors/insightful investors/culture vultures/status driven/status setting/total effing winos.

Call them what you will, but one thing's for certain: there's an awful lot of power behind the paddle. Art buyers and antique collectors are an interesting breed, especially in this economy. I'm experimenting with new ways to expand narrative in my portraits, so the auction world seemed like a fun place to start.

I'm attending my first public auction at Christie's later this month for inspiration and research. And whispering. And giggling. And finger pointing. (Note to self: Find outfit that doesn't give away the fact that I live next door to a Payless and wash and reuse ziplock bags to save money.)

I'm still sitting on a bunch of work that I'm not allowed to publish yet, but as soon as I get the thumbs up, they'll be posted here. Until then, let's just focus on who's buying what.

Everything You Need To Know About Split Ends and Heartbreak

2011-07-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

Above is an editorial illustration for an article on mother-daughter relationships.

What else is new:

I'm in the middle of my first fashion related project. I'm working with a really talented designer based in the city who's launching a line in the Spring. I can't post what I've been illustrating yet, but it's a cool concept, and I look forward to sharing it with you once the site goes live.

On the White Pepper Portraits front, I received my largest commission yet -- a nine subject family portrait! It's gonna be a beauty. I'll post that on the WPP blog when it's finished.

In addition to these projects, I recently illustrated an animated quiz for National Geographic, and I'm in the process of creating artwork for a short story to be pubished by This Land Press in Tulsa, OK.

Needless to say, I'm keeping busy and beating the heat by staying glued to my desk. Check back next week for more work!

Harlem Girls

2011-07-29T22:08:00.001-07:00

Saw this girl on the train yesterday, loved her style. Tough as nails, pretty as a peach. Girls in West Harlem have incredible presence. I'm in the middle of three big projects right now, but I had to take a break by doing a little personal piece. It's 1 in the morning...a few more hours to log before retiring for the evening. Then, rinse and repeat.

Seasonal Heroes

2011-07-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

I sometimes try and knock out an illustration in the hour before work while I wait for my hair to dry. This morning I glanced out at the dozens of window units decorating the building across from mine and decided to pay tribute to what must be the single most popular appliance in the city this week.

Ernst Cassirer and the Barter Exchange

2011-07-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned my love for bartering? When you're an artist in this city, it's a major plus to find people who will accept artwork as a form of payment for various favors. In this case, my friend watched Annie for a day in exchange for a portrait of Ernst Cassirer. Arbitrary, yes, but a solid swap all the same.

Too bad I can't send ConEdison a packet of drawings each time my electric bill arrives...

By the way, my website has a brand new face. Check it out if you haven't already!

Catalog Illustrations for Domicile

2011-07-11T17:45:00.001-07:00

Domicile recently hired me to illustrate a press catalog showcasing what's new in inventory while relating the company's unique history. They carry such a broad range of furniture, I decided it would be best to sort the inventory by style and create illustrated motifs for each to reinforce the theme. Above are samples of the left-facing pages, plus a sample of one full spread.

Farmers' Fair Poster Design

2011-07-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

Scenes from the Train IV | Sleeping on Strangers

2011-06-29T20:47:00.000-07:00

There's nothing worse than fighting the battle to stay awake in a public setting -- and losing. The combination of fluttering lids, gaping mouth, rolling eyes, and fugitive saliva doesn't make for a pretty picture, no matter how attractive you are. Add to that a few sporadic jerks of the neck, maybe even a guttural noise or two (attacked by monkeys in a dream?), and you're an impromptu freak show, the car accident we all want to look away from but just...can't....

This can happen anywhere. In classrooms. At meetings. (At meetings with higher-ups at Penguin Books, which, no, I don't want to talk about right now.) But when this happens on the train, you're really in for a treat.

See, that warm, heavy head is bound and determined to find a nice shoulder to rest on. No matter that the shoulder happens to belong to a complete stranger. Sometimes these strangers get angry. (Machos on the Metro.) Sometimes these strangers get offended. (Most women.) But sometimes these strangers are too nice to say anything, no matter how totally uncomfortable it makes them. And those are the people I like best of all.

