Diva Challenge #338, a Travelling Tangles Block Unblocked and Inktober

Diva Challenge #338

"White on Black"

I used the Gelly Roll pens for these. Something I saw on Pinterest inspired the above tile. I usually go for the Signo Uniball when doing white on black, less skippy, so I was just giving an old Gelly Roll a work-out and I really liked the way this turned out...plus it couldn't have been more Zen to draw.

I've adopted Laura's black gesso technique to create black tiles and recycle old rejects. I have a lot of rejects. The Gelly Rolls really like the smooth surface.

More White on Black

It's a really sunny morning so the white looks a little blue. 

I've been sitting on a stack of Travelling Tangles for well over a month. I had a pretty severe block which I tediously detail below. Fortunately I finally snapped out of it.

My finish...

...to this inspiring start by Pat Floerke

traveling all the way from Nicaragua

Pat started this on a gorgeous eco-printed tile.  This was one of the rare instances where I'll start with one idea and something else suddenly takes over. I've been seeing some really cool pieces using the new pattern Membranart here and there. I sat down to this with organics and flora in mind, with every intention of starting Pokeleaf, one of my mac 'n cheese patterns. The shapes in the eco-print seemed a perfect host...then an opposing force took over, telling me to try something new.  I drew the first stroke of the arch and...well...there you have it.

my finish...

...to another start by Pat

One of my favorite things is simple black and white on an official tile...so back in my comfort zone a bit. I have a hard time knowing when to stop because my pen is having too much fun;-)

my finish...

...to the 3rd tile sent by Pat

I love to draw auras. I only recently learned to go super slow and keep the spacing as consistent as possible. I think it worked. This was very Zen;-)

my finish...

...to this gorgeous start by Kim Aarts-Bruins

traveling all the way from The Netherlands

So. This was the tile that threw me into an unprecedented block and made me love the Travelling Tangles Project even more than I already do.

I've been a regular participant in this group for well over a year and I'm close to filling up my second album of collaborations. I complete my incoming pieces in the order that I receive them, so I couldn't move on until this one was done. That's just the way I roll. I abide by the saying "you can't wait for inspiration, you must chase after it with a stick" or something along those lines. The more challenging it appears, the more immediate the need to dive in.

This was one of those beauties I was hesitant with for fear of messing it up. I stared it down for a very long time. I put it away for a day and looked at it again. Kim and I have swapped before and I love her work. It's the antithesis of mine...so delicate and elegant. That was the first hurdle. Should I attempt to continue on (do I have the tools?) or aura it off and contrast it? I was also intimidated by the renaissance zendala. Always am. Whenever I get one, I sit on it much longer than I like. 

I decided to try a new pattern (can't remember the name) I saw on Melinda Barlow's YouTube channel...it's the one on the left with the alternating Fescu's. I only practiced it once because I use Fescu all the time. I went for it. I immediately hated it. I thought it was clumsy and the balance was totally off. I put it aside because I ALWAYS go back and find it's never as bad as it seemed. That didn't happen. Every time I looked at it, trying to find a way to fix it, I couldn't. I made myself a little crazy, because the thing is, the group is so encouraging and supportive. I could have posted anything and gotten positive feedback on it. I could have just not posted it at all and moved on. I know that happens because I have sent out countless swaps never to be seen again.

But, that's not how I roll. Each piece I receive is a gift. Not only a piece of someone's creativity and time, but it's a gift of artistic discovery and inspiration. There's so much more value to something you've struggled with...and after all...No Mistakes!!

I finally completed it after more than a month, continuing it one stroke at a time with one mooka here another fescu there until it felt balanced. I think it finally gelled for me when I finished it with the little black perfs(dots).

Then, I burned through all of Pat's tiles in less than 2 days with joy in my heart-)...and Kim, if you're reading this...thankyouthankyouthankyou and many thanks to ALL of you who got through this;-)

I'm a little behind with my Inktober drawings:

Inktober days 16, 17 & 18

When in doubt, draw the cat

Inktober Day 19

"Cloud"

I took an excursion out to Flax last week. I spend a ridiculous amount of time watching YouTube videos of people doing art. One of my faves, Kendyll Hillegas, draws the most amazing food illustrations (I'm in the food business and love illustrated recipes so this especially appeals to me) and she had a video of one of her paper hauls. Normally, I just buy inexpensive watercolor pads from Blick or Aaron Brothers, but amped it up and I bought a couple of different 22x30 inch sheets of illustration and watercolor papers. I broke them down at the store by folding and tearing because I love deckled edges. It was a good day.

