Juliabe

The process

2012-02-28T13:45:00.000+01:00

Well, finally I can show you my newest illustration, the book cover for the third volume of "Brigitte des coléres" by Jérôme Lafond. This time the publishing company comissioned me a custom watercolor, and I had to draw the main character, Brigitte, working on a butcher shop. I've taken photos of each step so you can see the process I follow. Pretty simple, you'll see :)

These are the fist rough sketches I sent to the art director, the first one on the left. I was aked to make her more girly and to add more meaty stuff. Once I had the ok, I started making the final drawing on watercolor paper.

I always use this Pentel 0.3mm mechanical drafting pencil, I've had it for ten years and it's still my favorite, I get the cleanest lines whit it. This time I used Fabriano Artistico Extra White paper, but I also like to use Canson illustration board.

They're not picture here, but I use Winsor & Newton Artists' Watercolor Pads and sometimes, when it's too hot and dry (very usual in Madrid) I use their blending medium because otherwise, the watercolor dries too quickly. I start randomly adding the first color washes, in this case I gave the background a slight, dirty white color wash.

This is still on the first wash part, but I've already added some shadows to the hair. Usually I'm pretty chaotic with this.

Here I've started adding details and shadows everywhere. You can also see my brushes, they're natural sable brushes made by Casa Pontes, the local art store where I like to buy my supplies. I have the whole range, but I mostly use the smallest ones since I tend to make my drawings tiny.

And here's the final illustration with all the details, shadows, etc. All there's left to do is to scan and clean the illustration, which is the most boring part. I forgot to take pictures of the scrap paper I have to try out the colors before painting, but overall, this is it!! I really hope you enjoyed this post, and I'd love to answer your questions if you have any :D

A few new things

2012-02-24T16:57:00.000+01:00

A new case for my watercolors, the old one was getting too small. The first issue of Solo, the awesome zine by illustrator Lizzy Stewart. Salmon colored washi tape. Another film camera, the super compact Olympus MJU II, which is perfect to carry around in my small-ish bag. And a bow shaped hairpin.

I'm also knitting a custom designed sweater for a friend, you can see the swatch I knit here. But I still have to choose the fair-isle motives for the yoke.

And last, here'a a sneak peek of the new book cover I've been working on. Stay tuned to the blog because soon I'll be making a post with my watercolor illustration process. It's something I've been wanting to do for ages!

Two books and a spy

2012-01-31T12:13:00.000+01:00

This week I got copies of a book with one of my illustrations on the cover, the second part of "Brigitte des Colères", and I'm currently working on the cover for the third volume. I also forgot to take photos of my illustration on the Morran book, that you can still buy at Blurb. As usual, Maggie likes to hide behind my computer and watch closely at everything I do.

Bookish

2012-01-18T14:13:00.002+01:00

I'm so sorry for neglecting this space lately. I'm very busy with some commissions and couldn't find the time to blog. Meanwhile, here's a new watercolor piece I did a while ago. Hope you like it!

Also, I've been enjoying these podcasts a lot. Completely opposite, but both great to listen while you work. Do you have any podcasts you love? Please, share! :D

2012

2012-01-05T17:14:00.000+01:00

Happy New Year everyone!!! I just bought my 2012 agenda to celebrate it. After almost ten years using the small Moleskine planner and filling it with collages, this year I decided to to be unfaithful and try a different brand. I bought this simple white agenda in Muji and so far I love it, it's lightweight and practical. I like starting the year with changes, don't you?

PS. I don't like making new years resolutions, but this post reminded me I haven't taken many Polaroids or made any collages in a long time. I hope I can change that this year too :D

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-22T11:15:00.000+01:00

I'm going to my hometown to celebrate Christmas with my family, but I'll be back here very soon. I really hope you enjoy the Holidays!!!

Your back

2011-12-16T16:33:00.000+01:00

Just a quick watercolor I made the other day to try out my new Winsor & Newton frisket. In other news, I just got my copy of the Morran book and it's awesome!! So much good stuff!!

Pom Pom

2011-12-09T16:30:00.001+01:00

A little hat I've knit for my nephew with an improvised design and a cute little pom pom on top. I hadn't made any pom poms since I was in school, and it was so much fun! I used this tutorial to refresh my pom pom making skills. I can't wait to see him wearing it :D

Prairie Cat

2011-12-08T16:58:00.001+01:00

Just a quick little doodle today. My cat does this all the time, it's too funny!