Scenes from the Train III | Mariachi Moment

2011-06-24T00:11:00.000-07:00

Catching a bunch of stressed out New Yorkers sharing a train car with a mariachi band is pure subway gold. I don't care how exhausted, financially freaked, overworked, underworked, insane, lost, or lifeless you are. For those two minutes, it's fiesta time, and it's happening whether you like it or not.

Scenes from the Train II | Lovers

2011-06-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

New York is a hard place to be heart broken. It's not that it's easy elsewhere. I've wallowed in the Ozarks, wept in Tennessee, and waited by the phone in Georgia. (Great track record, I know.)

But here in the city, the sheer number of people makes your chances of having l-o-v-e rubbed in your face a hundred times higher. Pair that with the Universal Law of Break-Ups (anything that can trigger nostalgia will) and bam, there you are, scowling on the train, sighing too loudly, or most embarrassing of all, crying behind your sunglasses.

I should clarify that the sort of animal love fest illustrated above doesn't typically spark my sentimental spiraling, but when it came down to showing two people gazing or two people groping...

Scenes from the Train I | Mother and Son

2011-06-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

Tonight on my way home from work, I sat across from a mother and son who would have made Botero swoon. The little boy looked sweet and serene (and unbelievably sticky) pressed up against his mother, and I entertained myself by imagining all the hell raising he did in the hours before.

New Portrait

2011-06-17T21:19:00.001-07:00

Lady in Waiting

The Tsetse Tamer

2011-06-12T19:10:00.000-07:00

My good friend Sam sent me a copy of Tom Robbin's Another Roadside Attraction for my birthday a few weeks ago, and my mind has been flooded with imagery from the novel -- a novel saturated with far-out funk and supremely strange characters. There's a Tsetse fly in the story (albeit a dead one), and I suppose that sparked the idea for this illustration. I've also had a lot of imagery from Africa floating around in my head from a project I'm working on at Harper's. It's always funny to see bits and pieces of visual information from my week come together into something completely new!

Official Whitepepperportraits.com Launches!

2011-06-01T17:11:00.000-07:00

It always takes a few weeks of trial and error to figure out the best direction for marketing your work. Launching White Pepper Portraits is giving me a fantastic crash course in self promotion, brand identity, and, of course, time management. Just like my freelance work, this business is an exciting ride, and I never quite know what to expect -- sometimes I'm flooded with work, and sometimes it's eerily quiet. Balance is best, but in the meantime, learning to handle the ups and downs is toughening me up, both as an illustrator and an entrepreneur!

Although we started by using the Etsy platform, I quickly decided to reroute and build a website for WPP to streamline all of the information, from image galleries and how-to PDFs to shopping carts and contact forms.

I hope you'll check out the website and spread the word!

Expats, Part 3

2011-05-21T11:44:00.001-07:00

Deep Blue Sheep. I had way too much fun with this one.

Expats, Part 2

2011-05-16T22:23:00.000-07:00

This is the second illustration in the Expats series, which is proving to be a lot of fun to work on. I was actually inspired by a little garden ornament made of tin flowers that I spotted in someone's courtyard the other day. Even though I didn't have an animal in mind, I decided to work backwards and create the environment first, waiting until the very end of the process to drop the Walrus Bomb.

Yeah, I capitalized that.

Expats, Part 1

2011-05-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

There's a wonderful playground statue of a camel in Riverside Park that I pass every day while I'm walking Annie. I've come to think of it as the Rip Van Winkle of camels, sleeping soundly through the changing seasons and collecting whatever natural debris get left behind.

This got me thinking about animals out of context -- seasonally, environmentally -- and so I decided to do a mini-series called Expats featuring some of my favorite animals in unexpected places.

White Pepper Portraits Shop Launch!

2011-05-08T23:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend I launched my new side project, White Pepper Portraits, which offers beautiful, affordable, and completely customizable illustrated portraits through the Etsy marketplace. Please take a moment to stop by the shop and read about the process and policies. WPP is already off to a great start, and I look forward to watching this project grow over time!

Portraits make amazing gifts for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and holidays, and the WPP style is like nothing else on the market. Contact me if you're interested in commissioning a piece, and please spread the word. For every three referrals, you get a free illustration and print!

