What's the buzz? This Gnome & Honey Bee 🐝
I got these little glass bumblebees on Etsy and I knew that I had to build an art piece around them! Today, I am making a gnome with a honey bee - complete with a beehive and some swirls, and it's going to be amazing. If you don't have a glass bee to use, just feel free to simply draw one on.
First, I'm going to start by adding white paint to my 5 x 7 canvas, just to make sure we have a nice, clean, fresh background. I'm also going to add some to the sides. Let dry.
Then, we're going to take the tracer and tape it to our canvas. Place graphite paper underneath and trace your gnome, beehive, and swirl with your stylus. (For those of you that are in The Shattered Circle, you will get this tracer!)
We're only using a few colors in this entire piece! Start by painting the bottom of the gnome's hat black. Then, we will continue up the entire hat with yellow and black stripes. I'll also paint the beehive yellow too.
Next, I'm going to paint his nose. I'm filling in his nose with warm beige paint. I'm going to give this a second coat. Then, the tiniest bit of red paint across the top of his nose and the tiniest bit of white across the bottom of his nose.
I'm going to paint the beard white. While the white paint is still wet, I'm adding strokes of gray paint to make it multi-dimensional.
Next, I'm adding another coat of yellow paint to my beehive as well as some chocolate brown and white paint for some dimension.
I'm adding a second coat of paint to my stripes. Then, I'm going to take my graphic pen to add some details. I'm detailing his nose, his beard, the hat, and the beehive - just to give it all some depth!
Next, I'm going to add the bee swirl as well as the antennas. I am using a graphic brush drawing pen, which is a little bit thicker. Position your glass bee (or bees, in my case!) and use some tacky glue to hold them in place.
This is the only glass I am using! If you are painting your bees on, feel free to use glass in other ways. You can use vitrigraph for the antennas or do a glass beard or a glass beehive - options are endless!
Now, we are going to resin. We're going to elevate our canvas using blocks. Mix 1/2 ounce of resin and stir gently for three minutes. Then, drizzle over your glass. Pour the remainder of resin onto your canvas and spread it using your gloved fingers. Use a heat gun to pop your bubbles.
Check out this cute little bumblebee gnome! I love him so much!
If you don’t want to miss my Facebook LIVE art instruction, make sure you are on my texting list. I always text 10 minutes before I’m going to go LIVE, so you won’t ever miss it. You can text “Hey Cindy” to 901-519-2923.
*Supply lists and tracers are only available to members of The Shattered Circle. If you'd like to learn more about member benefits or get on the waitlist, click here.
