Inktober2022

And Inktober Tangles 2022 is complete!

Angela PorterLeave a comment

Yes, that’s right! Yesterday and today I got the remaining four tangles for Inktober 2022 done! And yes, there are draw with me video tutorials to go with them.

At the top right are a few ‘Poppins’ variations. Poppins, by Lisetta Hofer CZT, is a lovely seed pod tangle pattern that reminds me of my much-beloved poppy seed heads. This one was so easy to create variations for; this is just a wee sample of what is possible!

If you’d like to view the video showing how I drew these designs, just click on this link!.

Today’s tangle pattern for day 29 is AVRO, which is on the left-hand side of the lower drawing. ‘Avro‘ is by Yvonne Westover CZT. It is a totally new tangle to me, and I did just a couple of variations. However, you can see on Yvonne’s Avro webpage that there are many possibilities.

In the middle of the same drawing is ‘Saveu’ by Nadine Roller CZT. Again, this is another tangle pattern I’d not come across before; that means I had to have some fun with it! They’ve all ended up as if they’re fancy window frames looking out to the universe! And some of the stardust escaped at the bottom of the drawing too! Well, you just have to sprinkle stardust or glitter wherever you go, or so I think!

Finally, Pangea is on the bottom right for day 31 of Inktober. I had a bit of fun filling this in as a reticulum (grid), especially with patterns that give optical illusions of depth/volume. Of course, using colour/shadow/highlight really helps to bring these illusions out!

Click on this link to see the YouTube tutorial video for Avro, Saveu and Pangea.

Talking of adding colour. For both designs, I used Arteza EverBlend markers and Ohuhu marker paper.

Reflecting on Inktober 2022

Inktober is always a bit of an intense challenge but an enjoyable one. I like to have something to focus my artistic energy. It can be difficult for me to find motivation or something to do that may interest other people. That will be something I feel once I make my next tutorial video. However, I am open to suggestions!

I am really starting to understand the purpose of a sketchbook in my artistic journey and development. Some things clicked into place during this challenge.
1. A sketchbook is a place to practice and work on iterations (variations) of patterns or motifs.
2. I can choose to finish a design, or not.
3. It’s a place ot make mistakes, experiment, record my journey through art.
4. It’s a perfect place to glue my little drawings in to keep them safe and a record of my work!
5. Used this way, a sketchbook becomes a source of inspiration and a wonderful resource to draw from in the future.

I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to figure this out; all that matters is that I got there!

Inktober Tangles 2022, Days 26 and 27 – Feliz and Narfello(ish)

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Click on this link to view today’s drawing tutorial (for the bottom design) on YouTube.

Oh, I got my right royal knickers into a twist today over Narfello! I ended up doing two videos and still managed to muck up with Nafello.

The top design was my first attempt. There are lots of things I like about it. But after nearly an hour and a half video, I convinced myself I’d made a total mess of Narfello. So, I drew breath and started over and produced the design at the bottom, but without the colour; I added the colour while the video was uploading and processing.

Even with the second attempt, I still managed to not get Narfello ‘right’. But I think it’s probably close enough for today.

I’m so glad I did a second version, as I like my Feliz (to the left). I like the way the variations gradually change from left to right (or right to left!). It feels more coherent than the first version of Feliz, where I went to town exploring ways to fill the pattern!

I also like how the Narfello-ish appears from under the Feliz in the second version. I can see that I need to add some quite intense shade to the right of the Feliz to enhance this illusion. However, I’ve just about run out of energy for today, so that is a job for another time.

One thing that I am enjoying is the contrast between the geometrical Feliz and the organic, flowy Narfello.

I’m also pleased with how much volume I’ve created using monochrome Arteza Everblend markers, particularly on the bottom design.

Both of these designs will end up in my sketchbook. There are some variations in the upper one I’d like to try. The lower one is a reminder to look at how I can slowly change the filler patterns, if that’s the right term, to change the pattern subtly.

I really have enjoyed working with this pair of patterns. I hope you take a look at the accompanying drawing tutorial on Youtube and have a go at drawing your own version!

Hollibaugh and Kwazeela – Days 24 and 25 of Inktober Tangles 2022

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Click on this link to watch the accompanying video tutorial on YouTube

Today’s tangle pattern is “Hollibaugh” by Zentangle Inc. It forms the white ‘beams’ that overlap and form the gaps between them. Instead of adding patterns to the beams, which is what I would usually do, I decided to add patterns to the gaps. In some of these gaps, I added Kwazeela, a lovely leafy tangle pattern by Eni Oken CZT.

