Artist Robin Babitt Created BACHUKI, A Bumblebee Who Teaches Us Valuable Life Lessons, Happiness & Creativity

Visual Artist, Author and Illustrator Robin Babitt is known for her unique style of art and illustration, humor and vibrance. The latter comes from having Synesthesia, a perceptual phenomenon where information meant to stimulate one of your senses, stimulates several. Robin see’s everything in color. This natural ability to experience life through color has always guided Robin into a creative path, using her art as a vehicle to spread wisdom and messages of morality. Her recent creation BACHUKI, takes readers on a journey where tiny lessons are taught by a Bumblebee who sees the world through the lens of a kaleidoscope, making the stories more surprising, vivid and interesting.

Robin’s relationship with color and how color affects our wellbeing, was the inspiration behind the creation of BACHUKI. She authored and illustrated two children’s books, A Very Little Bumblebee In A Great Big World and BACHUKI Meets VENOM, telling stories in rhyme and color through the eyes of a little Bumblebee, while covering important issues such as social and emotional learning, COVID-19 and vaccination, climate change, and poetic language. “There’s a huge need for BACHUKI. He brings us back to basics. He tries to put things in a perspective where children relate and parents enjoy. I look forward to seeing this little bee evolve being accessible to all children in all formats, through animation, fuzzy toys, games and more,” said Babitt.

We recently had the pleasure to chat with the artist to learn more about BACHUKI and her current projects:


Q – Can you tell us about your newest creative endeavor BACHUKI?

A – BACHUKI is a very little Bumblebee who sees the world through the lens of a kaleidoscope. BACHUKI came to me while I was sitting at a two-seat, hi-top at a local restaurant several years ago. The restaurant played great music from the 60’s and 70’s. I’d take my sketchbook, pens and pencils to that restaurant to write and draw. It was in this great place where ideas and storylines came to me easily. Everyone knew why I was there and enjoyed watching the process. BACHUKI was born.

Q – You have such a unique ability known as Synesthesia, can you tell us more about “seeing letters and numbers in color” and how this phenomenon plays a role in your art and writing?

A – I refer to BACHUKI as my alter-ego. We see things in a unique way. We see things in color. The world refers to this phenomenon as Synesthesia, however this has always been my norm. Synesthesia is a perceptual phenomenon described as the stimulation of one sensory that leads to the involuntary experience in a second sensory. Grapheme or color Synesthesia is seeing letters and numbers in color. Months in the year and days of the week are associated with colors as well. It wasn’t until my 40’s that I found that what I had experienced my entire life, had a name. The ah-ha moment. Everything now made sense. Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Tori Amos and Billie Eilish have Synesthesia. Duke Ellington and Albert Einstein had it as well.

Q – BACHUKI seems to deepen our understanding of ourselves. What was your inspiration to create him, how did he come to be?

A – BACHUKI sees the world as I do. Together, we give the reader a different perspective. In turn, children gain insight into what it’s like to be a bee who sees life through the lens of a kaleidoscope. I chose a bee because as a kid I had a fear of them. I was stung almost every summer and I blamed it on the fact that the bees loved my mother’s peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I knew that if I could turn something that was frightening to me as a child into something I could love and adore, now that would be amazing. Yes, I bonded with a bee who wasn’t looking for my sandwich. He’s looking to make the world a better place for our kids.

Q – In your opinion, how does an artist create meaningful work, and how is BACHUKI intertwined in this role for you?

A – A Superhero in his own mind, BACHUKI admits to being perfectly imperfect. Everyone understands what it feels like to be one tiny grain of sand on a great BIG beach. BACHUKI shows you how special you are in this great BIG world, and that every day you can do something amazing. I write the stories in rhyme because words are quickly forgotten but rhymes stay with you forever, and together with my illustrations, BACHUKI takes readers on a colorful journey asking only that you “bee” yourself and strive to “bee the best you can bee.” BACHUKI’s home and family are his moral compass ending each “bee-z-y” day with a soft place to lay his head. Before folding his wings and closing his eyes, BACHUKI and his Mom read their favorite book together, BEE MINE.

Q – How can we use the arts to inspire action or positive change in the world?

A – BACHUKI and I watched as children and adults were affected by circumstances beyond their control when COVID-19 surfaced. Life began changing for all of us and no one had an answer, but BACHUKI had an idea. Adults adapted to the changes and children relinquished dreams before they began. BACHUKI arrived to assure kids everywhere that everything will be okay. There’s a huge need for BACHUKI. He brings us back to basics. He tries to put things in a perspective that children can relate to and enjoy. The world is changing at a very fast pace. The structure has fallen, rules and guidelines ignored, conversations are abbreviated, kindness has become a weakness and hatred is the dirty laundry blowing in the wind over your neighbor’s fence.

BACHUKI is best described by others:

“BACHUKI loves people. He makes you feel that everything is going to be okay.”

“BACHUKI is confident. Everyone wants to be his friend. An uplifting addition to our family.”

“BACHUKI is a great Mediator between a parent and child.”

“Vibrant colors are consistent throughout. They are calming and empowering.”

“The stories are touching, warm and cozy.”

“Both books end in a peaceful place. Wouldn’t it be nice if we knew that at the end of our bee-z-z-y day, we would bee as content as BACHUKI?”

Q – What’s on the horizon for BACHUKI, we see incredible Games, Animations, and Toys; can you tell us how you see him evolving?

A – Nothing has given me more pleasure than watching BACHUKI evolve. Writing and illustrating his stories energize me. I look forward to seeing this little bee evolve being accessible to all children in all formats, through animation, fuzzy toys and games and of course, more stories to be told. His future is there for the making and the possibilities are endless. Book 3 and 4 of the BACHUKI Series, are in their final stages and will be available Spring/Summer 2022. Let’s see what happens to VENOM and what it’s like to be a little bumblebee in the highest Court in the land. I am excited to be on this journey with BACHUKI and look forward to sharing more of him with the world.

Robin Babitt is a well-known South Florida visual artist, author and illustrator, widely recognized for her intense color palette and bold style. Her work has been exhibited in local galleries, museums such as Cornell Art Museum in Delray Beach, international magazines, art fairs, and exhibits such as Artblend/Spectrum Miami, Miami Project, during Art Basel Miami Beach. She is the author of the beloved art cookbook, Bon Art-Petit Recipe Book, a colorful and delicious cookbook complete with Robin’s unique illustrations, recipes and humor, scheduled to be released Summer 2022. Visit: https://bachuki.com/ to learn more about BACHUKI and to make a purchase.