How do you doodle?
Just about everyone does it.
Maybe you doodle around the margins of your notes in school. Perhaps you like to play with your pen when you’re on the phone. How about while you’re waiting for an appointment?
Doodling helps to pass the time. It engages the brain. And it’s good practice for motor skills.
If you don’t doodle, maybe you should give it a try! You can get a little sketch book … one that fits in your pocket.
As I was cleaning up and rearranging this weekend, I came across this tablet of really nice watercolor paper.
I had purchased this to make some Zentangle tiles, but it turned out that this paper didn’t work well for that purpose.
So I’ve decided to make a new art journal from the remainder of the paper. To keep this fairly simple, I’m just folding each sheet of paper in half, and using two sheets to create a signature.
Every time we get a new ink for our fountain pens, I use a pen and write a sample of it into my journal in the back. That way, I have a running list of the inks that we have, and can see what they look like.
I also record which pen I used to create the sample because inks perform differently, depending on the nib and pen used.
I think there are things that we have, as artist and people that just bring us joy.
These mice are one of mine. When I look at this little family, it just makes me happy. I dream of making them some new, tiny clothes one day…
I imagine them going on tiny adventures, traveling the world, or just trying to navigate a grocery store.
Do Dad and Mom work? Do the kids go to school.
Sometimes, you just need tiny pencils! These are 1-1/2" to 1-3/4" long.
#microart #microartjournal #miniatureartjournal #miniartjournal #miniatureart #tinyjournalnation #allthingstiny #allthingsminiature #microartjournaling #tinyartjournal #travelersnotebook #inktober #spooktacular2019
I have been working on a mixed media project for a while now. It’s not finished, by any means, but I thought I would give you a bit of a peek at what is happening.
Another part of the same work.
#4 - This is the fourth in my series of fountain pen, shimmer and sheen ink tests.
J. Herbin, Amethyste de l'Oural , a dark, purple ink with a beautiful crystalline-to-silver sheen, is such a deep, royal color. It’s beautiful with any tangle that has some filled in portion which allows the variations to shine when rotated in the light.
I wish you could see here, in the scan, the beautiful sparkle along the bands in the Jetties tangle.
#3 - This is the third in my series of fountain pen, shimmer and sheen ink tests.
I think I am in love with this Jacques Herbin ink, , Kyanite du Népal ! It is a beautiful, turquoise-blue with a sheen consiting of turquoise and silver metallic flecks. It’s an ink that will make any mermaid swoon!
Although you can’t see it in the photo above, slightly rotating the tile under good light or outside in the sun causes the droplet ends of the opus to sparkle like a beautiful lagoon!
#2 - This is the second in my series of fountain pen, shimmer and sheen ink tests.
The ink used here, Jacques Herbin, Rouge Hematite is perfect for the second tangle in this series! Pepper reminds me of those red and white peppermint candies that you see everywhere during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season!
While you can’t see the pretty, gold sheen in this gorgeous ink, you can see how it affects the color and variations created when it is used to draw the stripes in the peppermints.
#1 - This is the first in my series of fountain pen, shimmer and sheen ink tests.
I am currently using the 2019 Gratitangles list. The first tangle is Rain.
What ink could me more appropriate than the Jacques Herbin Stormy Sky ink! This ink is a deep, flannel grey color with very tiny, sparse gold flecks. It worked well in the fountain pen and covered nicely in the areas that are filled in.
Sometimes, what you’re looking for is right under your nose… and you don’t see it!
I’ve had this Jane Davenport fountain pen for a while now. It’s an inexpensive workhorse that I don’t worry about trying things with.
It comes with three ink cartridges, and a “converter” that you can fill with any fountain pen ink you wish. You use the converter instead of a cartridge.
Recently, along with a glass pen, my husband purchased two shimmer ink samplers from The Goulet Pen Company .
One day last week, my husband was anxious about a package that was being delivered. His concern was that it would be by the front door on Halloween eve. And we were not going to be home.
As it turned out, it was put into the mail box and everything was fine!
In the package was this glass pen, which he bought for me as a gift. He got it from The Goulet Pen Company .
On Wednesday, I went with a group of friends to the Art Resource Center . This is the first time I’ve been there, although I have donated to them in the past. They accept donations of cash or new, or partially used art materials. But it doesn’t end there! They have tons of interesting things from craft magazines and instructions to pieces of wood and metal, all kinds of containers, fabric, trims and buttons, books, stickers and binders… and more!
Throwback Thursday!
Three years ago today, I did a reset on this website. I changed the style and the content over to be able to show you my art. While I have been tangling, more than anything else, I also do other kinds of art. But I have to confess, tangles often slip into it.
This quick Halloween drawing was created with colored pencil. But you’ll probably find a couple of tangles here and there!
Did you notice that I skipped a number in this series of ATC cards? While this one was actually the sixth one I did, I saved it for the last because of the way it came out.
Ok. I had this idea about using Paradox to make a symmetrical design. I think it sort of worked… but not at all what I imagined it would look like!
ATC #6. Project done!
Sometimes the simplest tangles can have a powerful impact. It depends on how you treat them.
Here, I used Hollibaugh, but gave it a bit of a curve. Then I made it holey!
And a little touch of blue just makes it magical.
ATC #11
Zentangle drawn on a cut down, grey, Official Zentangle tile using a blue, Micron pen, cobolt, Copic Multiliner, and white Gelly Roll. Shading done with graphite, Copic marker and colored pencil.
“Fishy, fishy in the brook, Daddy catch him on a hook, Mommy fry him in a pan, Johnny eat him like a man.”
– Unknown
Looking for a simple tangle that can be use in a variety of ways? Take Indy-Rella out for a spin!
Depending on how you draw it, you can suggest flames, or fish. You can add them to the ends of Fescu, turning them into some kind of plant, or follow various contours to create a nice, organic fill.
Diva Dance is such a fun tangle. Although the concept is very simple, it can morph to fit almost any shape. Or, it can take on a life of it’s own, depending on the variation.
Here, it has been wrapped around itself in a spiraled style that gives the appearance of full-blown blossoms.
ATC #9.
Zentangle drawn on sahara, Fabriano Tiziano using a black and tan, Micron pens and white Gelly Roll.
Aquafleur, the tangle used on the heart-shaped string was one that I didn’t understand well for a long time. I tried it, as it was shown to me, and I just couldn’t figure out how those ribbons wrapped a given string.
Finally, one day, I just sat and played with it in my sketch book. And all of a sudden, it just “clicked” for me.
Here, it is used in an elegant, but simplified version.
If you follow me, then you know I’ve done this tangle, which can look like a sprig of Rosemary, or a pine bough, or a feather, many times before. I enjoy drawing it and it’s one of my favorites.
ATC #7.
Zentangle drawn on sahara, Fabriano Tiziano using a black and tan, Micron pen and gold gel pen. Shading done with graphite pencil.
Tangles: Marasu Tipple Verdigogh