I got myself all set up to draw...

...Aimee had other ideas

Thanks so much for stopping by. Your thoughtful and generous comments delight and inspire me!

Diva Challenge #337, IAST#215, Inktober...

 

Diva Challenge #337

"Artoo"

This week, The Diva's young son "Artoo" turned 7 so to celebrate we're to use the pattern Laura created in his honor shortly after he was born (introduced in weekly challenge #9).

This was an experiment and there were two points in this process I almost gave it the boot, but I'm glad I stuck to it. I used a tile colored with art tissue. I'll re-use the strips of tissue until I've bled out the last dregs of color that I can. At the final stage, I usually just wad up a bunch of damp strips and smoosh them down onto a tile, saturate some more and using a piece of acetate press the wad flat and let it sit for a bit. I end up with just hints of color, which I really love.

I just bought a light grey Staetdler Triplus Fineliner and had an idea to play around with some layers and a bit of a monochromatic color scheme. I started with the darker of the two purples, then the lighter purple and finally the light grey. I thought the line work looked a bit clumsy and thought about ditching it at that point, but I had to keep reminding myself that the purpose was practice and play, NOT about a finished Instagram-worthy piece. Then I spritzed it with water to get some diffusion going, noodled around with a grey Tombow brush pen and then, "what the heck" let's see what a final stem in black on top of everything will look like. Love it! if I do say so myself;-)

IAST #215

Rope String
featuring: "Clob" & "Delys"

I've had a lot lapses with It's a String Thing challenges. Many of them mental. I completed this challenge very early in the week because I gelled with it right from the get-go (usually my first lapse if I don't feel the challenge right away) Rope String? One of my absolute Faves! The creator of "Clob", none other than Jem Miller aka "The Ragged Ray", another Fave! She and I have had several Travelling Tangles collaborations and I'm a huge fan of her work. "Delys"? gorgeous and new to me. I was super inspired by this challenge and got right to it.  Then, I completely forgot (a frequent lapse) to email it to Adele;-(

<<<heavy sigh>>> Story of my life;-)

Moving on... I'm quite pleased with myself for sticking to my Inktober guns. Last year I bailed after the first week. Here's my concertina sketchbook. I'm one page away from finishing the first side:

Day 11
"Run"

Day 12:
"Shattered"

Day 13:
"Teeming"

Days 14, 15 & 16
"Fierce"
"Mysterious"
"Fat"

Aimee Baby!
guess who just celebrated her 6th birthday
Isn't she just adorbs?!?


Thanks so much for stopping by! Your thoughtful and generous comments delight and inspire me 😍🐾😼

Diva Challenge #336, Joey's Weekly Challenge #186 and Inktober

Diva Challenge #336

"Striping" Monotangle

Laura's challenge was to get to know "Striping". Whenever I have used Striping, it's usually been as small filler or in some cases as a framing device. I've never had any inclination to put it front and center. I found a tile left over from my guest blogger appearance on Joey's challenge earlier this Summer where I used Margaret Bremner's "Rope String".

I can't say I'm all too happy with this. Those skinny stripes on the top are a little weird, but they can't all be winners. I did enjoy drawing this though.

If you don't already know, The Diva has a YouTube channel now where she's been posting her daily Inktober challenges as well this weeks "Striping" challenge. Very inspiring. 

I had originally decided to take a pass on the Zentangle Inktober challenges because I wanted to focus on the official prompts, but after watching Laura's videos I chose to follow her lead using Bijou tiles and dip pen & ink. I have a box full of "Twinchies" I made from tile trimmings and watercolor sheets made to test out watercolor sets. I'm also adding color by layering and blending out colored pencils.

