I found a postcard I forgot to post. It's on its way to someone lovely. Now it's time to gear up for the two ATC swaps I signed up for. And somewhere in here I need to find the information about the bookmark swap Sandy is doing - because I forgot all about that! But it's all fun :) and I love it!
Yesterday I posted a tutorial on free-hand mandalas. Halfway through I realized I had not taken some critical photos, so I stopped everything and made the above background.
It looked just like the picture above - without the mandala drawn on it :). Then I went back and finished the post with photos of the other mandala. So, today I picked this back up and completed the project. With just a few simple lines and strokes, we have the basis of a new mandala.
The background colors were made with a Koi Water Colors Pocket Field Sketch Box from Sakura. Once I finished drawing the mandala, I used my twinkling H2Os to add the design color.
The H2O colors I used are: majestic blue, sky blue, key lime, poppy red, persimmon, mango mamba, pearl green, pearl red, Egyptian gold, and autumn butternut.
Can you see some of the shine starting to show? It's really hard to photograph and capture the essence of the twinks. I love these colors so much!
There's that ring around the edge where I tipped the sketchbook and let the water colors run and spread. Love it when that works!
To finish my mandala, I used a white gelly roll pen for highlights, and a pencil and tortillion for shading.
Voila! Finished project that includes red, a color I don't like and swore at copic training that I would never use again. Haha! I actually like it here! I hope you are able to try a free-hand mandala. They are so much fun and you never know what it is going to look like until you are finished.
Let me start by saying this, I am taking a class from Dion Dior, learning how to use Twinking H2O paints. Dion uses the free hand mandala in one of the early lessons. Dion makes her living from art classes she teaches online, and it would not be fair to her to share class information here with you. So, what I did was check out youtube and watched a couple free hand mandala videos. That information is what I am sharing today. The finished mandala above is maybe the fourth or fifth one I've drawn. I still get stumped trying to figure out which little line or squiggle to make next, so I started a chart in my notebook with little sample lines and squiggles. When I get stuck, I can look at my notebook.
I would consider color a vital part of a mandala. (Of course, I am all about color, so that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot, haha!) When I do use color, I like to lay the color down first. Sometimes it makes a difference in the design I draw. For this particular one, I used simple watercolor pans from the school supply section at WalMart. Yes, I am still at my daughter's and my art supplies are in Florida.
Well, this stinks. Right here I realized I didn't take any pictures of what I am about to describe. So, I stopped and made a new background for you. For this one I used my Koi Water Colors Field Sketch Box. Use some good heavy paper that can handle water. I am using my Stillman & Birn Zeta Series Sketchbook. It handles water and color manipulation great! I used a large paintbrush (3/4" wide) and coated the page liberally with water. Then I took my watercolors and with that same large paintbrush I dabbed down color here and there. You can stroke, you can dab, you can splatter, whatever you prefer. Just get 2-3-4 colors that work well together onto the wet paper. Then sit back a minute and watch the magic begin.
This is an excellent example showing how the colors will feather and bleed when you have the right amount of wetness present. Let them spread and mix.
I used four colors - I can honestly say I've never used red before. Like ever. Not a fan of red. This little Koi kit doesn't have pink or purple or teal. I'm sure I could take some time and mix them up, but I just went ahead with these colors. If you aren't getting enough mixing and feathering, spritz a little more water over the top and wait a few seconds.
Then, to mix things up even more, tilt your paper to one side and let the colors run. Watch out that they don't get muddy on you. If that starts to happen, tilt your paper in another direction. I do this with my whole sketchbook.
Once your get some results you can live with, stop. I love that water line around the left and bottom edge where the colors all ran together. But I thought it was a little heavy, so I lightly touched it with the corner of a paper towel and wicked off a tiny bit of the water.
There were a couple areas where I had pooled water that I didn't want to turn into mud, so I lightly dipped the edge of a paper towel along the wet places and wicked up some color. I like the white lines it laid down, giving some new texture to the background. This doesn't always happen, but it did this time and I like it.
Completed background. I just left it sitting on the table to dry. Make sure it is completely dry before you move on.
