Thought I would share the story behind this and how I created it…………

Our grandson Edward is 4 years old and his latest obsession is Winnie the Pooh, and I’m sure he knows every song ever recorded in the Winnie the Pooh series.

I told him I was going to create a picture with him as Christopher Robin and asked him to pose for a photo. Of course he flatly refused at first, but after much cajoling, and the threat of using another little boy in my picture, he reluctantly agreed. As you can see below it was a hurried , blurry shot but ok for my purpose as I was only using it as reference to draw Edward as a cartoon figure.

Using Photoshop I start by creating the first sketch on a new layer

Next I lower the opacity on this layer.

Then start the fine lining process on a new layer…..

Now complete the fine lining

Now turn off the sketch layer

Create a new layer and start adding colour

Finish the colouring……

Find a suitable background (google is your friend). Repeat the sketching, fine lining and colouring process to create a background.

Whilst on the background I copy the cartoon Edward and place it on a new layer on the background. Then using free transform the figure can be sized and positioned.

Repeat the process for the other characters, placing each one on a new layer. Each one can then be sized and positioned on the background, to create the final composition…..

I just added a new piece of artwork to my “Moon Family” collection. This piece is entitled “Beer on the Moon”, and brings the collection up to a total of 6 pieces now.

Please take a look here to view all 6 pieces and my thoughts on the collection.

“Moon Family is a collection of 5 paintings created especially. for you, the astronomer, the dreamer, the traveller, and inner astronaut. My artwork is a surreal representation of family life on the moon, created to make you smile. Futuristic views which can only exist in one’s imagination but with a hint of possibility thrown in. A perspective you will never see, but one in which you can place yourself and cherish forever.”

Take a look at all 5 pieces here

Any 3 of these prints look great displayed in a triptych frame. Here I am holding up an example……..

The frame above will hold any 3 of the 8″ x 8″ (6″ x 6″ image size) prints without any trimming required. This frame can be bought from Amazon (£14.75 as of Nov. 2023) by clicking here.

The larger prints look great individually framed. Take a look at the room set pics on the shop page.

A composite digital print of Sheffield

This is a composite print showing some of the iconic landmarks in Sheffield City centre. Each landmark has been hand drawn and digitally coloured. This composite piece was then created by arranging all the individual drawings.

You can view / purchase this print by clicking the link https://be-images.com/?product=print-of-sheffield

Note: Each individual landmark is also available. Please message me if interested.

The landmarks are as they were in 2022.

You can check out all my digital artwork here

I received a customisation request regarding my print of Wigan Casino. My original post showing how I created the original can be found here https://be-images.com/?p=427

The client asked me if I could include her parents going to the club. She provided the following pic of them…..

As you can see they are not actually dressed for an evening out in Wigan so thought I had better draw them with more appropriate clothing.

I changed dad’s tee shirt into a Fred Perry and turned the shorts into jeans. I just recoloured mom’s clothing.

….and here is the new look…….

Just need to add them into the picture, and make it look like they are on the way to Wigan Casino and not strolling in the Spanish sunshine.

Added a suitable title block and here they are……

…….. and proudly displayed on their wall.

I am currently working on a collage of Sheffield City landmarks, but if you have any suggestions for future projects please let me know.

You can check out all my digital artwork here

Just thought I would play around with an alternative version of my original print of Wigan Landmarks.

If you would be interested in a copy of this one, please contact me

You can see the original here……. https://be-images.com/?p=503

This is my version of Albert’s Restaurant and Bar, in Standish, Wigan. Alberts is quite a long building so I decided to distort the perspective and create a deliberately unique angle.

I sketched the building in my sketchbook first, then scanned the sketch so that I could finesse the drawing into fine line art . Then I digitally coloured. I intend to colour my original sketch with marker pens, so that I have a complete record of both processes.

You can check out all my digital artwork here

I thought I would try something different for my latest artwork project, so rather than architecture I chose a water scene. I knew I would have to research how to digitally paint sea water in Photoshop, so I selected a photo that I took of Marina Grande in Sorrento on our last vacation there.

I took the photo early morning as the sun was just coming up. You may notice that it was rising from the right of the picture, and just started illuminating the first shed as well as the large boat anchored in the marina.

So here is the process I use for most of my drawings……..

1. Create a new layer and name it rough sketch. Choose a suitable brush for sketching and lower the opacity to around 50%. Create the rough sketch.
   

2. Create a new layer and name it Fine Line Sketch. Select a sharp round brush and reduce the size to 9px. Select the colour black. Reduce the opacity of the rough sketch layer until the sketch lines are just visible. Make sure you have the Fine Line Sketch layer selected and begin to draw over the rough sketch with a single fine line. (Tip. Try to ensure that all objects are fully enclosed by the fine line. This will enable you to use the paint bucket tool to block fill the shape later.)

3. Continue the Fine Line Drawing until you are happy with the result, then turn off the Rough Sketch layer. Create a new layer and name it Colour. You can then start adding the colour. The picture below shows the Fine Line Drawing with a couple of places block filled using the paint bucket tool in Photoshop.

4. Complete the colouring using a combination of the paint bucket tool to fill large areas and various brushes for the detail. Add any highlights and shading. Frame the picture.

5. A note about the water effect…….I followed a tutorial by Aaron Blaise which I recommend you to watch here…..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkkWIbd5O_s I used a couple of the brushes he uses in the tutorial.

You can check out all my digital artwork here

Following my last post titled “Pubs of Heeley” I was asked about a few of the pubs that are now sadly closed. With this in mind I have now created a piece of wall art titled; “Lost Heeley Pubs”.

This piece is also sized such that it can be directly mounted into a 20″ x 16″ frame without mounting, or the pseudo mount details (black edge and wording) can be covered by using a standard mount of 16″ x 12″.

You can download a free pdf file identifying the pubs by clicking the link here https://be-images.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Lost-Heeley-Pubs-Key.pdf

You can view / purchase this print by clicking the link here https://be-images.com/?product=digital-print-showing-the-lost-pubs-of-heeley-sheffield

You can check out all my digital artwork here