Bees are dying | Making of “Beeloved”

Hey guys,

It’s been a while since I shared photos of my sculpture illustration process and I want to show you how to sculpt and make a doll. My latest piece took about 2 weeks to create (on and off). During the down time, I like to step away from my work and see what is working and not working; then change aspects to create a strong piece. One of the changes you may notice in the doll making process is that this girl had black liner on her top lids previously, but was altered later on. I think without the liner, her face softened and eyes appeared more swollen from crying. That’s the look I was going for. Also she going to have purple flowers along with the foliage in the piece, but when tested, they appeared too distracting and over-the-top. I liked all the focus going towards the message and the golden tears of honey.

This piece was created to raise awareness about the smallest, sweetest, yet most often forgotten species, the bees. The dying bees not only affects us, but has a ripple effect on other species (hence her bear ears representing the connection of bears and bees and pollination).

Beeloved highlights the synergetic relationship of bees and beings. It reflects upon the approaching demise of the bee species that is quickly falling out of our grasp.

Although I’m an advertising illustrator from Toronto, I’m making my art accessible worldwide. I’ll be selling prints of Beeloved on my Etsy Shop and donating a percentage from each print sold to bee conservation. I thought is would completely make sense to do, to help the species through my artwork, which is my voice, but also giving a voice to the bees. I invite you to contact me any time with any of your questions.

Your friend,

Kira Shaimanova

Toronto Based Illustration and Sculpture Artist