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babeandoak.bsky.social
Babe&Oak
@babeandoak.bsky.social
17K followers 690 following 13K posts
Toronto based Illustrator & Surface Pattern Designer. Mythology, folklore, occult history & lover of all things spooky

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🔗http://babeandoak.carrd.co
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babeandoak.bsky.social
Babe&Oak @babeandoak.bsky.social · Oct 14
Hi #PortfolioDay

I’m Élle • Freelance illustrator & surface pattern designer

Specializing in detail heavy B&W work & passionate about occult history, horror & symbolism

Open for work in publishing, book covers, TTRPGs, private & commercial commissions

✉️ babeandoak@gmail.com
🎨 babeandoak.carrd.co
Altar prayer card for the goddess Diana. A rectangular card has a black border with parts of the Orphic hymn for Diana surrounding it as a border in white text. In the bottom right are twin arrows over a crescent moon representing her and Apollo. In the bottom left and top right are white outlined 8 point stars. Inside the border is a marble shockwave black and grey pattern with white outlining that forms an arch at the top with lining to look like columns on both sides. In the middle is a stag skull with painted antlers of a diamond and star pattern. Behind the skull are smaller 8 point stars and cloud ripples. Above the skull is a scraggly branch of queen Anne’s lace with small dots above. In the top corners are two constellations for Sirius as her hunting dogs and Roman numerals for 13 and 8 for the date of the Nemoralia festival. Victorian Ward - Black and white illustration of a Victorian wall with a scarab ward framed. The border of the whole piece is a torn paper. Inside is Victorian black and white striped wallpaper with damask type filigree in the black and smaller stripes and speckles in the white with small vertical black stripes on either side. In the damask pattern are slightly abstract symbols of infinity, an hourglass and other resurrection symbols. In the middle is an ornate rectangular frame framing a large scarab beetle with its wings out. On its wings are celestial symbols like Jupiter, stars and the moon. Around the scarab are peony flowers and branches of a tree branching towards the top left with a vine white line swooping in an out and around the frame in the same direction. The scarabs body is engraved like metal with filigree. Behind the scarab in the frame is grain shading grey over black. Dark Vibrations - Inktober 2022 black and white ink illustration. Plain rolling hills lead to the door of a building with a large central spire and a small covered porch. To the left side of the building is a three facet bay windows and the other windows have ornate stained glass. On top of the central spire is a lighting conductor in the shape of a 5 point star. In the highest window of the spire is stain glass in the shape of an eye. Converging at the start is a large vortex spiraling and expanding through the whole sky. The vortex is pulling party’s of the building up towards it and cracking parts of the wood and foundation. The vortex is casting light and highlights on the building and the tress behind it. Converging towards the building is a circle of 12 white bird silhouettes. Swatch pattern card on top of matching pattern background. Swatch card is a large white rectangle with a square swatch of the NESS magazine brand pattern I designed in the 2025 summer issue colour-way. Swatch card has font at the bottom corner that read “BABE&OAK endpage repeat pattern summer 2025 client: NESS magazine” and the stamp for Babe&Oak in the bottom right corner.
Reposted by Babe&Oak
babeandoak.bsky.social
If you see this, post your bird art 🐦‍⬛🎨
Corvus & Crater - Black and white depicting the myth of Corvus and Crater. The entire background is black with grain shading and a star map showing the constellations Corvus and Crater in the southern sky. In the top left is an outline of a sun representing Apollo with a glowing black water serpent winding in and around it. In the middle sweeping down from the top right is a large crow in profile. In the middle in a double handle crater with Apollo’s laurel leaf on it. In the bottom right is a black lyre and in the bottom left is a large fig tree with one fig cut in half. Behind in the bottom half are swirling white lines representing water.
November 18, 2024 at 2:08 PM
babeandoak.bsky.social
#b&w 🖤
November 15, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
babeandoak.bsky.social
But we still all go through that quarterly “I hate everything I’ve ever done” phase right?
ethankocak.com Ethan Kocak @ethankocak.com · 2d
I think most artists hit a point where they’re like, well if I can’t be the best artist, I shall be the most ME artist.
November 14, 2025 at 9:03 PM
babeandoak.bsky.social
But we still all go through that quarterly “I hate everything I’ve ever done” phase right?
ethankocak.com Ethan Kocak @ethankocak.com · 2d
I think most artists hit a point where they’re like, well if I can’t be the best artist, I shall be the most ME artist.
November 14, 2025 at 9:03 PM
babeandoak.bsky.social
At what point does the amount of candles you buy go from A lot to ALARMING?
November 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
babeandoak.bsky.social
ALT Text benefits everyone

Alt text helps with accessibility, identifying/explaining elements you might not get to in your posts and makes your posts/work more discoverable - Make sure to toggle it on to “require alt text” in your settings
Writing alt text infographic “WRITING ALT TEXT - IDENTIFY WHO - EXPRESSION - DESCRIPTION - COLOUR INTERESTING FEATURES “A capybara looking relaxed in a hot spa. Yellow yuzu fruits are floating in the water, and one is balanced on the top of the capybara’s head”
November 13, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
maplemilk.bsky.social
Alt text is kinda funny
Like reading a very literal description of art always is so funny to me