Flat Tire Fab - Charlene Kaye's Spring Tour Poster

2011-04-15T05:13:00.000-07:00

Charlene Kaye is hitting the road for her spring tour, so when she asked me to create the poster art, I knew I had to show a glamorous breakdown. (I have a feeling Triple A would hustle to arrive on time for this one...) Look closely. There is indeed a nail in that tire. Delight is in the details! Check out the show if you're in one of the cities listed above, and look for prints of the poster on sale as well.

Portraits for the People!

2011-04-07T13:31:00.001-07:00

I've been beefing up the portrait section of my portfolio in preparation for an exciting side project of mine currently in the works, set to launch in the next month or two. Essentially I'll be offering illustrated portraits at affordable rates for non-commercial clients -- ie, you! Until the website is up, I'll keep the rest of the details under wraps, but be sure and check back soon for more sneak peeks.

Also, if you happen to swing by a Barnes and Noble, stop by the magazine section and flip through the current issue of Creative Quarterly. Two of my pieces are published inside, along with all sorts of wonderful work from some of today's top illustrators, designers, and photographers!

Love Line

2011-04-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

I created this spot illustration for a greeting card company in Connecticut -- this particular image was for a Valentine's Day line.

BeeYC

2011-03-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

Well, folks, I'm officially settled into my shiny new apartment in New York City. (And when I say shiny, I'm talking about the flaky gold paint covering the regal entryway of my building in West Harlem.) I love this city, and I can't wait to see what unfolds for me here. Summer's coming, my little yellow work desk is all set up, and I'm ready to get my illustration on!

New cities call for new self portraits, so I whipped this up to celebrate whatever's next. Cheers!

Happy Birthday, Dave!

2011-03-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday, dearest! You make New York City feel like home. I'm so proud of everything you do and everything you are. I'm a lucky lady to have you in my life, and I look forward to watching you rock your twenty-fifth year. Cheers!

Cover Art: Dress and Tie by Charlene Kaye ft. Darren Criss

2011-02-24T07:45:00.000-08:00

Back in November, NY-based songwriter and musician Charlene Kaye approached me to create the cover art for her single Dress and Tie, featuring Darren Criss (aka "Blaine Anderson" if you watch the show Glee).

After talking to Charlene about what direction she wanted to go in, we decided on imagery that was bright and ornamental with emphasis on the artists' faces. I also decided to draw on some 1960s lifestyle illustrations for inspiration to complement the classic boy-and-girl theme of the track -- after all, Coby Whitmore and Al Parker did it best.

I thought I'd share some of my initial thumbnails here so you can see some of the earlier compositional options. In the end, we went with the back to back pose because it felt less narrative and more like a classic cover.

When you get an album art gig, it's always a fun job, but this project was especially rewarding. My boyfriend Dave Scalia played drums and percussion on the track, and as always, I'm extremely proud of his talent. Charlene was fantastic to work with, and I'm excited for all of the success she and her bandmates will find with this release. If you'd like to download the single on iTunes, check it out here!

To The Brightest Man I Know

2011-02-23T07:42:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Dad. I love you!

Floral Samples

2011-02-16T20:33:00.001-08:00

My beautiful friend Margaret is getting married this coming July on a farm near her home in Asheville, and she asked me to design her wedding invitation. We're still in progress on the invitation itself, but here's a sneak peek at the graphic I created for it. I really love illustrating plants...as I see them, anyways. A botanical illustrator would tell you my renderings are pure aesthetics and no science, and I'd have to agree. Counting leaves and petals ain't my bag...

A Benadryl Valentine

2011-02-12T16:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Roses, chocolates, and little stuffed bears have a tendency to make me break out in hives, so a Benadryl inspired card seemed fitting this year.

Here's to a non-drowsy day full of genuine sentiments. Enjoy yourselves and spread the love!

Cat + Pattern = Cattern

2011-02-02T17:13:00.000-08:00

What better way to spend a snow day than designing textiles? If I ever do a children's book about cats (which I certainly will at some point), this will be the design for the end papers.

Check out the new Textiles Section on my website to see all of my patterns in one place!

