I ran across a video on pinterest showing the use of Derwent Intense Pencils and Blocks to create background pages for your art journal. I really like the bright, "intense" colors you could get with these pencils and blocks - so I ordered some and they arrived a couple days ago. They are super easy to use. For the first set of pages I used a total of 4 colors - a magenta, a teal, a neon green, and a purple. I used the pencils first and colored some different colored splotches on the 2-page spread. Then I took a wet brush and just pulled the colors around, mixing them in places, leaving them alone in others. I held the book up and let some of the colors run across the page, then I used a heat gun to dry the colors. In a couple damp places, I used a scrunched up paper towel to blot - which made a grid-like design. You can see it best in the first photo, right hand page, in the purple section.
On the second set of pages, I used 3 colors - aqua, orange, and yellow. I used a wet brush to push and pull color back and forth. Then on all the pages, I spritzed a little of Tsukineko's Sheer Shimmer Spritz in copper and frost. You can't really see that on these pictures - it gives the pages a light sparkly look.
I still need to try the Derwent Intense Blocks. My daughter played with those some this afternoon. Here's a link to the video. Enjoy!
Over at the Bright Owl, Erin is hosting a Zendala Dare each week. She provides us with the template, which we then tangle and post to her blog. This is the template Erin gave us to work with this week. I started with the center and worked my way to the outer ring. Patterns I used were: crescent moon, weave, paradox, Msst, lokomotive, pearlz, and coral. This week's template really challenged me. It kept reminding me of McDonald's! and their french fries which I haven't had in months! Hungry!!! So, I decided the cups looked more like cups of hot chocolate! Which I can have - on occasion!
Check out Erin's blog here and see what everyone else has posted! Maybe you'd consider joining us in the Zendala Dare!
Meet my little piggies and my little birdies! Before I show you close-ups and explain, let me say that I can not take credit for these ideas. My favorite art-journalist is Lori at Elvie Studio. She provided the step-by-step in her post that you can find here. Check out her blog - there is plenty there to get excited about! Let's look at my little piggies first. I worked on watercolor paper and I basically just made 5 blobs of color on my page - I opted for yellow, and 2 different shades of pink. Just make blobs - they don't have to resemble anything. One of my better purchases lately has been a heat gun, which I used to quickly dry the watercolor blobs. Then you use a pen and outline your blobs - making them into piggies. I added ears, snout, feet, and curly tails. Slop on some muddy brown color and blue sky and you're all set. Then I moved on to the little birdies. Same thing, make random blobs of color on your page. I used a bit more color for these. Dry them, then use your pen to add beaks, eyes, legs, tail feathers, and wings if you want them. Add some ground - I added bird seed - some sky and then you're done. I tried to tie my "farm" together with the colors and I love the verse that popped to mind, especially as far as the piggies in mud - "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7
I hope you have enjoyed my little piggies and birdies. And I reiterate - I can not take credit for the idea. Please check out Elvie Studio at www.elviestudio.blogspot.com. You will be glad that you did!
This was a fun zendala to make! I worked on one of Zentangle's pre-strung round tiles. I'm working hard at learning patterns, trying to remember their names, and perfecting the steps. I'm still having trouble with circles - who knew! I've been drawing circles since I was little, but their roundness eludes me. So, I decided I need to work on patterns with lots of circles :).
I started with the paisleys in the center, then moved to the outer ring with the onamato. The name onamato sounds oriental to me, which led me to add the ribbons around the middle. I thought they looked oriental. Last, I added the variation of weave to connect the outer ring to the central paisleys/pais. I shaded some, still working on that, too. All in all, I'm very pleased with how this turned out. What do you think?
Today a page from my art journal - one of my earlier attempts. I am having fun - and a challenge - trying to incorporate scripture into these drawings. I thought the hearts were very apropos with this verse. I think this was also the first time I added color. I know I have a long way to go, but I'm enjoying the journey!
In honor of Earth Day, or Amanda Day as so-dubbed by Chewie, the challenge this week is to use the prompt of the earth. Here is my zentangle-inspired take on it. The dragonfly I found on a pinterest board. It was a watercolor on fabric. I used a trick I learned on The Bright Owl to transfer the dragonfly outline onto my tile, and then tangled him. The outer border is a pattern called skein. I don't recall where I learned to make this kind of wall. I used it once before, but I don't recall if it's a legit pattern? or something I just did. To add some color - I used At You Spica pens. You can visit the Diva's page here and see everyone's challenge pieces for the week! And maybe you would considering joining us in the Diva's challenge. It isn't too late!
