My Week in Art

Duo-Challenge

Throwback Diva #1: Simplicity

It's a String Thing #257: "Twilight"

To me, simplicity means back to basics with the Z string and my good ol' Mac 'n Cheese patterns.
I was intrigued by "Twilight", Adele's choice for IAST #257. I knew, as I was working through this, I would need contrast. All of the line work was down and I started with Twilight and then balance with blacked out Mooka. I don't think I've ever done that before. I like it.
One of my on going challenges with these Duo-Challenges is shading. Graphite make such a mess in the sketchbook.  When I started this, I had an idea to use my Staedtler Triplus Fineliner and go back with a water brush and blend out some shading. I took a break from the drawing for a day and then when I went back I forgot my plan and started in with the Tombow grey markers. I used a water brush to blend out the markers and realized I'd used a couple of different pens that bled two different shades of grey. Oh well..

Zendala Monday

love me some black Pokeleaf

I used a black Prismacolor pencil to shade this. It's more evident in person.

 Mission: Inspiration Facebook Group

August Challenge

 Mixed Media Sketchbook

I recently joined a new mixed media art journal group. Each month one of several artists will create a  prompt list to guide you though all of the steps to complete a journal page. I found this to be the answer to my ever growing pages of stalled starts. I'm great at starting and getting some cool backgrounds going and perhaps a layer or two of stamping and stenciling but then I hit a wall. I love the way this turned out...even though I missed a word:-P

Travelling Tangles:

My finish...

...to this ATC started by Joey van Oort

Another finish...

 ...to Joey's start

Eco-printed papers

I wanted to experiment with Eco-printing on a variety of different papers and envelopes for potential use in my junk journals. I'm also thinking about Inktober and the possibility of doing a month of botanical illustration on some of these papers. This was fun.

 

Flow-ish Journal for a swap

I gutted an old Yoga instruction book and covered it with my used paint clean up baby wipes. I stitched several together, then painted and stamped circles all over it using a set of curlers.
This was a "No Theme" swap.

I made a decorative paper clip using an image of a Victorian corset I'd cut out of a museum fashion book. Under the clip are several cheese stickers I painted and stenciled.

I included a lot of costume/fashion stuff and museum postcards.

Lastly, I wanted to share this super cool prize I won in last weeks "Freebie Friday Giveaway" at the Facebook Group "Anything Goes-Tangled Art For Everyone". This was so exciting because not only is it such a great gift but it's also the first time I've ever won a giveaway😁

13 Shades of Grey Tutorial by Sonya Yencer

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

A Duo-Challenge and other Artsy Stuff

Duo-Challenge featuring Square One Purely Zentangle

pattern focus: Nik

additionally: Undu

&

Tangle All Around

patterns: Coraline, Auraknot & Archer

Alice Hendons string

This is what I started last week. I knew time was going to be limited so I didn't wait for the IAST challenge. I had randomly picked a Square One's "Nik" and instead I used Alice Hendon's prompts for the week from her Facebook group Tangle All Around. Whilst scrolling through Square One, Undo was the current focus and I thought it would work nicely with "Nik". It wasn't quite the result I was hoping for but I finished it nonetheless and finished is always good.

Zendala Monday

It's a String Thing #256

featuring: "Mazorito", "Hexa" and "Horti"

I had already chosen the pre-strung Zendala below when IAST appeared. I was thrilled to see patterns all created by my tangle pal, Ria Matheussen. Adele's "string" was just to use a circle. I did a little pattern study as all of these were new to me and knew that some how, some way I could manipulate them into this string. I used the inside of one of my Travelling Tangles happy mail note cards as it will go into my TTMMJJ and I knew that I wanted to archive these patterns for future use.

Travelling Tangles completed this week:

My finish...

...to this fun start by Margaret Blank

she'd stenciled over Brusho inks

My finish...

 

...to another of Margaret's starts

Margaret was amazingly generous with several fun background starters, as were so many others. I had to re-adjust my completion strategy. I always finish my starts in the order that I receive them, randomly picking one to start and so on. I operate under the "You can't wait for inspiration, you must chase after it with a stick!" philosophy rather than pick and choose what speaks to me. I used to complete everything in the packet before moving on to the next, but now I'm going to shoot for getting two done and then saving a little hoard for the lean times. I don't want my prompt swap mates waiting too long to see the results of our collaboration. That's just how I roll;-)

 

 My finish...