The New Yorker: 2011 Eustace Tilley Contest

2011-01-23T18:53:00.000-08:00

Above is my entry for the New Yorker's 2011 Eustace Tilley contest. I decided to illustrate Eustace in Wonderland. Special thanks to fab illustrator and friend Gabriela Molina for the heads up on this one! Check out her entry here!

Fairytale Ending

2011-01-16T22:09:00.001-08:00

My boyfriend's nephew Liam is a serious contender for the title of Cutest Toddler Ever, and a few days ago, I had the pleasure of watching him for an afternoon. Unlike most of the two year old boys I've encountered, Liam's interests extend beyond spilling things, stomping on things, and screaming at things -- thank goodness. He loves picture books, and so do I. I packed a few of my favorites with me (Calef Brown's Dutch Sneakers and Flea Keepers was a big hit) and watched as he engaged with each of the illustrations.

If you want to learn how to make a successful children's book, just watch a kid interact with one. I loved watching the way he moved through each spread, discovering detail after detail until suddenly the entire picture clicked as a whole. I tend to see an illustration in the opposite order -- first I absorb it as a whole and then I stop to savor the details. I also noticed that he was able to recognize super stylized and exaggerated objects as long as they were placed in context and thoughtfully composed. Good to know.

Needless to say, I've had children's books on the brain for the last few days and thought it would be fun to create a little spot for a fairytale. I didn't have any story line in mind, but it was a great exercise to get me back in the zone. More to come!

Because I'm ALWAYS late mailing cards...

2010-12-22T13:10:00.000-08:00

3x3 No. 7 Arrived!

2010-12-22T12:48:00.001-08:00

The 3x3 Annual (No.7) came in the mail today! Annie couldn't wait to get her paws on it since five spreads from my children's book Where Dreaming Dogs Go were published inside.

We looked at it together and Annie seemed pleased to see herself on the printed page. (She also reminded me that had I chosen any other dog as the main character, the entire project would have failed miserably.)

Once again, I'd like to give a big THANK YOU to Daniel Powers, a fantastic author, illustrator and professor of mine from SCAD who guided me through the creation of my first dummy. Please take a moment and check out his beautiful work!

And finally, here's a snapshot of an espresso label I designed as a holiday gift.

CREATIVE QUARTERLY 22 WINNER!

2010-12-17T08:41:00.001-08:00

I just got word that my illustration Fall Style will be published in Creative Quarterly 22! I'm thrilled to have my first win in the Professional category. Forget college degrees. Now I feel like I've graduated. Look for it on newsstands Spring 11.

I've had the pleasure of working with a few new and wonderful clients this month, and I promise to post images as soon as I can. I'm also involved in a fun seasonal project with Twist Worldwide that's keeping me in the holiday spirit, no matter how bitter the weather gets.

And finally, there's a folder on my desktop labeled Half Baked Illustrations, and it's getting pretty full. Once the Christmas season is over, I'll work on wrapping those up. Expect plenty of personal projects in January.

Hope you're all staying warm! I'm struggling through my first Chicago winter and learning to take short steps, long baths, and drink hot tea like it's going out of style.

Now darling, be good...

2010-12-04T15:57:00.000-08:00

Annie has been on her worst behavior yet this week. I don't know what's at the root of it, but I suspect it's a combination of the shift in the weather and my work schedule changing from day to day. Every morning before I leave, I kiss her head and tell her to be good. When I arrive home, I find her trembling on the floor, tail tucked and eyes averted. She's sick with guilt, and the disaster zone I encounter in the next room explains why. I'll save the details for later this week when I can illustrate the mess she made, but for now, I'm going to focus on the sweet moments just before she brings the house down.

Foodie Bits

2010-11-19T23:21:00.001-08:00

Below is a series of spot illustrations I did for labels on a line of body scrubs that should hit the shelves around Christmas. And no, the little chick is not considered a "foodie bit", but it happens to be part of the line, so I included it anyways.

Pattern Project

2010-11-15T00:07:00.000-08:00

Alright, so I had an idea. Take an object, create a pattern with it, then take the first letter it starts with and use it as a design element to enhance the pattern somehow. R for Raspberries and A for Almonds. See it now?