The Morran Book Project

2011-12-07T16:29:00.003+01:00

The Morran Book Project is finally available for purchase at Blurb!! You can find a bigger and smaller version, and all the profits will go to charity (there's more info on Camilla's blog). I'm lucky enough to have my illustration on both of them, it makes me terribly happy! I'm definitely getting myself a copy for Christmas, and you?

PS. I LOVE the cover!!

Photo by Camilla Engman

Special holiday sale

2011-12-01T11:57:00.000+01:00

From today until the end of the Holiday season, there will be a special discount on every print in my Society6 shop. You can get someone (or yourself!) a beautiful print for Christmas for only $17.00!

New prints on the shop

2011-11-28T14:39:00.001+01:00

I just added a bunch of new prints to my shop, including the series of The Bell Jar and Rainy day. And now you can also find some iPhone cases and iPhone / iPod skins.

Cookies

2011-11-24T18:37:00.000+01:00

Today I baked some cookies following this recipe by Molly. The house smelled delicious... And then I made myself a dark cup of tea and enjoyed one in my studio while my kitty tried to steal it from my hand. These cookies are good, dangerously good!

PS. I can't help seeing an old man's face in a cookie in the first picture. Do you?

Sixties mom

2011-11-21T17:50:00.002+01:00

This is my first blog update in quite a while... I have been pretty busy with some comissions lately and I haven't found the time or the energy to blog. One of those comissions was this custom watercolor portrait I made of a friend's mother. It was based on some awesome photos of her from the 60s. It was so much fun to draw that makeup and hairdo!!

Stripe & Field

2011-11-08T13:47:00.001+01:00

I just discovered these amazing envelopes by Stripe & Field in one of my favorie blogs, Miss Moss. They have such beautiful stationary!

Lately on Instagram

2011-11-04T14:08:00.000+01:00

Remember, you can find me on Instagram as juliabe

Rainy day

2011-11-03T11:47:00.001+01:00

Today it's very rainy and grey here in Madrid, the perfect time to show you this illustration I made some days ago. I hope it brights up your atumn day!

Morran

2011-10-26T16:59:00.002+02:00

As some of you may know, swedish illustrator and artist Camilla Engman is making a book about her adorable dog, Morran. It will be full of illustrations of Morran made by illustrators around the world, and all the profits will go to charity. You can find more info on her blog, and you're still in time to submit something until October 31st.

When I read about this project I just knew I had to participate. This is my submission for the book, and you can find it along with other people's illustrations in Morran's blog.

Around the studio

2011-10-19T18:32:00.000+02:00

I rearranged my studio the other day and it feels so much bigger than before. I've been experimenting with colored pencils too.

Weekend in Porto III

2011-10-10T13:46:00.007+02:00

Right now I'm working hard on a new comission, so it's always relaxing to look at vacation photos. These are almost the last ones from Porto.

Primavera

2011-10-06T18:02:00.001+02:00

A quick and tiny illustration using watercolor and colored pencils. Primavera means spring in spanish, and I'm already drawing the rest of the seasons.

Creepy dolls on Polaroid

2011-10-03T12:52:00.001+02:00

A while ago I came across these amazing Polaroids by Anne Bowerman on Flickr. They're a perfect mix of delicate and creepy.

Cold dog

2011-09-29T13:14:00.001+02:00

Just a silly little watercolor I made while testing a new paper (Fabriano Artistico Watercolor) and Winsor & Newton frisket. Autumn is coming, and I can't wait for the fallen leaves and crisp, chilly air.

Weekend in Porto II

2011-09-25T17:58:00.003+02:00

More photos from my weekend in Porto. It's like living in a dream world for crazy cat ladies (like me).

Weekend in Porto I

2011-09-21T14:09:00.001+02:00

Last weekend I was in Porto visiting my dear friend Cristina Regadas. We spend three days walking, shooting, talking and eating good stuff, it was amazing. And I really fell in love with Porto, I'm already daydreaming about living there. These are a few film shots from the first roll, taken with my Contax 139Q.

In other news, there's free worldwide shipping in my Society6 store until sunday. It's the perfect chance to get one of my prints!

Kitties

2011-09-13T11:35:00.001+02:00

Custom portrait of a dear friend's cats I made last week. He doesn't usually wear a bowtie, though. That would be cool!

Beatnik

2011-09-09T18:25:00.001+02:00

Today I finished knitting my last sweater, Beatnik. I used this free pattern and I love how it turned out. Now I can't wait for colder weather to be able to wear it! It reminds me of this Jcrew sweater I came across in Miss Moss blog.

Best year ever!

