Akina was the first of my bee's series but she evolved into what she really is now. It started in South America in the 70's. I was always fascinated about bees. I would sit in my backyard and watch them in my mom's garden. I started sketching them in different ways, until an Ad agency asked me to do one for this honey product. I design her in a kimono and fan hugging a honey jar.

Well from there time flew, my life went to another direction and I stopped drawing but I always had that particular bee on my mind. When my kids started growing up, I decided to go back and draw again and again the bee was in my head.

I started sketching her but could not find the right way to find what I was looking for. When I was a very young girl, I loved to collect Japanese dolls. I had about twelve of them and it really was my pride and joy. I remember I had them in a box in my closet and brought them down. I opened the box and started looking at their intricate kimonos, the color and the embroidery. Their delicate poses are so sweet and feminine. Then it dawned on me, why not combine the both as I did in that advertising ad, and voila I created what you she here as Akina.

The funny thing was I started creating her with pen and ink while I was studying computer graphics in Katherine Gibbs. I was very into Adobe Illustrator and learned to create wonderful things with the program. I started working on Akina with the program which is what you see here. This piece is fabulous in print and I gave her the name Akina which means "Spring Flower."

The beauty about the program is I can bring to any size a person desires and she still looks great. I love to test every color before I use it on the design. Usually I make a grid of color that I would like to use and print them before I create the subject. I draw my subject, scan it, and then place it on the program to start creating what you see here. Digital Illustration is hard work but the outcome is fabulous. I use an Epson Stylus 2200 and ultrachrome inks with a 310gsm fine art paper. Usually, I use either Moab or Hahnemuhle papers which are my favorites.

I hope you enjoy this piece she is my favorite and I basically use her everywhere I can.

Thank you for looking,

DOC

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