Seasons

Happy Lunar New Year!

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Today marks the Lunar New Year celebrated in China and other Asian nations. It is the year of the Tiger.

I thought I’d draw a design based on some of the symbols associated with the New Year celebrations held by Chinese and Asian communities worldwide.

To start, I used various Distress Inks – fossilised amber, ripe persimmon, spiced marmalade and aged mahogany – to colour a 14cm x 14cm (5.5″ x 5.5″) piece of Canson Imagine mixed media paper. Tigery colours!

After marking my border guides in pencil, I drew in the outer border of stylised plum blossoms.

Next, a layer of coins, all with the square hole characteristic of Chinese coinage, but many with imaginative patterns within.

I then realised I hadn’t put a tiger anywhere! So, I popped a cute and whimsical tiger head at the centre, all smiling and happy.

Finally, as far as drawing was concerned, I put some bamboo overlapping in a Zentangle Hollibaugh manner to fill the space.

Then it was time to tackle adding colour. The part that always vexes me. I used watercolour pencils in this instance. I discovered I liked working in a loose, just let the paint and water do what they will, kind of way. I got some interesting textures and patterns, particularly in the spaces between the bamboo.

I’m not entirely sure this was all a good idea, mind you. Part of me really wishes I’d drawn this on plain paper, or maybe coloured paper, but left the colour at that. Some shading.

And I’ve just realised that I haven’t really done any shading in this design! It would be awkward now as I’ve added gold and white gel pens to the design. Oh well.

I’m not all that happy with this drawing. I may spend some time doing a version of it, but on plain white paper. Just to see the difference.

There’s always something to learn from each drawing that is done. Always. However, I don’t always learn those lessons, such as how I feel I struggle with colour when it’s traditional media or the importance of contrast/shadow to bring depth and dimension to a design.

I definitely need to make a list of things to consider when drawing in my commonplace book.

Finishing up a Zentangle Greetings Card ‘Mistletoe’ and Winter Solstice 2021 Mandala

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Link to today’s video on YouTube.

This card is now almost finished. I have learned some things from yesterday’s debacle. Mainly that I’d make a much wider border for the embossed background.

I did add Speckled Egg Distress ink to this embossed background, but it’s such a lovely, subtle colour the camera hasn’t picked it up well.

The embossed layer is so tactile! I used some Micro Glaze to seal it so that being touched won’t affect the distress ink.

Actually, I used Micro Glaze on the top layer too!

I could only find cream coloured card blanks and envelopes, and these layers really didn’t look too good on them. So, hopefully I’ll remember where my card blank stash is, or I’ll make a blank and envelope.

In the video I try embossing an envelope – a case of ‘envelope art’. I’m glad I did. The embossing works well. However, the areas where the flaps are glued together on the back of the envelope make indents in the front. Distress Ink brings these out so much. So, I’ll be sure to emboss the front of the envelope, and colour with Distress Ink, before I glue it all together!

All in all, I’m much happier with this card. Mind you, I do have ideas for others! Probably too late for Christmas now, but … there’s always lots of other reasons for sending greetings cards, including ‘just because I can’.

Winter solstice 2021 Mandala

Winter Solstice Greetings and Wishes to you all to the north of the equator! Summer Solstice Greetings and Wishes to you all south of the equator!

Some sunshine on a chilly, dull Winter Solstice day here in the Valleys of South Wales, UK.

Finishing Up a Zentangle Greetings Card

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Link to today’s video/vlog on YouTube.

Actually, the title should be ‘How Not to finish up…’. I had a bit of an accident. More about that in a minute.

This morning, I decided to work on finishing up one card design. I knew I wanted to add another layer beneath the panel already finished before gluing it to the cream-coloured card blank.

I dug out some scrapbook paper from my stash. Nothing felt right. The colours were just ‘off’. That’s when I realised I needed to use Distress Inks to colour the lower panel.

I could have used them to colour the panel, then use pens (black, fineliner or metallic) to draw a pattern on it. Instead, I decided to try to emboss the pattern into the paper using a dotting tool / parchment craft ball tool / embossing tool.

Before I did this, I experimented on some scrap paper to see how I could colour the paper (more on this in today’s video).

I decided to emboss the paper first, then add Distress Ink (pine needles) with the black side of a piece of Cut ‘n Dry foam. That kept the embossing white. I found that if I used a blending brush (aka make-up brush!) more ink settled in the embossing. That is also a lovely look, but not what I wanted.

Inside this border, I added some gold ink to create a gold border around the upper panel.

That looked fine and dandy. The horror story came with the next step…

I added some foam tape to the back of the upper panel to add some dimension to the card, along with some glue so I had some wiggle time to make sure I got the panel centred.

