Diva Challenge #365 and other stuff

Diva's Challenge #365

Back to Basics

The Diva is back after her Summer hiatus and boy, was I ready for this. Simple. Back to Basics? Uhmnnn...well, it started off that way😛

I did this in my mixed media sketchbook, using a 4" coaster as my template. I got the string from Adele's IAST challenge this week and didn't really intend to bring the string out of the box like I did, nor did I intend to fill in each section but that's just the way I roll.

Throwback Square One: "Cuke"

additionally: "PeelD"

and 

It's a String Thing Challenge #258

featuring: "Antidots", "Apacore" and "Afterglo"

in an A string in honor of Aretha Franklin

This was a fun one, though quite time consuming. I randomly chose a throwback Square One challenge this week and was quite inspired by this weeks featured pattern "PeelD". I love how this one came out.

Zendala Monday

This week was a pre-strung Zendala (I've been alternating each week). Awhile back, Jem (The Ragged Ray) and I had a comment convo regarding the limitations of the pre-strung Zendala and my aversion to sustaining symmetry within those boundaries. She had posted a pic of how she'd colored over a pre-strung zendala that left only a suggestion of the string. I jumped on that train as soon as the opportunity presented itself. You can barely see the string that I started with below. I liked the elegant S curves, but not so much the resolve around the border. I went with a Yin/Yang idea: dark vs light, structured vs organic.

I'm way behind on my Travelling Tangles:

my finish...

...to this start by Connie Kennekens

traveling all the way from The Netherlands

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

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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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;-)

Another Duo-Challenge and other artsy stuff

Duo-Challenge
Throwback Joey #5: "Mountains"
It's a String Thing #253

My start on Monday morning

Joey's prompt was "Mountains". I guess my interpretation is more like "Hills" ;-) I created a string that was reminiscent of a Facebook group I used to belong to called something like "Stacked and Tangled" where strings were laid out so the patterns stacked on top or side by side each other. I used to use this  horizontal wavy line string all the time.

Shortly after I drew the string, a "Zentwining" (conceived by Lynn Mead) tile by Eni Oken appeared on my Pinterest feed. I was fascinated by it.
I was able to adapt Adele's M string into this quite nicely. It was really tricky trying to meld the two sides stylistically though. All in all I enjoyed this one.

If you stopped by last week you may have noticed my purchase of a ridiculously discounted official "Zendala" kit from my neighborhood art store's going out of business sale. Here's my first official Zendala:

Zendala #1

I'm not quite sure what to make of these yet as it's completely out of my comfort zone. I don't do symmetry. Really. I did have fun with it, but it took forever. I'm going to try share one each week as the kit included some pre-strungs in addition to the blanks. I went back and bought 2 more sets so I've got 17 more of these babies to noodle around with;-)

On the Travelling Tangles front: 

my finish...

...to this gorgeous start by Spring Taylor

This was one of those I had to have a serious stare-down with before I could lay pen to paper. I loved how delicate and precise Springs line-work was (the anti-thesis of mine). It reminded me a bit of Lily Moon's work, so I went onto Pinterest looking for piece of  Lily's with patterns I wanted to try to replicate. My agenda with my Travelling Tangles finishes is to move my skills forward and advance my pattern repertoire, so I can use these pieces as references and studies for future work. 

Here's a page from my TTMMJJ

The bookmark on the left was sent to me finished as a bonus ages ago. I don't even remember who sent it. The bookmark on the right was from a recent swap with Heidi Whitney. She'd started it with the little cluster of flowers on the bottom. I'm really into floral motifs these days.

I am the worst at remembering the names of patterns and I don't worry about it. Margaret Blank sent me several colored tiles, ATC's and twinchies with various painted backgrounds. As with all of the others who sent such bonus's, I'm trying to use them to add additional pattern references to my journal rather than aim for more complex tiles. I really liked this pattern and I have no idea what it's called.

Jules Mack sent me this rainbow scratcher a while back

Jules started with a small cluster of 4 "Flux" in the bottom left corner. It took me a long time to put toothpick to paper on this one. I've never done one of these before and let me tell ya, it was so much fun!

Here's a work in progress of one of my TTMMJJ spreads:

The envelopes, notecards and tiles are all mixed up, so tiles sit on cards or envelopes not from the sender.



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