Taff Rocks: Side-Facing Bumblebee Tutorial

This is the second of four bumblebees published within the last week. Check out the Bumblebee index page in the Tutorial index

Here's what you'll need:

Your chosen rock
Acrylic paints

Black
Yellow
White

An old plate, a paper plate or paint pallet
Paint pens or Sharpies (optional)

Black for the outline and eyes (optional)
White for the eye highlights (optional)

A slim paint brush (optional)
Warm, soapy water
A sponge

Here's how it's done:

1. Wash and dry your rock.

For more details on how to paint and prepare your rock, click here

2. Start with a circle for the head and a long oval for the body.

3. Add two circles at the top for wings, then undercoat the whole shape using white.

4. Paint the body only using yellow, leave the wings white.

5. When dry, start your outline using black.

Start with the head first. You will notice why later on.

Now outline the body.

Then, lastly, outline both the wings, start with the front one first and then the hind one, so they look like they overlap a little

6. Now for your bee's stripey body

Remember when you did the head outline first? Here's why:

Starting at the end of the body nearest the head, draw in a thick stripe along the shape of the circle of the head

Next, following this curved shape, add in the remainder of the stripes for the body'

7. Add eyes.

Using white paint, or a white paint pen, add a large circle for the inside of the eye.

Now, outline the eye with black then add a large black circle for his big-bug eye-ball and allow to dry.

8. Additional detail.

Whilst the eye is drying, add a little detail to the wings, some antennae on the head, a little smile and a little point on his bottom for his stinger.