Ex:
"A Painting by Van Gogh. The stars in the sky make a magnificent blue spiral over a small down below a mountain. There are several moons or bright stars within the sky. Yellow and Blue colors."
A Painting by Van Gogh. The stars in the sky make a magnificent blue spiral over a small down below a mountain. There are several moons or bright stars within the sky. Yellow and Blue colors.
November 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
babeandoak.bsky.social
For the ALT text setting - go to your profile side bar -> settings -> accessibility-> toggle on “require alt text”
November 14, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
ladylettera32.bsky.social
Be the terrifying thing that lives in the woods that you want to see in the world 🍂
November 9, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
wsstamey.bsky.social
Eldritch Medusa.
2024.
Derwent lightfast pencil over watercolor wash on paper with oil border.
11”x17”.
SOLD.
November 14, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
aaronradney.bsky.social
When I first got here alt text was a huge part of the art culture here. I've gotten very sad to see it fading and I'd like it to resurge.
babeandoak.bsky.social Babe&Oak @babeandoak.bsky.social · 3d
ALT Text benefits everyone

Alt text helps with accessibility, identifying/explaining elements you might not get to in your posts and makes your posts/work more discoverable - Make sure to toggle it on to “require alt text” in your settings
November 14, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
babeandoak.bsky.social
All the snow has finally melted - back to previously scheduled fall weather
Close up photography of a branch with green leaves spotted with purple and brown and a branch with clusters of blue nearly black berries with brown purple oranges leaves. In the background is more autumn foliage
November 14, 2025 at 2:02 AM
babeandoak.bsky.social
All the snow has finally melted - back to previously scheduled fall weather
Close up photography of a branch with green leaves spotted with purple and brown and a branch with clusters of blue nearly black berries with brown purple oranges leaves. In the background is more autumn foliage
November 14, 2025 at 2:02 AM
babeandoak.bsky.social
#b&wart 🖤
November 14, 2025 at 12:34 AM
babeandoak.bsky.social
ALT Text benefits everyone

Alt text helps with accessibility, identifying/explaining elements you might not get to in your posts and makes your posts/work more discoverable - Make sure to toggle it on to “require alt text” in your settings
Writing alt text infographic “WRITING ALT TEXT - IDENTIFY WHO - EXPRESSION - DESCRIPTION - COLOUR INTERESTING FEATURES “A capybara looking relaxed in a hot spa. Yellow yuzu fruits are floating in the water, and one is balanced on the top of the capybara’s head”
November 13, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
softmossdog.bsky.social
Artists PLEASE I am begging you to use alt text on your art. I want to support you and RT your art but I'm not going to if it does have alt text, and there are so, so many people who feel the same
October 6, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
babeandoak.bsky.social
Fruit and botanic tile pattern I created for author Idris Grey - 2nd part of the pattern collection for the rollout of their novel “Eat You Up”

@idrisgrey.bsky.social
Swatch card for the botanic tile pattern I created for author Idris Grey. Swatch card is a rectangle with the title and stamp logo on the lower right side. Inside the frame is the pattern large scale. The swatch card is on top of the pattern at a smaller scale. Pattern is in tones of muted deep lavender, dark navy, warm blue and creamy beige taupe. The pattern is a mosaics of tiles in alternating colours with vignettes of abstract botanics and fruit illustrations. Fruit illustrations include a pear, a strawberry, a pair of cherries and a pair of peaches. The botanic abstracts are symmetrical and inspired by tin tile ceilings and florals including daisies. Close up of the botanic tile pattern I created for author Idris Grey. Swatch card is a rectangle with the title and stamp logo on the lower right side. Inside the frame is the pattern large scale. The swatch card is on top of the pattern at a smaller scale. Pattern is in tones of muted deep lavender, dark navy, warm blue and creamy beige taupe. The pattern is a mosaics of tiles in alternating colours with vignettes of abstract botanics and fruit illustrations. Fruit illustrations include a pear, a strawberry, a pair of cherries and a pair of peaches. The botanic abstracts are symmetrical and inspired by tin tile ceilings and florals including daisies. Botanic tile pattern I created for author Idris Grey. Swatch card is a rectangle with the title and stamp logo on the lower right side. Inside the frame is the pattern large scale. The swatch card is on top of the pattern at a smaller scale. Pattern is in tones of muted deep lavender, dark navy, warm blue and creamy beige taupe. The pattern is a mosaics of tiles in alternating colours with vignettes of abstract botanics and fruit illustrations. Fruit illustrations include a pear, a strawberry, a pair of cherries and a pair of peaches. The botanic abstracts are symmetrical and inspired by tin tile ceilings and florals including daisies.
November 12, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
babeandoak.bsky.social
Pattern block close up
Close up of the botanic tile pattern I created for author Idris Grey. Pattern is in tones of muted deep lavender, dark navy, warm blue and creamy beige taupe. The pattern is a mosaics of tiles in alternating colours with vignettes of abstract botanics and fruit illustrations. Fruit illustrations include a pear, a strawberry, a pair of cherries and a pair of peaches. The botanic abstracts are symmetrical and inspired by tin tile ceilings and florals including daisies.
November 12, 2025 at 10:01 PM
babeandoak.bsky.social
Fruit and botanic tile pattern I created for author Idris Grey - 2nd part of the pattern collection for the rollout of their novel “Eat You Up”