...to this Renaissance tile start by Kim Yodisborg

Here are a couple of spreads in my altered book mixed media journal. I tasked myself with using all of the new supplies I bought last week:

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

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The Week in Art...

My finish...

...to this fun start by Karen Karstadt

My finish...

...to this start on a coaster by Karen Karstadt
though it dried out my well-used brush pen, I liked the streaky effect and kept going

Oh my...where did the week go? My work schedule was all topsy-turvy this week while I was training our newest cheesemonger. I'm such a creature of habit, drawing in the morning, art journaling in the evening. Mornings were pretty much shot. I started the Duo-challenge but never got beyond setting up the first half. I picked the pre-strung Zendala I'd planned to use but never put pen to it.

These Travelling Tangles were done earlier in the week.

Where I tangle...

Heidi Whitney had sent me the start of a tangle journal page that I have slowly been filling up. I use it for inspiration as I try to dial back the YouTube addiction. "Less time viewing, more time doing".

Here are a few more pages in my TTMMJJ:

I've started to include some of my favorite swaps from other groups as I strive to make this my go-to reference journal for starting and completing future Travelling Tangles swaps.

Some deconstructed, arted envelope bits find a home here

Here are a few pictures of the Flow-ish Junk Journal I received in last month's Grocery swap for the FB group Flow-ish and Trashy Junk Journals 

A Flow-ish journal is a working journal of inspirational bits. It's purpose is to be deconstructed to use in your own journaling., My partner Nikki lives in Olympia Washington and sent me a lot of local ephemera. I've already formed a couple of signatures and started some art journaling with it.

This bag she'd attached to the cover was full of fun bits

I love this illustrated page from her local Edible Magazine

I'd sent her some pages from my SF edition;-)

More fun illustration and a bit of wallpaper

more fun bits and pieces

Lastly I wanted to share a little art supply haul I got on Tuesday. The nearest Michael's/Joann's is an hour bus ride (two 30 minute buses) so I rarely do this. My big discovery was a new store called Tuesday Morning. It's a discount home goods store with a crafting aisle that is quite a hodge podge of crazy cheap stuff. The stamp pads and the tornado stencil were $1.99. I ventured into the world of decorative scrap book paper only because I loved that Masquerade theme book and colors. I'd actually picked up several others but then put them back because I have no idea what I'd do with them and my goal is to use what I've already got.

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

My Weekly Duo-Challenge and Other Artsy Meanderings

Duo-Challenge:

Square One: "My Swing"

It's a String Thing #255: "Konk" and "Flog"

This week I randomly chose a Square One Purely Zentangle challenge featuring the pattern "My Swing" by Simone Menzel. I was also quite intrigued by this weeks Square One pattern "Icantoo", which seemed like a fitting accompaniment to My Swing. I drew in both of those patterns then waited for IAST. Adele's string was 3 spiraling vines and two new-to-me patterns, both of which I quite like except for the fact that I pretty much stink at highly graphic grid patterns. I went back and inked in the auras around the other side and I'm pleased with the results.

Zendala Monday:

This was just a fun botanical. Week to week I'm alternating between the pre-strung and the plain zendalas. I was determined to resist the urge to attempt something mandala-ish or symmetrical, so I immediately committed to 3 random circles and then went all free-form on it. I also decided against shading though I may go back and color it at some point.

My week in Travelling Tangles:

My finish...

...to this start from Karen Karstadt

 

 My finish...

 

...to another of Karen's starters

My finish...

...to this start by Kim Yodisborg

The Travelling Tangles Mixed Media Junk Journal in progress:

This is a super fun project. I came across a box of old swap ATC's from a few groups I used to regularly participate in and started including these as well. I had saved a bunch of envelopes from them and I've arted them too, using them as little pattern reference bits. Honestly, I can't stop looking at these;-)

Flow-ish Junk Journal Swap:

I sent my flow-ish journal off to my swap partner and she posted these pretty photos of it to the Facebook group.

The card is a color copy of my original artwork. I wrapped it in paper and twine I took off of a wheel of Piave that came into the cheese department the day before I mailed it. I knew when I saw that paper that it was a sign to wrap up the project literally and figuratively. I could have tweaked this book forever!

I included a bunch of cheese and spirit pins I've collected over the years from various vendors.

I included one of my handmade stamps in this little soap bag.

A paint blotting napkin.

I just signed up for the next swap. There's no theme. Yaay! I just need to make sure I'm diligent about using only what's already in my stash.


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