I've got the foodie theme on my mind for another project I'm working on with a client, but I don't think I'll confine myself to that category. We'll see. I'd love to get the whole alphabet tackled -- I'm not working in any particular order right now, but obviously they'll be reorganized when the project is finished. If you have any suggestions, feel free to leave comments! I'm open to your ideas and have 24 patterns to go.

Fun with Furniture

2010-11-14T23:52:00.000-08:00

I've been doing some product illustrations for a furniture company here in Chicago, and it's been an interesting experience because it forces me to draw differently. Most of my work is highly stylized, but with this job, I stay close to the reference and render more tightly than I typically would. I've fallen in love with furniture throughout the process, and I look forward to taking more liberties with the different shapes and styles in future personal work.

I also look forward to having real furniture someday. Boy, wouldn't that be nice!

Tails from the Dog Park

2010-11-04T00:44:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I took Annie for an afternoon romp at the dog park so she could make some new friends in Chicago. (Okay, fine, so I could make some new friends in Chicago.) Just as Annie was feeling comfortable and starting to play with the other pups, this striking Portuguese Water Dog comes along and starts performing all sorts of impressive tricks.
Everyone was oohing and ahhing, and I felt a pang of jealousy -- how would Annie and I make a splash with this show-off hogging the spotlight? I stood for a moment watching and then turned around to find Annie.

Ah, well.

Matador Style

2010-11-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

Third installment in the Style Series. I thought I would costume-it-up in honor of Halloween.

Label Launch

2010-10-28T22:45:00.000-07:00

I was recently hired by an independent beauty shop in Chicago to redesign the labels for their handmade cosmetic lines. The sisters who started this business are amazing women -- they make EVERYTHING themselves. Soaps, shower gels, hair masks, oils and texture pastes, blush, lipstick, face serums, bath bars...on & on. They've enjoyed great success in Chicago over the last ten years and have all sorts of write-ups in magazines like Allure, Lucky, InStyle, and Time Out Chicago. What I love most about their products is that they're 100% handmade and chemical/cruelty-free. Even the makeup is formulated with essential oils to help heal your skin as you're wearing it.

On top of creating fabulous beauty concoctions from the comfort of their loft apartment, they also happen to bake like nobody's business.

But wait, there's more. They design and sew beautiful handbags, hats, and accessories, too.

And people wonder when I sleep?

For the last ten years, they've been designing their own labels, but they recently decided to bring someone else on board to handle that. And that's where I come in.

Below are bits and pieces of labels/graphic elements in draft stages for existing products, some with copy and some without. Not all of these will go to finish, but I wanted to share the process with you, and the sisters were gracious enough to allow me to post them. A lot of the cosmetics are based on sweets and treats, so you'll notice quite a bit of food imagery. As soon as the final labels hit the shelves, I'll be sure and post pictures!

Night Style

2010-10-27T00:03:00.000-07:00

This is the second in the Style Series. I've been creating these portraits to balance out the bread-and-butter illustration/design work I've been doing lately, which is all about client constraints and consumer appeal. I'm realizing how important it is to fit a few hours of pure playtime into my day to keep my personal work fresh and inspired.

Fall Style

2010-10-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

Cooking in the Kitchen with Annie

2010-10-11T21:22:00.000-07:00

Whenever I cook dinner, Annie sits greedily at my feet hoping to catch a scrap or lick a spoon. I'm usually so distracted with whatever's on the verge of burning, I trip over Annie and drop food all over the floor. At this point, I'm frantically on the phone with my mother, and the conversation sounds something like this:

Wait, wait, what's the grain to water ratio again?
Ok, and is a beet supposed to be squishy like this?
Mom! There's no simmer setting! How do I know it's a proper simmer?

But see, in illustration land, everything is charming and sweet. A woman, a dog, and a fabulous oven. No overcooked vegetables or quinoa burned to the bottom of a pan.

Oh, you know what else you find in illustration land? Corded wall phones. Does life get any better?

