Binky McKee Illustration
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The Weekly

26 JANUARY

1/26/2020

 
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A sea-themed week. I have worked on seaweeds, crabs, fishes, sand dunes, and shells. I discovered a few things to do with seashores, including Sea Bindweed which will definitely be making an appearance in my drawings soon - and I couldn't resist making a little pattern with delightful yellow Beach Morning Glory.

​Thanks for visiting, see you next week!

19 JANUARY

1/19/2020

 
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I got back to work in earnest illustrating a children's book on Monday, tidying up and finishing drawings as well as beginning new ones. Because the book doesn't have a massive word count it doesn't take too much time to lay out all the text in BookWright (from Blurb). The author won't necessarily use it to publish; it's just a super tool for the way I work, and I do use Blurb myself. Working from paper mockups put together with the author I can see the illustrations in context, interacting with the text and each other. The page layouts themselves suggest tweaks and additions which enrich the final product, and I get that buzz from seeing it begin to really happen. It also prevents many a blooper!

So, I have had a productive, satisfying week. The book is top secret for now of course, but here ia a sneak preview of just a few bits and pieces from the week's work. 

Thanks for visiting, see you next week!

12 JANUARY

1/12/2020

 
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A collage of drawings based on patterns on Japanese Washi tapes. This was so much fun to do, finding ways to apply patterns to household objects and develop related themes to go with them, and it makes me think of mood boards.

Thanks for visiting, see you next week!

5 JANUARY

1/5/2020

 
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<<<<<<<<<< HAPPY 2020 >>>>>>>>>>
A very happy and hearty new year to all!
I don’t usually make new year resolutions, but I made one this year and broke it already: to post more regularly on Instagram. It doesn't even have to be every single day, just two or three times a week; and here we are on the 5th day of the year, and I still haven’t done it. So I’ll make it a goal instead ...


5 Goals for 2020:

1. Finish the children’s book I have been illustrating for an author friend; I am currently working on brightening my palettes.

2. Get back to the 100 Days Project. This may or may not happen, as to be honest I had got to where I wanted to be by Day 50. I got as far as cat no.53 before breaking off to do seasonal work at the end of October. My 100 Days Project may turn into my 50 Days Project.

3. Make a zine - I have always wanted to make a zine! 

4. Create a more organised work environment and find a way to keep distractions at bay. Some days all I have to do is open the door to take in a delivery, and the rest of the world jumps in at the same time!

5. Find a way to post more regularly and consistently on Instagram: better lighting to photograph notebook work, for example.

Thanks for visiting, see you next week!
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    Welcome to my illustration blog, where I share what I have been up to during the week.
    I illustrate under the pen-name of Binky McKee, McKee being my mother's maiden name. Binky was the name of every single cat my great-grandmother kept - about 40 of them during her 94 years of life.
    Currently I am working on illustrating a children's book, pattern making, and of course I can't resist a good Instagram challenge such as Folktale Week or Inktober.

    I hope you enjoy your visit!
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    I keep lots of scrapbooks and sketchbooks where I develop ideas and design little creatures. Here's a peek inside one ...
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    As you may know, I am also known as Heather Eliza Walker.
    Click the image if you would like to find out more and visit my other website.

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    ​Instagrams
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    ​Redbubble Shop
    BinkyMcKee​
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    This time, take a peek into my ceramic design sketchbook. I actually made some of the mugs, but I kind of prefer the drawings! The plate designs are painted on paper plates, a most liberating process.
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    These watercolours are from my pattern sketchbook. I used coloured wax crayons to resist the washes of watercolour, also home-made rubber stamps dipped in bleach then printed on crêpe paper - the bleach takes out the paper dyes.
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    A sketchbook I used for mark-making with unusual objects - corks, seed-heads, feathers, home-made rubber stamps, my fingers and lots of flicky things ...
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