The glue was the mistake I think. I had the panel nicely centred until I turned it over to add some pressure to get it to stick firmly. It must have wiggled and become de-centralised.

And when I noticed it was very firmly stuck.

I was so annoyed with myself as I know this is something that nearly always goes wrong when I try to make cards.

The only way I can ‘fix’ things is to cut out that central panel and re-make the embossed border and reassemble the card once again. This time I’d consider having the embossed pattern going under the central pattern so that if it is a little off it won’t be quite so noticeable.

I’m not, however, going to do that. This time, I’m going to make notes in the card about what I did, the media used, what I like, what I don’t like, and what I need to be very, very mindful of the next time I make a card.

Reflecting on the card creation

I know I’m fairly happy with the design. I like the central motif of holly leaves. The sutble pattern in the border around it is nice too, as is the embossed border.

I do wish I’d not used chalk pastels to add colour to this panel. There’s something dusty and muted about it that I’m not at all sure of. I think that keeping things mostly monochrome on a coloured background works best for me, with touches of gold and white, with some shading perhaps.

It’s that thing again. I love colour, but making use of it always has me feeling that it’s where I mess things up, unless I keep the colours really simple. Simple as in black, white, the background colour, and a shadow colour, and maybe touches of metallics for some sparkle and shine.

I do better with colour when I work digitally, but in traditional media I always feel like I struggle.

It’s always a learning experience, more so when things don’t go as planned or when I’m not entirely happy with what I produce. My problem is I try the same kind of thing over and over and expect it all to improve. I think I’m hoping that I’ll work out how to make the various media work for me at some point.

I say, often, I’m going to stick to monochrome, and then go and try working with colour, often with the same kind of feeling at the end. The feeling I like the pen drawing, but the colour/media isn’t what I’m looking for.

Perhaps time for me to make use of this colour printer and add colour digitally and print it out!

Template Thursday!

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Today, I have two wintery mandalas for the members of the Angela Porter’s Coloring Books Fans facebook group.

Number 1 has some really intricate details in the inner rings of the mandala. Number 2, not quite so many.

They may be tiny, but I managed to add colour with the bullet tip of Arteza Everblend markers. So it’s not impossible to do, just a tad challenging. But I do know some people like that challenge.

One way is to colour the whole section in one colour, or a gradation of colours, and let the drawing just be like it’s etched into the colour, a texture if you will.

Another way is to take a larger section of pattern, and just colour it all in, like the small squares in template 1.

Whatever you feel comfortable doing is fine!

There’s no video today. I’ve tried a couple of times, but have spilled ink on the paper, made a total pig’s ear of colour, and so I need to focus on getting as many of the templates for Adorable Dogs inked in as I can. I only have a few left to do, and I haven’t done any over the last two days due to the stress of appointments. When I’m totally stressed/anxiety-ed out, I become incredibly tired and lacking any kind of focus for anything. The priority then is self care. Naps, quiet time, nothing that will get me stressed again as it will be all to easy to get stressed once again.

I’m not saying I’ve totally destressed, but the frustration with videoing today shows there’s still a fair amount there. Self care. Do what I can. If I get frustrated, take a break, even if it’s a break until tomorrow. When I’m not stressed, work flows and gets done more quickly than pushing myself and I end up redoing it all when I’m calm again.

Sometimes, you have to go slow to go fast. Not an easy lesson to learn, given the way that being productive is in your face everywhere, from adverts to social media influencers.

I’ve learned, the hard way, that taking care of myself has to be a priority. Taking those breaks knowing that by nurturing my mental and emotional wellbeing and getting that into a good shape I’ll soon get all the work done that I need to do.

Slow and steady …slow…and steady.

Template Thursday!

Angela PorterLeave a comment

It’s that time again – Template Thursday (or Thursyay!).

Each week during the pandemic, I’ve created a coloring page for the members of the Angela Porter’s Coloring Books Fans facebook group. And this week is no exception.

A wintry themed page full of small drawings. Perfect for moments of peace and calm when feeling stressed or overwhelmed. There’s some tangle patterns (zentangle patterns) in there too.

I had had a thought to colour this in Hallowe’en colours, but totally forgot about it! It may be wintry themed, but any colours will go!

I now need a bit of a break – before I turn my attention to the next Adorable Dogs template.

Template Thursday…on a Wednesday!

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A sneak peek at this week’s coloring template / coloring page.

My Wednesday mornings nearly always begin with drawing, either in part or full, this week’s coloring page / coloring template for the members of the Angela Porter’s Coloring Book Fans facebook group.