@idrisgrey.bsky.social
Swatch card for the botanic tile pattern I created for author Idris Grey. Swatch card is a rectangle with the title and stamp logo on the lower right side. Inside the frame is the pattern large scale. The swatch card is on top of the pattern at a smaller scale. Pattern is in tones of muted deep lavender, dark navy, warm blue and creamy beige taupe. The pattern is a mosaics of tiles in alternating colours with vignettes of abstract botanics and fruit illustrations. Fruit illustrations include a pear, a strawberry, a pair of cherries and a pair of peaches. The botanic abstracts are symmetrical and inspired by tin tile ceilings and florals including daisies. Close up of the botanic tile pattern I created for author Idris Grey. Swatch card is a rectangle with the title and stamp logo on the lower right side. Inside the frame is the pattern large scale. The swatch card is on top of the pattern at a smaller scale. Pattern is in tones of muted deep lavender, dark navy, warm blue and creamy beige taupe. The pattern is a mosaics of tiles in alternating colours with vignettes of abstract botanics and fruit illustrations. Fruit illustrations include a pear, a strawberry, a pair of cherries and a pair of peaches. The botanic abstracts are symmetrical and inspired by tin tile ceilings and florals including daisies. Botanic tile pattern I created for author Idris Grey. Swatch card is a rectangle with the title and stamp logo on the lower right side. Inside the frame is the pattern large scale. The swatch card is on top of the pattern at a smaller scale. Pattern is in tones of muted deep lavender, dark navy, warm blue and creamy beige taupe. The pattern is a mosaics of tiles in alternating colours with vignettes of abstract botanics and fruit illustrations. Fruit illustrations include a pear, a strawberry, a pair of cherries and a pair of peaches. The botanic abstracts are symmetrical and inspired by tin tile ceilings and florals including daisies.
November 12, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
babeandoak.bsky.social
1st of three in the pattern collection I created for Author Idris Grey
- themed around gourmand botanics for the rollout of her novel “Eat You Up”

@idrisgrey.bsky.social
Swatch card for the repeat pattern I created for author Idris Grey. Pattern is a dark warm navy blue with botanics on top organized in spot groups that interlace diagonally with each other. Botanics are of long stem stylized tulips, large symmetrical wild daisies and various green branches and leaves. Interlaced with the botanics are various fruits including cherries, a pear split in half, citrus wedges whole and cut strawberries. The fruit and botanics are in flat colour shades light muted robins egg and warm very light pale purple. Speckled throughout are some large dots in the same pale purple. Swatch card contains a large scale of the pattern framed with the title and the babe and oak logo on top of a square of the pattern in a smaller scale.
November 11, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
himansu.bsky.social
Something nice to rest my eyes on:
November 12, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
babeandoak.bsky.social
Close ups
Close up for the repeat pattern I created for author Idris Grey. Pattern is a dark warm navy blue with botanics on top organized in spot groups that interlace diagonally with each other. Botanics are of long stem stylized tulips, large symmetrical wild daisies and various green branches and leaves. Interlaced with the botanics are various fruits including cherries, a pear split in half, citrus wedges whole and cut strawberries. The fruit and botanics are in flat colour shades light muted robins egg and warm very light pale purple. Speckled throughout are some large dots in the same pale purple. Close up for the repeat pattern I created for author Idris Grey. Pattern is a dark warm navy blue with botanics on top organized in spot groups that interlace diagonally with each other. Botanics are of long stem stylized tulips, large symmetrical wild daisies and various green branches and leaves. Interlaced with the botanics are various fruits including cherries, a pear split in half, citrus wedges whole and cut strawberries. The fruit and botanics are in flat colour shades light muted robins egg and warm very light pale purple. Speckled throughout are some large dots in the same pale purple.
November 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
juliedillon.bsky.social
I think the painted version of this drawing turned out okay. 👉👈This was done in watercolors, with graphite, gouache and chalk pastel finishing touches.
A watercolor and graphite illustration of a sad mermaid with long flowing hair holding a wounded albatross to her chest.
November 11, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Babe&Oak
witchsbvtter.bsky.social
if you see this, post your bird art ✎ᝰ𓅓
illustration of a three eyed owl on a crooked tree branch in the form of a circle, with the quote "the owls are not what they seem" from twin peaks Curiosity cabinet on a black background, with moth eaten books, a moth specimen in a bell jar, a candle... ghost pipe plants grow out of it, a white raven sits atop the cabinet among cobwebs
November 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM