Wednesday, November 28, 2012

No Strings Attached - Diva Challenge #97

Laura's challenge to us this week was to tangle with no string. Just grab a tile and go for it! I typically draw this way anyway, so I just had fun with it!
I started by coloring my tile with some of Tim Holtz' distress stains. I'm not sure why I can't get the colors to look right in this post. The paints gave me some pretty vibrant orange and pink. Can't really see that here. Then I started in one corner and started laying down tangles.
I began with that asian fan pattern and it really reminded me of a roller coaster track. I noticed as I kept drawing patterns that my tile began to remind me of an amusement park. Perhaps you can see the roof of a lovely carousel.
I kept building on that carousel and filled in some other pieces.
This indy-rella just really reminded me of a merry-go-round on a playground. Spinning and spinning.
I really like this pattern that I used for fencing. It's called cheesecloth. It's easy to draw, it's forgiving, and it looks great. I made some breaks in my fence - maybe we could sneak in that way to go ride those rides! Do you think anyone would notice?
And here is my completed amusement park! Lots of fun to be had here. A great way to spend a day! 
This is what I have on top of my work station tonight. That little Tinkerbell tin has seen better days, but  it is where I keep the pens I use the most - easily portable, easy to access.
Last night was a late one! Didn't go to bed until almost 5 AM, not good. Just before I called it a night - or morning - I pulled out four tile and slapped some Adirondack acrylic paint dabber colors on them and left them to dry overnight. I hope to be drawing on these soon!

Please visit Laura Harms' page here and check out all the 'no strings attached' drawings for the week. You could even post one of your own!

iamthedivaczt

The Creator's Leaf

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

String Challenge 028

I am really enjoying the string challenge that Linda Farmer presents every week on Tangle Patterns. This week's string was provided by Australian tangler Ann Marks. This is what Ann gave us to use as our string:
They tell us each week that these strings can be used either exactly as they are posted, or we can use them as guidelines. When I started this tonight, I had no real end goal in mind. I've just been so miserable with this cold, I wanted to not have to think about anything and just draw.
Circles are not my best thing to draw, so I brought out my circle template and went from there. If you look closely, you can make out the string in my drawing. I didn't set out to draw something so geometrical, I was surprised when I was 'done' and it looked like this! I'm not even sure this is a tangle pattern. Above you see unshaded.
And now you see shaded. Shading is something I keep working on. I read every article I come across about shading and I am learning that there are many ways to shade. Head on over to Tangle Patterns here to check out all the string drawings. You could even post one of your own! 
The Creator's Leaf

Monday, November 26, 2012

Zinger Fields

I've been sick sinceWednesday night, fighting a cold and getting nowhere. Today has been rough, but I was able to accomplish one thing. This tile. And actually, I started this two days ago. Hopefully I will start getting better soon and get back to posting on a regular basis. Love this zinger pattern of Maria's, it's really fun to draw. You should give it a go.
The Creator's Leaf

Thursday, November 22, 2012

A Zinger of a String

iamthedivaczt
This week's Diva Challenge was to use Maria Thomas' tangle Zinger! This is one of Maria's go-to tangles, one she uses frequently but had never named it until recently.
Tangle Patterns' string 027 was shared by Courtney Frantz. Being a little time challenged this week, I combined the two - the Diva's and the String. The above tile was made using Courtney's string, although it's turned counter-clockwise one rotation. Fun string, I will be using this one again.
I really like the Zinger tangle and I'm still trying to get it just right.  So I figured a little more practice was in order. And this tile was so fun! Hahaha! I love it! You can find the Diva's challenge here and you can check out Tangle Patterns string challenge here.

The Creator's Leaf

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Thank You, Dion!

For several months now I've been watching the artwork of Dion Dior. According to Dion's blog, she is "a mother, artist, writer, and teacher" who loves color, sparkle, and shimmer. Her journals are filled with "luscious, shimmering pages . . . treasured expressions." And that's understating her artistic creations. I love her work! And if you are friends with me, then you know that I love color, and the brighter - the better!
I so much wanted to learn how she got the brilliant colors she does! And I didn't even care that I don't know how to draw. I figured it would all come together somehow. I started watching the classes she teaches, and finally got over my fear of failure and signed up for Dion's Watercolor Pencil Workshop that she teaches online. Most of the students are already finished with the class, I am just finishing up lesson 2 of 6. Haha!
And even by the end of the second lesson, I am learning what I wanted to learn. Watercolor pencil techniques with bright, vibrant, wonderful color! I sketched out these flowers - all by myself :). Of course, Dion had a sample for us that looks very similar. You can see how I started laying down some color. Well, trust me, there were a ton of layers on these flowers before I was done. If you haven't used watercolor pencils before, the large flower above has pencil colored straight onto the paper. 
Then I used a waterbrush to 'paint' water onto the color and spread it to where I wanted it to be. These waterbrushes are pretty incredible! There is a barrel that you fill with water and attach the brush top to it. When you squeeze the barrel - water slides down onto the brush and voila! instant water coloring possibilities! Yes, you could do this the old-fashioned way with a paintbrush and a bowl of water, but this is so much easier.
I am so proud of this drawing that I am going to innudate you with photos. Sorry. Here I was going for the focus being on the one large flower, and dropping the remaining flowers into the background.
For whatever reason, I did not think to take pictures while I was painting the leaves. The flowers literally have six colors on them, while the leaves have three.
As I painted, I also flicked pencil/paint specks on the page. I find I usually end up with some accidental spots on my page, so I figured I would just make them a signature part of what I do. One thing I know I am going to do now is go back over those centers of the flowers with a black micron and pop up those printemps a little. (I might even add a little twinkling H2Os. 
I still have four more lessons to do in this class, so expect to see some more artwork coming. AND, I signed up for another one of Dion's classes - Wisdom Circles - because I am enjoying this one so much! Dion, thank you for sharing your talent! You are such an inspiration to me, I appreciate you very much!