This one was fun! I learned some new tangles, and I got to play with some cool new pens - Twinkling Like Stars! At You Spica pens. They are glittery, which makes me happy :). To make the large circles - I traced a CD - a circle is one of many things I can not do without help. Hahaha!
Again, I drew this in my smash journal. Still trying to figure out what kind of actual book/journal I want to use. For now, this works fine. The page texture is smooth and the pen glides across it really well. I like the way this turned out. This is a verse I learned as a child. It's always been one of my favorites!
Erin, over at The Bright Owl, is hosting a zendala dare for the second week. She provides the template for the basic shape of the mandala, and we provide the tangling. I used weave, pearlz, skein, and msst for my patterns and came up with this. I've been wanting to add some color to my tangles, and decided now was the time to go for it. Even though I thought my micron was a permanent pen, I noticed that it will smear if the aqua markers touch it, so I need to be careful of that in the future.
Thanks, Erin, for offering the zendala dare again this week! Can't wait to see the template you have for us next!
I'm really enjoying this art walk! Trying to post something each day. Hoping I'm not boring you to death!
This was my second attempt at zentangle. I am pleased with how it turned out. I just need to start learning the names for all the different patterns!
On a side note, I registered today for the Certified Zentangle Teacher Training Seminar that will be held in Rhode Island in August. I can't wait! It's going to be incredible! Whoot! Whoot! Absolutely can not wait!
Zentangle. Zentangle is an art form that anyone can try. You use patterns in a series of steps, with repetition. I learned about zentangle on Pinterest, of all places. I was searching art journal boards and kept running across patterns. I just wanted so badly to be able to draw like these ladies and men whose boards I browse over every day. I started at zentangle.com and began reading and studying what I saw. This was my first large project. It's on a page in a smash journal, about 7" x 10". It was a lot of fun! No, it isn't perfect, but in zentangle it doesn't have to be. And that's only one thing I like about the art!
My daughter asked me what those little fellows in the middle were supposed to be. She thought they were aliens. So, now they are aliens! (Originally they were supposed to be cats :), but I can't draw at all, which is another reason to like zentangle - I don't have to.)
The Bright Owl is hosting a zendala dare and zendala tile giveaway. Erin provided us with a template for the zentangle, and we provide the designs. This is my first zendala. Circles and curvy lines are something I am working on and trying to improve upon. I will probably add more to this tangle over the next couple days. I wanted to go ahead and post it now so I wouldn't miss the deadline. A new dare should post tomorrow. To check out all the zendalas, or to post one of your own, visit The Bright Owl here.
Art Journaling. A new concept to me, but not really. It's like scrapbooking with lots of messy stuff. Markers, paints, gesso, photos, little bits and scraps of paper, and a smattering of ideas. Hahaha! This is my first attempt at art journaling. I had a couple pictures of Kali walking on the beach - just found them mixed in with my scraps of paper. I originally gessoed this page because some markers I used on the page behind bled right through. White gesso covers that up and I had a whole new page to work with.
I started with this page, the one covered in gesso.I liked the color of the gesso, so I left it that color and added several bits of paper with a nautical theme. Next I laid down a quote that I like and a chalked sun square. Placement of the photos came next, followed by some loose journaling and doodling. This page was really fun! I started by placing the two scraps of paper and the extra sun I had. Then I tangled my first waves ever. Wow! I know they could be a lot better, but I was pleased with this first effort. I used some blue marker to fill in some of the waves, then moved on to my big sun. I seriously can not draw circles, so I traced an old CD to get the round shape, then I just tangled various patterns. The last thing I did was hand-write in a verse I thought went with my art journal spread. Not as tough as I thought it might be. First attempt? Completed!
Lately I seem to be slowly moving away from photography and into this new field of Art. Something I can totally attribute to Pinterest - hahaha! As I studied different boards I began to see a pattern developing. I love all the cool art journaling pins I see. Doodling is kind of intimidating because I totally can not draw. Anything. And then I stumbled across something called Zentangle - creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It's fun, relaxing, and non-threatening :).
Each week, Laura offers a challenge to get us creating. To keep us learning, and - in my case - to begin this process that is called Zentangle!
This week's challenge is to use auras. (I just had to go check and make sure I spelled that right! hahaha!) Auras are lines around a pattern, around the entire tangle, kind of like heat waves.
So, this is my tile. Remember, I'm new at this. This is the 5th tile I've drawn. I love it! The process - that is! So much so, I'm thinking about going to their training later this year. My hope is to get certified. I've got a long way to go before then, though!
To check out some other Aura Tiles, please visit the Diva's page here!
