Shine on
The BumbleBee Boys (so-called because they perform on a can of Bumblebee Tuna) is inspired by the book, Bug Music. Reading Bug Music, I could see the mellow bugs of the Smokies, shining and playing traditional instruments late into the night, illuminated by synchronous fireflies. (Fun fact: The Appalachians are just one of two places in the world that have fireflies that blink in unison. It’s truly a sight to behold.)
This work is a good example of our hybrid traditional and digital approach to illustration, starting with Croquil pen and ink, working up the environment in watercolor, and finishing the work digitally.