Wednesday, October 11, 2017

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

"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"

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;-)


35 comments:

  1. You must be drawing non-stop this October and somehow managing to stay present with all of it. Amazing! Good thing you've got Aimee to help you! I especially love the diagonal bands that flow across your ensemble tiles - stunning, especially for being essentially unplanned.

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    1. Thanks Pat! It's definitely been a busy month so far. I'm feeling quite accomplished with the Inktober thing. It's pushed me so far out of my comfort zone;-)
      As for the ensemble, whenever I do the art tissue transfer coloring I tend to habitually tear strips and lay them diagonally so my ensemble string essentially followed the coloring. Fortunately it all worked out in the end. I wasn't so sure as I progressed through this;-)

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  2. I had to go back and look for the thin stripes that were bothering you on your Striping monotangle tile, so they certainly hadn't made me pause and say, "Hmm. Wassup with the skinny stripes?" To the contrary. Those stripes along with the also thinner ones at the bottom unify the tile. I really like your ensemble piece. I keep meaning to try the tissue paper coloring technique. I even have the tissue paper! I have to remember the importance of keeping a white gel pen handy. I said I was going to do Inktober and here it is 10/11 and nada----zippo. I may just call it Marchink and see if I can do it by then.

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    1. Thank you Suzanne! I guess when I look at the Striping tile there's something a little off balance wise. If I were to do this again I'd make the top section stripes a little fatter. Anyhoo, I do appreciate your feedback 'cuz I'm always my worst critic;-) I'm not putting too much pressure on myself for inktober. I did the first 6 Zentober bijou's (or is it bijoux) at the same time and it didn't take that long.

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  3. Oh wow. If only I could draw half as well as you! Great work!

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    1. Thank you! Drawing every day helps, even if I only have time to draw my coffee cup;-)

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  4. Your mosaic is gorgeous! I like the variation of patterns and warm colors. Congratulations! All other tiles are beautiful. Especially the inktober drawings ar really great!

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    1. Thanks so much Margarete! I'm really happy with how the mosaic came out and I'm having more fun than I thought I would with the inktober illustrations;-)

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  5. Me too love the inktober drawings, especially number 10 with the lazy muze and the hilarious quote and of course Michelle I love your Mosaïc, drawn in your beautiful personal style with gorgeous colours, Congratulations!!!

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    1. Thank you Ria! I could draw Aimee every day. I follow her around the apartment and take pictures of her for future ideas;-) This mosaic project has been amazing, mostly by seeing all the gorgeous results of everyone.

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  6. The whole ensemble for Joey´s turned out so beautiful! Me to has this challenge as my favourite all time so far! :) You are doing great with the inktoberdrawings! Your cat is a wonderful model!

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    1. Thank you Anita! Everyone has done such an amazing job with the mosaics. I'm really enjoying the Inktober project.

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  7. Oooh yummy! Love your montage ... your color scheme and the pattern laid down with the colors makes it so special. the inktober stuff is beyond lovely. Good work

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  8. (As always) alle so very beautiful. I see what you mean about the Stripes tile, but I think it's very beautiful to have some different size of stripes!

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    1. Thank you so much Annemarie! I'm seeing so many inspiring Striping tiles for this challenge. I may have to have another go at this;-)

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  9. Love your muse :-) and all of your work and they great ensemble of Joey's challenge and... well, everything :-)

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  10. Wow oh Wow!!! All the work is fab! Really enjoying your inktober drawings! So fun and loose.

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    1. Thank you Anita! I've seen so many awesome Striping tiles in the last couple of days. I want to do it again😉

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  12. All your tiles and drawings are wonderful. The Inktober's are lovely and I do love your Muse.

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  13. Michele your complete artwork is magnificent. You have achieved a beautiful stain glass effect allowing the vibrant coloured light to shine through from mystical world. I love it.

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  14. Dear Michele, I am absolutely blown away by this blogpost!!!
    The DIVA tile with the Striping is very elegant and has a great contrast... I love the small coloured Inktober twinchies . The 9 tiles ensemble is a great piece of art! I have been watching it for several minutes and found so many things to see and ...wow!.... don't find the right words. The composition with the colours, the dynamic of the diagonals...
    And the Inktober sketches with your nice cat 🐱 are so lovely. You must be drawing all the time!?
    I am looking forward to your next posts ! 😘

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    1. Thank you so much Simone! It's been a pretty remarkable week outside of my comfort zone 😉 It does feel like I've been drawing much more than usual and really enjoying it.

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  15. What a week! So full of discovery and creation, and relaxation! Striping seems to be a sticky tangle for lots of us. I will try to force myself to tackle it again, as you said you'll do. (You're a real role model!!) I love the bright twinchies--so playful. The InkTober drawings are amazing. I'm so glad that you've taken this direction! The mosaic is absolutely fabulous. Congratulations! Can't wait to see what comes next!!

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    1. Thank you Jennifer! It's definitely been a week of discovery. The illustration practice has been a chore and a blessing 🐾😼😍

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  16. This is a real mosaic - lovely and colourful.

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  17. Wauw, don't now were to look. al are beautiful. Your stripes are perfect with the shining high lights. Great!

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  18. Oh mai, I love your black and white 'real' sketches - I mean, they really look 'real'. As I always suspected, you are a 'real' artist and I would like to see how the color versions will look like.
    Mosaic: you hit the nail on the head, the white gel emphasis and compliments your dark color design excellently. Michele, as always, your mosaic project, too, is extraordinarily beautiful. Those color gradients make a tangle so much more interesting!

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