Pretend this is a picture of my beautiful background. (Because I did this backwards, although it still works.) Begin drawing your mandala. Start in the center with a dot, or a circle, or a spiral - something to pinpoint your center from which you will build your mandala. To help keep your mandala on track, make small pencil dots towards the edge of your paper to mark the center point on each side - top, bottom, left, and right. This gives you a direction to draw your designs towards, to keep everything straight, so to speak.
From your central point, draw four lines of equal length as you see above.
Then draw four more adjacent lines. These lines can be any length you want. They can all be the same size, or the main lines can be longer, or the adjacent lines can be longer. I've done this both ways, but you really need your main lines to be one length, and your adjacent lines to be one length. Now back to my planned mandala.
From those eight central lines, start laying in some patterns. Some designs, some swirls, some triangles, some brackets, some circles, triangles. Anything works, just remember what you draw on one line, draw it on the other like lines. Main lines all get the same design, adjacent lines all get their design. Sometimes you will use that one design on all eight lines, like I did above using betweed inside all eight lines, and the pink brackets connecting all the lines.
Keep drawing, and adding, until you feel like your mandala is complete. Then, if you want to add more color - feel free. This one has been completed with twinking H2Os, but I also like using At You Spica pens from Too Marker Products, which I believe is part of Tsukineko.
If you notice that your color has covered up some of your black ink lines (see three photos above), you can simply go over the lines with more black ink. Then finish up your mandala like you would any tile you may draw. Some highlights and some shading.
I know this was a long post, I really need to learn how to do video, but you can see that the steps really are very simple. Like I said, the hardest part for me is deciding what little lines and squiggles to draw. Why don't you give it a shot? It's really so much fun! For now, I think I'll go work on that red one I whipped up in the middle of this post :).
I am just relaxing here in Maryland while Kali slaves away at work and at school. Hahaha! Seriously, I am. And she is. Working hard. Her. Not me.
Kali is in a really busy part of life right now, learning and studying and working and doing homework and working some more and going to more classes and . . . well, you get the picture. Her life is a little overwhelming at this point. Mark and I were concerned about her taking care of herself during this particularly trying time, so I am visiting to make sure everything gets done - like eating, and sleeping. You know - important things like not getting sick. Cause 'ain't nobody got time for that!
While Kali's at school or work, I am drawing. A lot. And having fun. I have been able to get back involved in Dion Dior's Mastering Twinks series of classes and combined some of my new knowledge with the postcard swap. I know people have said this at least a thousand times, but I really do wish the cameras could pick up all the shine and glimmer these beautiful little pots of Twinkling H2Os bring to the palette. Such gorgeousness at my fingertips. I love it! This little postcard is winging its way to my friend Donna Hornsby, who I hope to maybe one day actually meet in person :). Enjoy, Donna.
Tomorrow I will outline a few basic steps for you to draw a lovely free-hand mandala. It really is very easy. I promise!
The Circle of Life
From the day we arrive on the planet
and, blinking, step into the sun,
there's more to see than can ever be seen,
more to do than can ever be done.
There's far too much to take in here,
more to find than can ever be found,
but the sun rolling high
through the sapphire sky,
keeps great and small on the endless round,
It's the circle of life
and it moves us all,
through despair and hope,
through faith and love,
till we find our place
on the path unwinding,
in the circle,
the circle of life.
From The Lion King, these words kept running through my mind as I drew and colored this postcard. I really like the lines: through despair and hope, through faith and love. I've been there, we all have at one time or another. It's a test of our strength, a test of our faith, our beliefs, our values, what we place our value in, who we place our value in. It really all comes down to that, doesn't it. Who - and what - we value above all else. That is what takes us from despair to hope, and on through faith and love. Just a little something to get you thinking as you go on about your week. May it be a great one!
Butterfly in the Wind
A child is . . . . . . .
A butterfly in the wind
Some can fly higher than others,
but each one flies the best it can.
Why compare one against the other?
Each one is different!
Each one is special!
Each one is beautiful!
~ Author unknown ~
I have been trying like crazy to get back to my twinkling H2O lessons. I think everyone else has been finished with the class for a couple weeks and I have been having trouble getting it done because of traveling. I started this prismatic several weeks ago and just finished it last night. I've got a long ways to go till I am comfortable with the twinks, but like the poem says each one is different, special, and can be beautiful - we just need to open our eyes to recognize it.
