Bumblidoo feels Blue
In a magical forest where shadows dance and whispers of wisdom echo, Bumblidoo, an awkward and shy creature, feels lost and out of place. But with the help of his tiny, cheerful echo, Wee Bim Bim, and the kind words of forest friends, Bumblidoo embarks on a heartwarming journey of self-discovery.
Will Bumblidoo’s journey inspire you to embrace your own unique light?
Written by Ben Atkinson
Bumblidoo feels Blue is a book very close to my heart. Years ago I struggled with depression and so I immediately felt connected to Bumblidoo. Ben gave me ultimate freedom which lead me to experimenting with watercolours and more artistic elements.
Process
Character design
Since Molly Mae's Milkshakes has Molly as the main character I started with designing Molly Mae first. I created 2 versions of Molly at first, it was up to Ajia to choose which one she liked most. For this version I created multiple poses and expressions for Molly Mae. Making sure I also showed how she looks from different angles and with this character sheet I also tried to capture her chararcter.
Storyboard
From the start I knew colour would have a big role in this story. Not only because it can set a mood. But also because I wanted to visualize the love Bumblidoo needed.
Since this story takes place in a dark forest I decided to show from the start which page would be dark and which page lighter. A good book is balanced between lighter and darker pages. To give the eyes rest. This was especially important here. We didn't want the book to feel too heavy.
Flat colours & Final rendering
Here you can see how an illustration transform from sketch, to flat colours to finalized artwork. Lights, shadows, textures and a touch of magic make such a big difference.