The Creator's Leaf

Water Color Fun

I am having a little fun with my Derwent Inktense Pencils!
Perhaps a little too much fun!
Is that even possible??? No! Check back in a little while and I'll show you what I'm working on!


The Creator's Leaf

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Diva Challenge #95

iamthedivaczt
This week's Diva Challenge is guest-hosted by Courtney Frantz. Looking forward to the anniversary of Disney cartoon "Steamboat Willie," Courtney asked us to pay tribute to either Mickey, Minnie, or the man himself - Walter Elias Disney.
Several years ago I had an online scrapbook shop called Scrap Attack. I sold a lot of hand-made Disney paperbag scrapbook albums and a ton of paper pieced Disney characters and paraphernalia.
At our house, we are all about the Mouse! So this challenge wasn't really a challenge at all for me. It was a celebration of Mickey! I chose a variation of Enyshou and it just sort of took off from there! Thanks for the fun challenge, Courtney! You can check out all the wonderful pieces of Disney art on the Diva's page, and perhaps add one of your own!

The Creator's Leaf

Netz

 I have been using this pattern on a couple things lately. Super simple to draw. Since it is working as a net in my tile, I named it Netz. Here is the step-out for Netz. Really easy - draw the grid with pencil, then start laying in your lines. Not straight lines, but somewhat shaky - like a net would be. Include loops where the lines cross. Ta-da! Here are a couple examples:
This is a postcard I've been working on for a swap. A little underwater life, with a fish net in the background. I really like these cardboard postcards. I got them through Fab.com, a daily shopping email that comes to my inbox.
I did this tile awhile back as part of Linda Farmer's string challenge on Tangle Patterns. I had the idea here of a volleyball game on the beach. Netz is working as a volleyball net here. Please feel free to try this tangle out. Easy, it looks good, and it's fun and quick to draw.

The Creator's Leaf

104 and Counting

104. 104 books so far. 104 books in 2012. This year I decided I would post a list of all the books I read during the year. So far, in 2012 - with a little over a month left - I have read 104 books. I have never kept track of book totals for a year before. I used to catalog them on my blog one month at a time,  but each month the count would start over so I have never had a true running count. Here's a link to the list. OR you can click at the top of this page on "My Reads" to see the titles. Grab a book and join me :).

The Creator's Leaf

Friday, November 16, 2012

Challenge Accepted

This here's a story. A story about a hurricane challenge. A story about a challenge regarding Hurricane Sandy and CZT Michele Beauchamp. Last month, Kali and I were visiting in the state of Maryland when Hurricane Sandy decided to blast half the eastern coast with winds, rains, and lots of storm surge. In the midst of that, CZT Brinn McFetridge posted the above storm photo on her facebook page with the words "Wow!! SO cool! Isn't that something!!"
Brinn's hurricane map reminded me of CZT Michele Beauchamp's signature tangle - Spiral. Can you see where I'm going with this story?
I looked at Brinn's photo and just saw Michele's name written all over it - so to speak. As I laughed, I commented on Brinn's facebook, "only a CZT would see coolness in a massive history-making storm . . . I'd love to see what Michele Beauchamp would draw with this! Challenge on, Michele!" Well, Michele saw my challenge and responded, "Alice, that is a storm of a challenge!" To which I responded, "Yes, but you are the lady for the job!"
And so right I was! I received a lovely package in the mail today! Inside was a wonderful card from Michele with her artwork on the front. I love her spirals! I've tried drawing them a few times, but never really do them justice.
And of course, I saved the cool stamp from Australia! Michele sent me another package awhile back - a beautiful piece of her artwork - and I saved that stamp as well.
And inside the card was this beautiful tile - Michele's answer to my challenge. Her answer to the challenge of Hurricane Sandy. Michele's interpretation of Brinn's weather shot. Like I said, it had Michele's name written all over it. So to speak. Yes, Michele was up for the challenge (what a great sport!) And she gifted me with her tile :D that's one happy smile you see right there! Challenge issued. Challenge accepted. Challenge answered. Thank you, Michele! Please take a few minutes and go check out Michele's work at Shelly Beauch!

The Creator's Leaf