The weather is cooling down a bit in Maryland. Not quit as steamy hot during the morning, cooler in the evening. I even pulled out the Tinkerbell sweatshirt tonight. The rain has backed off a little bit which is really nice also. And I am still working on postcards. Need to get them finished so I can started working on the two different ATC swaps I signed up for :).
Progress. Sometimes it comes slow. Sometimes it comes faster. This time it is coming slowly. I started this big board project last week while I was at Kali's. I got a good start with some geometric shapes, then started the road trip home.
It has been hauled in and out of three hotel rooms and been drawn on in five different states so far.
I am back at Kali's for another couple weeks and the board is once again gracing the dining room table when it isn't in use as a homework station. I am sticking with the geometric shape idea - so far. I may stray a bit, but for now that is what I am sticking with. Kali was thinking about some color, bright splashes of color. Perhaps. Cause you know I am all about the color!
And speaking about color, I got my nails done today. Gel. The only way to go for longevity. Color? Teal to match my hair! Of course. Hahaha!
I am sure you've noticed I've been traveling a lot lately. Visits with Kali, going back and forth to Florida. I've gotten used to taking pictures of where I am in my journey, and texting them to Mark and Kali so they both know how far I've gotten. State line signs are easy targets. Humongous traffic jams for miles and miles on end always scream "Virginia!" South of the Border paraphernalia lets them know I am half way there. On this trip, I got caught by this train literally within about a mile of Kali's apartment. What better way to let them know how close I was than with a photo of the train. Haha! And they both knew I would be at her door within minutes.
Photo taken with my iphone.
Today's postcard is a combination of border tangles. I like the way you can use them in thin areas, in chains, in braids, in borders, so many applications. Haha! And that's one more postcard. Again, using the graphitint Derwent pencils. I just love everything Derwent!
Still working on postcards - I may never get done - hahaha! Not sure why my ipad posted little dots in the center of most of these knightsbridge squares. The center line is a new tangle I've been working on. Mark said it reminded him of the little dutch hats, I thought it looks like the nun hat/wings that Sally Field wore in The Flying Nun. After we stopped laughing, Mark decided it should be named Dutch Diamonds. I really like the way it looks. Going to have to try it out a little bit more.
In other news, I am back in Maryland keeping Kali company until her break in classes. I brought lots of art stuff this trip. I am better prepared :). Like a boss!
Good Morning
~ Mandisa ~
Wave away my yesterday
Cause I'm leaving it behind me.
Hello sunshine, come what may,
I feel something new inside me.
I hear the birds singing,
Now my alarm's ringing,
Get up, get up, hey!
It's a good morning!
Wake up to a brand new day!
This morning,
I'm stepping, stepping on my way.
Good morning,
You give me strength,
You give me just what I need
And I can feel the hope that's rising in me,
It's a good morning.
Slow down, breathe in,
Don't move ahead
I'm just living in this moment.
I've got my arms raised, unphased,
Jump out of bed
Gotta get this party going.
I went to bed dreaming,
You woke me up singing,
Get up, get up, hey!
It's a good morning!
Wake up to a brand new day!
This morning,
I'm stepping, stepping on my way.
Good morning,
You give me strength,
You give me just what I need
And I can feel the hope that's rising in me,
It's a good morning.
* * * * *
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning,
great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV
Many of you already know that Mandisa is probably my favorite Christian recording artist. For those of you who follow American Idol, Mandisa competed in season five. The three judges stated that they didn't "get" her Christian music and she was eliminated that night, finishing ninth. From there, Toby Mac stepped in and helped Mandisa get her foot in the door with the release of Lose My Soul, which included Toby Mac, Mandisa, and Kirk Franklin. Before much longer, Mandisa recorded Good Morning, where she featured Toby Mac. You can watch the music video debut on Good Morning, America. (My favorite part comes at 1:25, where news anchor Robin Roberts is singing along.) Mandisa has so many great songs. I just love her music. She helps me remember that God's mercies ARE new every morning. Each day IS a brand new day and another chance.
And in case you wondered - and even if you didn't :) - I shot the above photo a couple years ago at Epcot Center, Walt Disney World, Orlando. I was on a boat crossing the World Showcase Lagoon at sunset. God's mercies are good then, too! Hang on to that promise and have a great day!