Pattern Party

2010-10-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

I've been tinkering around with pattern design over the last few months, and while I still have plenty to learn, I'm having a lot of fun experimenting. I had the pleasure of meeting interior design guru Jonathan Adler and his assistant, Charlotte Hillman, back in August when I flew into New York for an interview and studio tour. I use fabric and patterning in my work pretty consistently, and that visit really got me thinking about textile design and expanding the applications of my cut-out shape technique.

Cee Lo Green's "The Lady Killer"

2010-10-08T12:41:00.000-07:00

I've been totally addicted to the video for Cee Lo's latest single from his upcoming album The Lady Killer (Nana, you might not want to click that link) and thought it would be a fun portrait to do. Plus, the senior art director for Rolling Stone is visiting SCAD this week, so a musician's portrait seemed like the perfect self initiated project.

I know posts have been few and far between lately, but trust me, I'm working like a dog and will upload more projects as soon as I have permission from my clients. I've relocated (again!) to Chicago, and I'm happily exhausted from waking up every day and doing what I love.

Keep checking back, and thanks for visiting!

The Enthusiasm Gap

2010-09-20T22:35:00.001-07:00

Here's a little editorial illustration I created in response to all the buzz about the Democratic Enthusiasm Gap. I don't typically focus on political themes in my work but thought it would be a nice way to flex my editorial muscle while still slipping an animal into the composition. (Did I mention I love drawing animals?)

And I guess one donkey just wasn't enough for me, so I created this little spot because I felt like making something cute. Nothing deep here. Just a sweet a--uh--donkey.

Shoppin'

2010-09-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

I designed this poster for Garlia Jones, a talented playwright and founder of the Blackboard Reading Series at The Cell Theater in NYC. The poster promotes a reading of her latest play, Shoppin', opening November 12th at 7:30 pm. Be sure and check it out if you're in the area!

Four Very Bad Dogs

2010-09-07T13:26:00.000-07:00

A few evenings ago, my good friend Margaret lost one of her hens, Edna, in an unfortunate and unexpected doggy ambush. Led by a wily Basset mix named Ruby, Ouza the Hound, Annie the Boxer-Pit, and Roscoe the Retriever forgot their manners and broke into the chicken coop, causing a flurry of feathers and hay. All four dogs were tried in the living room and found guilty in Edna's sudden and untimely death.

Gertie, Edna's coop mate, managed to survive the attack. She is now stitched up and bandaged, sitting comfortably on top of the washing machine in a cat carrier.

Updated Website!

2010-08-30T09:56:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!

I've just relocated to beautiful Asheville, NC, and until my studio supplies arrive, I'll have to put a hold on the blog posts. Check back next week for new illustrations!

In the meantime, be sure and check out my newly updated website, www.beejohnson.com and feel free to contact me through the form available on the contact page.

Last Days of Summer

2010-08-25T11:22:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago, I took an unannounced hiatus from my blog. Between traveling, job hunting, changing cities, wrapping up college, and freelancing, there just weren't enough hours in the day! Fortunately things are a little less chaotic now, and I'm happy to report that the Bee is Back.

Here's a little illustration in honor of those final sweet weeks of summer. It certainly was a good one.

I've been teaching myself repeat patterning and surface design ever since I visited Jonathan Adler's studio earlier this month, so be sure and check back for a post on that soon!

NY Public Library

2010-07-22T13:54:00.001-07:00

When I was in New York this past June with a handful of fellow SCAD illustrators, I was fortunate enough to visit Stacey Clarkson, art director of Harper's Magazine. I met Stacey a few months prior during her visit to Savannah. Of all the art directors I've met and listened to speak, Stacey is one of my favorites simply because of the amount of effort she puts into choosing the perfect illustrator for each individual assignment. She spends hours each day absorbing contemporary and classic imagery from a host of sources: museum gallery walls, illustration annuals, promotional mailers, websites, etc. She then builds a mental (and I'm sure physical) catalog of artists she can later revisit. I guess you could think of Stacey as a sort of matchmaker for artists and writers. She looks for the creatively compatible and then "gets out of the way." Awesome.

As part of our seminar, we were given the opportunity to work on an assignment under Stacey's art direction -- a sort of trial run to give us a good sense of what to expect having Harper's as a client.