2011-09-06T17:43:00.000+02:00

Here are some illustrations for the September/October issue of American Girl Magazine. This was a very fun job (as usual with AG) and I'm pretty happy with how it looks on print. This time I had the chance to experiment with some custom made vector textures for the backgrounds, which I had never done before with any commissions. I think I'll use them more in the future.

Also, drawing school supplies? seriously? I was in heaven! I would go back to school again just to go shopping for notebooks, pencil cases, folders, pens...

September

2011-09-04T17:22:00.000+02:00

It's september, and that means the end of summer is almost here. Even though it makes me a little sad to say goodbye to the endless summer days, September is my favorite month of the year.

Prints on Society6

2011-09-02T10:47:00.007+02:00

Well, I finally took a decision and opened a print shop on Society6. Yay!! I have been pondering all the different options for a while, I even considered buying a new printer and do them myself. But for the moment, I think this is the way to go. Some months ago, I bought this awesome poster by Lucy Knisely from their website, and I was very impressed with the quality of the paper and the level of detail of the print. I can't wait to see and hear how my illustrations look printed by them.

So, if you're interested, you can buy a variety of prints of my latest watercolors, including the "In the movies" series. But if you are missing some illustration in particular, or if you have any special requests, I'd be happy to hear them. Happy shopping!

Striped

2011-08-28T18:25:00.004+02:00

Today, while organizing my closet, I realized I have way too many striped tops, or Breton tops, Marinières... whatever you like to call them. I've been collecting them through the years and they're by far my favorite clothing item. So, I made this illustration to celebrate my little obsession.

PS. I almost forgot to tell you that you can find me now on Facebook too.

América

2011-08-21T11:49:00.002+02:00

I recently made this custom watercolor portrait of América Valenzuela, a spanish science journalist (she has this awesome radio show, "Ciencia al cubo" in RNE) and a sweet, pretty lady. It was comissioned by her boyfriend as a surprise present, and I've heard that she loved it :)

Instagram

2011-08-18T18:40:00.003+02:00

Lately my Instagram has been all about late afternoon walks and bike rides. It's too hot out there right now, so I'm only brave enough to go out once the sun is going down... Remember you can find me on Instagram as Juliabe :D

Scott C

2011-08-17T12:00:00.003+02:00

I've been in love with Scott c's work for a long time, specially his "Great showdowns". I might get the "Picnic with the Draculas" print very soon, it's been on my wishlist for too long. Check out his website for more.

Around the house

2011-08-15T12:19:00.001+02:00

Maggie loves boxes, as you can see.

The listener

2011-08-10T17:16:00.000+02:00

This is the finished illustration of the sneak peek from last week. I'm pretty happy with the outcome, and I feel like I'm going to use this style a lot in the future. It was very freeing and fun to color in Photoshop instead of using Illustrator.

Also, lately I've been thinking of selling prints of my artwork (besides my Gocco prints), but I'm not sure where to start. Do you have any advice?

Lunch with Joanna

2011-08-03T16:49:00.001+02:00

Some days ago, my long time online friend Joanna visited Madrid. It was awesome hanging out with her after so many years. These are some shots I took those days with my Contax 139Q camera.

2011-07-29T16:19:00.001+02:00

A sneak peek of something new I'm working on, still in progress. Lately I've been trying new ways of coloring my pencil drawings on the computer. I'm having fun.

Also, the people from Artflakes made me a small interview for their blog. You can read it here.

World Map

2011-07-27T14:00:00.001+02:00

I'm loving this silkscreened world map by These are things. It would look perfect in my studio :D

Medium format

2011-07-25T12:31:00.000+02:00

Some months ago the people from GMR Marketing asked me to shoot thirteen medium format photos for a new bank's ad campaign. They were going to appear in a promotional book, each one representing the bank's different values. Sadly, the project is now on hold, but here are some of the pictures. I took them with my Rolleiflex, and Kodak Portra VC film. You can see the rest in my portfolio.

Hello!

2011-07-23T20:04:00.020+02:00

And welcome to my new blog! After three years blogging on Tumblr, I've finally decided to open a new, let's say "real" blog. Lately I've been feeling that I need a space to talk about my work in a more personal, organized way... and where it's also easier to be in touch with my readers. But I'm still in doubt wether to keep this blog in english, or make it bilingual in spanish. Let me know your thoughts about this, please :D

Besides of talking about freelance ilustration, I'll be blogging about other things I love like photography, art, cinema, knitting... and of course, kittens! And no, this doesn't mean I'll stop using tumblr, I love it too much to let it go. I'll still keep it as some sort of scrapbook. Well, here we go!!!!