non-representational art – Art is the Adventure

Intuitive, Abstract, Entangled Art Bookmark – WIP

19 May 2023Angela PorterLeave a comment

I easily forget how much I enjoy drawing ‘small art’. A small piece of paper is less overwhelming, and the creativity is no less soothing to heart, soul and mind.

Drawing with pen on paper is never overwhelming. It is a contented, peaceful, delighted experience for me, especially when I work intuitively. The flowy, abstract patterns, with various patterns and textures are always a joy to draw and work with. Starting with just one shape and allowing the design to form, not knowing what will appear from the nib of my pen, is a think of wonder, surprise and magic.

I lose myself in the intricacy of the drawing. then, there’s the addition of colour and contrast to bring the drawing to life. What was flat now appears to have volume to it. The colours may evoke emotions or memories. There is a story to be told in the drawing, but not one that is obvious as an illustration would make it. This is an inner story, an inner expression of my creativity, emotions, thoughts, and what shapes, lines, patterns, textures and items that make me smile.

If my art makes you smile, or brings you joy, peace and/or calm, then it’s done it’s job. There is enough in this world to make us think, to make us feel uncomfortable. We’re assaulted by such things constantly through the media. Time and space to have a break from all of that, to remind us that there is still wonder and beauty, kindness and compassion and creativity in this world is important. It’s also important to remind ourselves that us humans have a great capacity to create these important qualities that heal and soothe and connect us, help us to feel we belong as a member of humanity.

I’m not sure I got all the words I could say out there. Hopefully you’ll understand what I’m trying to get across.

I think what I’m trying to say is that I hope my art reminds you that beauty and wonder, times of peace and contentment, joy and belonging are essential to each of us. That’s still not right. Perhaps once day I’ll manage to express these feelings succinctly in words.

Adding colour, however, is a another tale. I get overwhelmed by the process at times. I doubt my choice of colours, and soon regret what I’ve decided to do. I always try to remember to scan my drawing in before I start to apply colour with traditional media; if I mess up at least I have a clean copy I can add colour to digitally.

Also, there are many times where I just get fed up of the process of adding colour and give up before completion. I can find it a very tedious process. Yet, when I complete the process and it all comes together I’m often really surprised and pleased with the end result. The frustration comes in because it takes so much longer to add colour than it does to draw a design!

Having said that, there have been a couple of pieces of artwork I’ve done recently where I’ve partly coloured them and I really like the effect, especially one where I’ve added shade first. That is something for me to consider going forward for sure.

There is a ‘Draw With Me’ video on my YouTube Channel, available to view from 1900 UK time this evening (19 May ’23).

Here’s a list of the materials I used in the video.

Canson Imagine mixed media paper – 6.3cm x 21cm (2.5″ x 8.25″)
TWISBI Eco fountain pen, extra fine nib
Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matt pencil, 4B and a paper stump (tortillon)
Derwent Inktense Pencils – Madder Brown, Red Oxide, Sienna Gold, Willow, Mustard, Shiraz, Poppy Red, Leaf Green and Fern.
Kuretake Zig Waterbrush, fine tip.

Entangled, Zentagle Inspired Drawing – 28 January 2013

29 January 2023Angela PorterLeave a comment

Click on the link to view the accompanying Draw With Me video tutorial on YouTube.

Yesterday, I had a stinking cold. One trip to a café for lunch by myself, and I pick a bug up! I’m feeling a lot better today; still not right, but better. Anyhoo, I just ran out of steam after filming the video and uploading it. I had to stop and sleep.

So, the drawing is an unusual one for me. I used an 05 brown Sakura Pigma Micron pen and added some shade/colour with a port Graphitint pencil and waterbrush. The white patterns were added using an 08 GellyRoll pen, also by Sakura.

The paper is ‘naturel’ coloured PaintON Mix media paper by Claire Fontaine, and it’s approx 10cm x 14 cm in size.

There’s more to do in terms of colour, shade and highlight with this drawing. But not today. Today I need quiet time to rest, recover, and maybe do some quiet work. I have three colouring pages to add colour to as soon as possible. Then I can breathe for a while and really take some time to recover my strength, resilience, and equilibrium after what seems like months of hiccoughs, starting with the muscle damage between my ribs nearly three months ago.