I was given an article on the NY Public Library about the ability of successful architecture to stand the test of time and achieve eternal relevance. (She had seen my Rilke panther and wanted me to do something similar with the library's iconic lions.) The article described the library as a sort of temple, where the "...passer-by feels a spirit of dedication to high, calm gods." I used the lions to reference these gods and really played up the layered collage aesthetic to highlight the contrast between a solid structure and an ever evolving context.

Overall, it was a really fun project, and I hope to work with her again!

Don't be a hero!

2010-07-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

Today's Annie is based on a true story. My boss and I have been talking about bringing her over to the house and letting her swim in the pool for a while now, and tonight we decided to actually do it. This was her first time encountering a swimming pool, and while she was happy racing around the perimeter, she completely lost her cool when she jumped in the water. I've never seen her panic so hard -- paddling furiously, splashing, sputtering, and clawing at the corners of the cement.

I appreciated her dramatic leap into the deep end -- a genuine act of bravery -- but as my boss often tells me when I try to take on too much at once: Don't be a hero.

Little Miss Muffet

2010-07-18T19:43:00.001-07:00

I know I've fallen behind on the Annie-a-Days, but I had to put that project on the back burner until I get some freelance deadlines out of the way. Once things settle down, I'll shoot for an Annie-a-Week instead.

Even when things get busy, I'm a firm believer in self initiated projects. I made sure to leave myself some time this weekend to work on one piece that was purely for fun. And here it is. Little Miss Muffet on her makeshift tuffet, eating her curds and whey. As for the spider who sat down beside her? Well, when it comes to fight or flight, neither seems right. My Miss Muffet shares her breakfast instead.

This week I'll be posting an assignment I created under the art direction of Stacey Clarkson from Harper's Magazine. Keep an eye out for that!

Alphabet Annie

2010-07-12T21:10:00.001-07:00

Most evenings, Annie and I go for a few laps around the park. I usually ask her if she wants to go for a "peesh" first, which makes her ears perk up. She's interested but still suspicious of my motives -- I sometimes use that word just to make her pay attention. It's not until I tie my laces that she gets really excited. That's the moment of confirmation, when she knows it's no coincidence, no misinterpretation of signals. It's time for the PARK. She starts wiggling and jumping and snorting, and gosh, it just never gets old.

Sustainability

2010-07-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

Full page opener for feature in WNC Magazine. "How Green Are We?"

The Night Shift

2010-07-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

I resolved to go to bed early tonight. I twisted my hair up into a scarf. I brushed my teeth. I set my alarm. My head was on the pillow by 11 pm. A major accomplishment in my book...

...except I couldn't sleep. I tried. I really did. But after an hour crept by and I was still wide awake, I decided to get up and illustrate something. Anything. I needed to empty my head. I didn't really have an image in mind, so as a starting point, I decided to pick the first shadow I saw on the wall. That shadow looked something like a caterpillar.

Beat the Heat

2010-07-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

This is how I spend a lot of my time lately.

Russian Sage

2010-07-08T07:30:00.001-07:00

This is a little botanical sample I did for class. I thought it would be dry to work on, but it was actually a lot of fun. Every now and then, it's nice to take a break from concept and focus solely on decorative aesthetics.

Summer Slim Down

2010-07-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

"Little Annie
Got a fannie
With a great big spannie."
-Abby Johnson (aka my very clever mother)

I took Annie to the vet yesterday, and he told me that while she's in excellent health, she could stand to lose five pounds. I blushed for her.

I guess I have to stop slipping her pats of butter every time she does something cute.
_________

I'll be posting an illustration I did for WNC Magazine soon, so check back for that!

I love you, Ira Glass

2010-07-05T21:39:00.001-07:00

I can't count the number of hours I spend sitting at my desk illustrating each day, but after a while, I get to a point where my brain refuses to absorb any more music. That's where Ira comes in. I've been listening to This American Life for years and visit the online archives all the time. If you haven't tuned in before, dig in here. All sorts of interesting things to listen to!

Magnet Schools and 3x3 Magazine!

2010-07-05T15:37:00.001-07:00

An illustration I did for a feature in What's Up, Anapolis about the success of local magnet schools. "Magnet Programs Inspire Collaborative Excellence."