"Zentober"

following Stephanie Jennifer's prompt list

Joey's Weekly Challenge #186

9 piece ensemble series

ATC #9

featuring: Pokeleaf

additionally: Striping, Caviar and a spiral thingy

This ATC brings me to the end of my ensemble. The spiral was originally going to be Marasu but for some reason I started drawing scallops instead of stripes. Gotta follow my muse:-) 

This series has been my most favorite challenge to date!

Ensemble

It's been a bit problematic getting decent photographs today. The atmosphere here in San Francisco is quite murky from all of the smoke from the Napa/Sonoma fires.

The start

I began with two different (but similar) sets of ATC's using the art tissue paper coloring technique. The darker set was the first pass with the tissue and the lighter set was the second pass. At the time I made the sheets, it was a test to see what happened with each re-use of the tissue. I was going to use them for Travelling Tangles but I felt the colors were way too saturated and might be problematic for others to attempt to complete, so I stashed them away. Then this series began and I figured this would be a good challenge for me to see what I could do on a background this dark.

I've been really pleased with how this project progressed. I purposely chose not to carry patterns from one tile to the next so that each piece was its own composition. I just made sure the string was continuing to line up and that patterns were similar but different moving onto the adjoining piece.

The best part was that I taught myself more about highlight and shadow and overcoming the darkness of the colorful base. The white gel pen was the star of this show;-)

I've also challenged myself with participating in the official Inktober prompts and attempting illustration of actual stuff using only black ink (for now). I'll probably go back and add a bit of color at some point. I made a concertina sketchbook (accordian) to create a journal of my days.

Day 5: "Long"

Day 6: "Sword"

Day 7: "Shy"

Day 8: "Crooked"

Day 9: "Screech"

Day 10: "Gigantic"

My muse

Thanks so much for stopping by! Your thoughtful and generous comments delight and inspire me;-)

Diva Challenge #335, Joey's Weekly Challenge #185 and Inktober begins...

Diva Challenge #335

Use My Tangle Monday: "Tint"

by Henrike Bratz

Over at I am the Diva, the first Monday of the month focuses on a pattern submitted by one of the Diva's many fans and followers. I'm slightly familiar with "Tint". I've seen it before, used it and enjoyed it, but as is far too common, I move on and forget.

I'm happy to get re-aquainted with "Tint" because I love scallopy patterns. I chose to play around on a recycled tile I'd made ages ago out of a cat litter box. I had fun with this one.

Joey's Weekly Challenge #185

9 Piece Ensemble Series

ATC #8 featuring: Printemps

additionally: Hibred, Florz and Fescu

I can't remember the name of the pattern I used in the framing bit. Anyhoo, we're almost done with this. I'm anticipating the final final. I've had so much fun with this. I tried a squishy version of Printemps ( I think I was still in 'nzeppel mode). It reminded me of cinnamon rolls.

My handmade concertina sketchbook for Inktober 2017

"Home is Where the Art is"

I love this page from Trader Joe's newsletter

I spend waaaayyyyy too much time on youtube watching art related videos. One of my faves is Sketchbook Skool and Koosje Koene's "Draw Tip Tuesday". I've always wanted to make a concertina  (accordian) book since seeing one on her channel and the story it told. As Inktober crept up I decided this was the time find a story to tell.

Inktober challenges us to do one pen and ink drawing every day for 31 days.  There are daily prompts that one can choose to follow (or not). There are Zentangle related prompts as well.

I decided to challenge myself and sketch from life. I might still do the Zentangle prompts but illustration is so far out of my comfort zone that I knew I needed to do this.

I'm following the official prompts, using my apartment as the theme.

Day 1

"Swift"

my table, 90% of the time I spend drawing there;-)

Day 2

"Divided"

I divided my drawing time between home and the cafe

Day 3

"Poison"

This was a hard one, trying to find an image within my apartment

and then drawing this glass dish and the deep morning shadow

I made a fruit fly trap 

Day 4

"Underwater"

This is what I came home to this morning after the cafe.

Aimee has a thing for rubber bands and hair ties 

and dropping them in her water glass

Thanks so much for stopping by. Your thoughtful and generous comments delight and inspire me;-)