Template Thursyay!

15 September 2022Angela PorterLeave a comment

Thursday is Template Thursyay! Most weeks, it’s the day I release a new colouring page exclusively to the members of Angela Porter’s Coloring Book Fans Facebook group.

This week, I’ve designed a mandala full of layers and patterns. I’ve chosen a limited colour palette of soft greens, pinks, reds, oranges and browns; a softer, calmer selection of colours that have that late summer, early autumn feel.

I love drawing mandalas. Seeing the repeating pattern building up is both fascinating and relaxing. Adding colour to bring out the layers and breathe life into the design is a magical process. I’ve not done much with high contrast to bring out the dimension today. Gentleness is the approach needed today both to my art and to myself.

I find it fascinating how my colour choices are often softer, more muted and in limited palettes nowadays. It does make a change from the riotous colours that I so often used not all that long ago, and still do when it comes to the more whimsical and cute colouring books that I create for Creative Haven.

Seeing how others choose to add colour to the colouring page designs I create is also endlessly fascinating and varied.

Shade and light

30 July 2022Angela PorterLeave a comment

Click on this link to view today’s YouTube video tutorial.

This morning I spent over an hour adding shadows and highlights to both of these drawings and filmed them for you on my YouTube channel.

I used a paper stump (tortillon), graphite pencils and a white gel pen to cast the magic of shade and light, resulting in volume and dimension.

And I do mean magic! The drawings go from fairly ‘flat’ looking to having the illusion of dimension. That’s magical if you ask me.

Graphite is not my favourite medium. But I just couldn’t decide on how else to add shade. I’m fairly happy with the result, and that’s all that matters isn’t it?

Draw With Me – Zentangle Monotangle Tiles

5 March 2022Angela PorterLeave a comment

I draw, step by step, two monotangle zentangle tiles in today’s video on YouTube.

Each piece of paper is 4″ x 4″ or 10cm x 10cm. I coloured them with Distress Inks before starting to draw. For the orangey-yellow tile, I used mustard seed, dried marigold and abandoned coral. For the bluey-green tile, I used broken china, peacock feathers and evergreen bough.

Each tile is made of a variation of fragment D5 from the Zentangle Primer. I used 0.35 and 0.20 Copic Multiliner SP pens to draw the designs. Then, I used a black Ohuhu brush marker pen and various colours of Arteza EverBlend marker pens to add colour and shadow.

These tiles would look fab mounted on blank greetings cards, and that is to be their destiny!

I really enjoyed the two to three hours I spent this morning creating these designs. I’m quite happy with them. More-so as the Distress Ink worked well with the Ohuhu marker paper, and the alcohol inks worked well on top of that.

Which is your favourite one? Or, are you like me and I like them both equally!

Flor-In-Square by Anita Hou CZT – A monotangle

27 February 2022Angela PorterLeave a comment

Oh, I had a lot of fun drawing this lovely tangle pattern for the first time! It combines both geometric and organic elements most delightfully.

I kept the colour simple and chose not to add any shadow. This one will end up as a greetings card for sure.

There is just something so satisfying in drawing such a geometrical, repetitive pattern. It’s both relaxing but needs focus.

As I was drawing it, I started to see possible variations on this tangle pattern. Those will be shared in the goodness of time!

Until then, here’s today’s video, where I show, step by step, how to draw this monotangle. If you’d be so kind as to click the ‘Watch on YouTube’ button, I’d appreciate it very much. (It helps with the algorithm that shares my videos with others!).

Template Thursday…on a Wednesday? Nope, just a sneak peek!

26 January 2022Angela PorterLeave a comment

It’s quite a bit sneak peek as it’s the whole template, with some colour added!

Abstract. Entangled. Zentangle Inspired Art. Putting into practice some of the fragments that have evolved during the Fragments of Your Imagination Challenge hosted by the 7F5RChallenge facebook group.

The colouring template won’t be available itself until tomorrow – to the members of the Angela Porter’s Coloring Book Fans facebook group.