Also, this spread from my children's book Where Dreaming Dogs Go was selected for publication in the upcoming issue of 3x3 Magazine! What an honor!

Happy Fourth!

2010-07-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

I spent most of today working on another job, but I was determined to squeeze in my daily Annie before going to bed. (Really determined, seeing as it's 3:30 in the morning.)

Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July!

Audrey Tatou

2010-07-04T06:43:00.000-07:00

A portrait for portrait's sake.

"Really, Mom?"

2010-07-03T07:20:00.001-07:00

Today's Annie is Aubergine Annie. There's an eggplant in my produce drawer on the verge of going bad, and this is my way of gently reminding myself to cook it tonight.

A and Bee

2010-07-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

Today's Annie isn't exactly in season, but stylish all the same.

Single vs. Married

2010-07-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

A pair of illustrations I did for What's Up, Anapolis. "Married or Single: Which is Healthier?"

Ridin' that train

2010-07-01T15:01:00.001-07:00

An Annie-a-day keeps the doctor away. (Or, at the very least, keeps me from taking my work too seriously.) I'll be posting a few illustrations I did for What's Up, Anapolis later this evening. Keep checking back!

Annie's Summer Vacation

2010-06-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

Until I can start posting the illustrations I've been working on for various jobs, I'll try and do an Annie-a-day. Annie took an 8 day vacation this summer and forgot to mention where she was going. While I was frantically posting flyers throughout the park, she was circling the globe, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind her -- or at least that's the version she gave me when she finally came home.

A bit delayed, but: Welcome home, Annie-dog.

Something's coming...

2010-06-29T06:10:00.001-07:00

I know I've been M.I.A. the last several weeks, but believe me, there's an illustration storm brewing and I'll be posting the results of that soon! I was in New York City for a fabulous whirlwind week of meeting with art directors and publishers, and right now I couldn't be more enthusiastic about making work and getting it out there. I'm juggling several freelance jobs at the moment, one of which happens to be a dream job of mine. I'll reveal that news as we get closer to the date of publication!

Thanks to everyone who checks this blog regularly, and I promise to post lots of new work soon!

Breathe easy. Well, sort of.

2010-06-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

Cosmetic Tourism Trends: Get three free nights at our finest beach hotel with the purchase of a nose job.

Little Moments

2010-05-24T17:04:00.000-07:00

This is the final piece for my portfolio class, designed to be the last image in my book. I love the challenge of taking an ordinary moment and making it more interesting than it really is. Then again, that's pretty much an illustrator's job, isn't it?

Waiting on the Train

2010-05-20T13:07:00.001-07:00

Fun with Tom Waits

2010-05-20T12:58:00.000-07:00

Penguin Sentiments

2010-05-14T12:59:00.000-07:00

Bee Hearts Motown

2010-05-13T12:11:00.001-07:00

Illustrating Rilke's Panther

2010-05-12T10:43:00.001-07:00

The Panther

His vision, from the constantly passing bars,
has grown so weary that it cannot hold
anything else. It seems to him there are
a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world.

As he paces in cramped circles, over and over,
the movement of his powerful soft strides
is like a ritual dance around a center
in which a mighty will stands paralyzed.

Only at times, the curtain of the pupils
lifts, quietly--. An image enters in,
rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles,
plunges into the heart and is gone.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Litho Crayon/Collage (Rough Comps)

2010-05-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

Tom Waits

The International District

2010-04-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun with these illustrations. I'm on a big color kick lately, and I felt like these projects allowed me to indulge in that.

The spread and label were designed for a Hotels.com ad campaign. Their travel agency has over 85,000 hotels in more than 60 countries, and our job was to illustrate a handful of cultures or locations their clients might visit when traveling with them. The circular label would be used in the same campaign for general promotional purposes.

The bottom piece is personal work I did for my portfolio class, inspired by urban-religious street art in Brazil.

These pieces (with the exception of the promotional sticker for Hotels.com) will also be in a show opening May 14th at Cafe Seed in Kansas City, MO. Among the many talented artists showcasing their work is my dear friend and exceptional illustrator John Lee. If you're in the area, check it out and buy some art!