This week it has a bit of a winter theme going on, and a part of it you can see above. I did film my drawing process this morning, and you can view the video by following this link.

The video does start with me showing how I’ve been enhancing the trees drawn and coloured on previous days.

There was no post, nor video, yesterday as between focusing on inking the templates for adorable dogs, a medical appointment, and a couple of online meetings, there just wasn’t time.

Template Thursday, Thanksgiving and a Draw with me video!

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Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the USA and around the world who celebrate.

I’ve created a mandala with a thanksgiving theme for the members of Angela Porter’s Coloring Book Fans facebook group.

In the spirit of the day, I’m so grateful for everyone who supports me in my artistic journey, who so kindly communicates with me, who brings my drawings alive in so many, different, wonderful ways. Thank you once and all!

There are so many other people in my life I’m grateful for too. And, there’s so much else I have to be grateful for.

Draw with me … Seed Pods

My day started with, unsurprisingly, some drawing. This time of some seedpods that turned out rather ornate and fancy-schmancy! Of course, I created a video showing how I did these.

Even though I’m feeling totally overwhelmed by Adorable Dogs at the moment, I still think it’s important I take the time to do art that is entirely for me. Making these videos, sharing my thoughts, materials, methods is part of that practice now it seems. I’m so grateful to all who watch, comment, subscribe, like and/or share these videos.

Autumnal Mandala WIP

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Usually, my mandalas are line art. However, I wanted to try going ‘no-line’ and digitally paint one. Of course, I started with a mandala that was line drawn as a guide.

I’m not entirely sure of this. I keep trying different ways of adding colour/shadow/detail. The flowers in the centre have slightly darker line details on them. The hearts are built up of layers of different shades of pink. The leaves are, mostly, just two shades of green. But then I have the fancy acorns, more realistic mushrooms and berries …

It’s all a bit of a mish-mash, or is it? I don’t know. I’m migraine-y today after a poorly night. I didn’t want to focus on anything that I feel pressure to do really well, such as templates for Adorable Dogs. I’m not sure I’m up to creating a video today. But I still wanted some quiet time with arty things.

I’ve had thoughts wandering around my head about working with colour instead of black and white line. I think the explorations with colour and pattern that I’ve been doing in my ‘Pattern Explorations series is having an influence on me.

Today may not be the best day to make any decisions on what I’m doing here, what approach to adding colour I like best, if lots of different approaches work in one artwork, or if I should be consistent, and how to add more pattern to the various elements, and on and on.

My head needs to be clearer than it is. One thing I think I know is that I’ll eventually find a way, even if it is to realise that this isn’t my way.

I do keep coming back to this kind of art, and abandoning it as I become disillusioned with my skill and what always appear to be poor colour choices. I know I’m better with colour with limited colours, or even monochrome. Now it could be interesting to work this in monochrome. Why didn’t I think of that when I started? Basically, it’s because I didn’t think – damn migraine-y, brain-foggy, drifty-floaty, brain-achey-ness.

Pattern Exploration #1

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It’s a new month. Inktober is behind me, so today I start a new series of explorations of motifs, patterns and tangles.

To begin, I decided to start a new A5 sketchbook. The pages are coloured and patterned with Distress Inks and stencils. I do like a coloured background to work on. White is so stark, clinical, austere, even cold, and often intimidating. A coloured page feels so warm and inviting. Drawings instantly feel they have some life in them.

That’s not to say I always draw on coloured paper, as I often do draw on white, especially if I’m planning to add colour digitally.

The very first motif/pattern I chose is one I’ve used a fair number of times in the past. I don’t know where the original inspiration for it came from. Maybe scientific botanical illustration or microscopic images, or maybe something else. I like the shapes and the possibilities that they present.

I’m not aiming to fill and complete one page a day; that would be too much given my contractual obligations for Adorable Dogs. That also takes some of the pressure to complete artwork every day that I feel with challenges like Inktober. Instead, I can do as much or as little as I like in a day. Video or not. All depending on time and inclination.

Today, I drew and vlogged.

The Last Hallowe’en Drawing of 2021

I spent much of a sleepless Saturday night, as well as most of Sunday afternoon, drawing this hallowe’en artwork. The original is a black and white pen drawing, but I added colour to the lines digitally. I’d run out of time to actually colour the drawing in.

There are bits inspired by A Nightmare Before Christmas. I had to turn some Trelina tangle patterns into oogie-boogie men!

There are places that I wish I’d added shading with lines to add the illusion of shadow. However, I can always return to this drawing when I need something relatively simple to do.

After I’d posted this in the Angela Porter’s Coloring Book Fans facebook group, there were requests for it to be available to colour. So, I did just that and posted it as a template for coloring for members of the group.