What do I do when I wake with a headache? Draw and film it for another YouTube video.
Today, I decided to colour a piece of cartridge paper, add a vintage photobook photo, and draw a frame around it that will, eventually, fill most of the paper.
I recorded the first fifty minutes or so today, but the artwork isn’t finished yet! I don’t know when I’ll get the next part done, but I’ll be sure to film it too.
For this week’s template, I asked the members of the Angela Porter’s Coloring Book Fans facebook group to suggest things they’d like to see in a coloring template. I had 20 unique suggestions. So, I numbered them, rolled 1d20 (that’s one 20 sided die to those who aren’t RPG-ers!). The first roll suggested I create one of my templates with the smaller pictures as part of it. The second roll suggested different shapes. So, I did just that, using suggestions from the list!
I just couldn’t fit in three of the suggestions – a mandala, a train on a bridge and jungle baby animals (unless the cute toucan-like bird counts). So, I think I did pretty well.
It was a different way for me to create a template. I was conscious of needing to get as many suggestions in as I could, so I drew the picture frames first. That means there’s not so many layers in my design as I like. Still, it probably worked out just fine.
It’s going to be interesting to see how people manage to colour this one in, particularly all the small patterns around the little pictures.
The design was drawn with a medium Uniball Eye pen on squared paper. It was scanned in to clean up and edit the design and add colour.
This week, I finish this particular drawing, apart from a few bits and bobs.
Partway through the video, the microphone just stopped recording. I have no idea why. So, for the last part of the video, I’ve sped my drawing up 5x and just put some music to go with it.
Guess I’m going to have to learn to do voice-overs as well as learning the new digital art stuff!
I’d appreciate likes for this video, as well as new subscriptions to my channel.
Friday is YouTube video day for me. Before I’d even had breakfast, I was filming the next part of this video series. I did get myself a mug of mocha first, in an insulated mug so it stayed nice and hot throughout the filming.
I changed the pen I used today. I’d bought a couple of Faber-Castell Grip 2010 fineliner pens to see what they’re like. I like them. They’re refillable and the ink is document safe but not waterproof I will use them for art that I’m planning to scan in. Oh, I’m not being paid or sponsored in anyway to mention this pen.
Anyway, the video is nearly an hour long and I chat away as I draw, particularly about Romanesque architecture/sculpture and it’s influence on me, along with mentions of La Tene/Iron Age/Celtic art and others.
This was a fun little bit of art to do. I was inspired by a YouTube video by Zen Linea about the Tranzending technique developed by ZentangleHQ.
It involves drawing a background pattern with a white pen – I used a white Posca pen. Next, the black design is drawn over it. At the moment I’m enjoying using Uniball Eye pens – they’re waterproof when fully dry and their nibs last a lot longer on rough paper like the mixed media paper I used for this sample. I used the natural version of the ClaireFontaine Paint-On mixed media paper as the white would show up well.
Finally, I used applied colour using zig clean colour real brush pens where I wanted the darkest part of each section. Then, I used a damp brush to create a colour gradient. I prefer a traditional paintbrush to do this as I can control how damp it is. I find the waterbrushes that have a reservoir filled with water are a lot more difficult to control how damp the brush is.
Adding shadow around the whole design was the next step and I thought I’d messed it up. However, I like the uneven, grungy look that has resulted. I’m going to learn to embrace the unexpected!
Finally, I added some white dots with the Posca pen.
The background pattern subtly shows through the colours, adding a layer of interest and an intriguing one at that. It was fascinating to watch it happen.
I did try this technique on white paper and it doesn’t work anywhere near as well, so it’s something I’ll reserve for toned papers.
An unexpected surprise for me was how much I like the way the Zig brush pens work on the toned paper, and how easy it was for me to create gradations in colour to get the shadow and highlight.
So, an interesting time with art, and explorations I’ll continue with for sure. It is really fascinating!
I’ve added and filmed a little more to the ‘Serendipity’ drawing I started in last week’s video.
This time, the drawing is in real time with me talking through my thought processes, along with some random waffling too. No music, just talk, and I think you can hear the nervousness in my voice.
I hope you enjoy watching the video – it is around 30 minutes long.
I’ve finished the line art for this particular design. Now, it’s adding colour to it, which is going to be a long job.
I’m trying out a color palette of greens, peaches and dusky pinks, but I’m not sure about them, or maybe I’m not fussed on the background. I’ll see how I get along. It’s definitely a work in progress.
I’m not sure what happened with the design. I had intended to leave open space in the design to add a lighter, airier feeling to parts of it. That just didn’t happen. I’m not sure about some areas, but I do know that colour can make all the difference to a design.
A4 Marker Paper
Pentel disposable fountain pen, 02 Uniball Unipin pen, and a 0.38 Uniball Signo Dx pen
Backgrounds and colours added digitally using Autodesk Sketchbook Pro
Note – I’m not paid, sponsored or supplied with any products.
I started this drawing yesterday evening. It’s not finished yet and, as always, I’m not entirely sure where it’s going. Intuitive art is me it seems!
This is being drawn on A4 marker paper with a Fountain Pentel pen – which is a disposable fountain pen with a plastic nib that allows different thicknesses of lines to be drawn. It’s actually rather nice to draw with.
I’ve added a light creamy-brown background digitally.
“Serendipity (n) – the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way”
Serendipity strikes once again! I’ve been thinking for quite a while about trying to get one video a week done for my YouTube channel . When visiting Amazon, one of the suggestions for me was a ‘document camera’ – a camera on an stand with all kinds of buttons to adjust the lighting and zoom and so on. A camera that is all set up and that will plug and play with my PC. So, after some thinking and dithering, I decided to purchase the gadget. It’s also compact, stable and can be positioned unobtrusively as well.
It arrived yesterday, and took minutes to set up and get going! And then it’s taken hours to get the new versions of the video editing software I use, trial videos to see how it works. Trying to speak as I draw, and eventually an hour long video that I waffled a lot in. I removed the audio, edited the video, sped it up to almost three times the usual speed, and added music and so on. And the result is the video at the top of this blog post.
I’m sure I’ll find it easier to do the more I do this. Also, I’ll work out how is the best way for me to create YouTube content that is interesting. And, I’ll eventually remember how to talk without too much waffling on as well! Failing that, I’ll have to learn to do a voiceover!
The drawing in the video isn’t finished and I intend to complete it during future videos.
Now, I need to decide on a video day, and I’ll have to think of arty things that will make interesting videos.
Natural Paint-on paper by ClaireFontaine approx 8.25″ x 8.25″ (21cm x 21 cm )
Flower motif – Tim Holtz’s Ephemera
Various other papers as mats.
Black fine Uniball ‘Eye’ pen
Gold Sakura Gelly Roll pen
White Sakura Souffle pen
White and brown pastel pencils
Today’s offering is another entangled/zentangle cartouche around a piece of vintage ephemera.
I’m trying to learn lessons of past attempts at these kinds of frames or cartouches. The layers of borders seem to work well for me. They’re balanced and cohesive. Also, the colours used help to bring them together as well.
Art is the Adventure 