I drew all of this design in today’s video, but I added the colour and highlights while the video was uploading and processing. To add colour, I used Ohuhu markers and a white Gelly Roll pen to add the highlights.

It was a nice way to spend a couple or so hours while I recover from a bout of tiredness, headache and upset digestive system as side effects of my ‘flu jab on Saturday.

“Tilewave” and “Alitos” – days 22 and 23 of Inktober Tangles 2022

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Click on this link to view the accompanying tutorial video on YouTube

Days 22 and 23 of the Inktober Challenge 2022 feature two tiling tangle patterns – Tilewave by YuRu Chen CZT and Alitos by Claudia Pbn V CZT.

I took this as an opportunity to explore these patterns and discover variations in how the patterns can be embellished and in adding shade.

Each had its own challenges, but I feel I have a few options to work with when I choose to use these patterns.

I worked in black and white, using a Pitt matt graphite pencil to add shade. That is unusual for me; usually, I like to work with colour.

Although not every section has had shade added, nor has the line weight been adjusted, I’m happy with what I produced. It will be added to my sketchbook, which is fast becoming a repository of ideas and inspiration!

“Bs” – Inktober Tangles 2022, Day 21

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YouTube drawing tutorial.

Bs by Midori Furuhashi CZT is a lovely floral zentangle pattern, yet it managed to throw me a few curve balls! I explore this pattern in today’s YouTube drawing tutorial video.

However, those curveballs helped me to better understand the tangle. They also helped me discover some interesting variations and a beautiful flower bud too!

I tried adding some texture lines and patterns to the petals, but they just didn’t feel right. However, using colour to add shadow and highlight worked well. To do this, I used Inktense pencils and a water brush. They reacted in some surprising, but nice, ways with the Distress Inks (Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves and Villainous Potion) I’d used to add colour to the paper.

“TagH” and “Walk the line” | Inktober Tangles 2022, Days 19 and 20

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To view the accompanying drawing tutorial on YouTube, click on this link.

Two lovely tangles today- TagH by Zentangle and Walk the line by Chris Titus CZT.

I really enjoyed trying out different shapes in the leafy Tagh. There are just so very many possibilities for this kind of pattern. I’ve long used this pattern in my artwork without knowing it was a Zentangle pattern!

Walk the line reminds me so much of eroded rock strata and microscopic images of cells. It’s a lovely contrast to Tagh. Again, it’s a pattern I’ve often used in my own art, and it’s nice to find it’s also been added to the ever-growing library of tangle pattern step-outs!

“Slowpoke” Inktober Tangles 2022, Day 18

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Click on this link to watch the accompanying video tutorial for Slowpoke on YouTube

Slowpoke, by Cris Letourneau CZT, looks complicated, but it’s actually quite simple to draw, one step at a time! The fun comes in adding embellishments, which I did with a gold Uniball Signo gel pen. The central coloured panel with Slowpoke on is the only part that I did during today’s video on YouTube.

I coloured the paper with various Distress Inks before I started to draw. In person, the colours aren’t so garish, honest!

Around the panel with Slowpoke on, I’ve added a border of stylised flowers and leaves, all in a very Arts and Crafts Movement style. I need to fill out a couple of areas a little more, but I quite like the simplicity of the coloured panel with the black and white and rather dense border around it.

Inktober Tangles 2022 – Days 16 and 17 – Dinovel and Lollywimple.

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Click on this link to view the accompanying drawing tutorial on YouTube.

Today, I took a look at two quite delightful #zentangle tangle patterns – Dinovel by Susan Yeo CZT and Lollywimple by Sally Hunter CZT.

The fabulously floral Dinovel lends itself so easily to variations, only a few of which I drew.

Lollywimple is an interesting and lovely pattern that I haven’t used before, as far as I know. It reminds me of a knobbly branch, and so I kind of used it that way.

I really did need a calm, quiet start to my day. Indeed, I still need a calm quiet day.

Inktober Tangles 2022 – Day 8 – “Snack” by Tomàs Padrós CZT

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Please click on the “Watch on YouTube” button.

Snack is a lovely pattern and Tomàs Padrós CZT has created a great step out for it, which includes lots of suggestions and variations.

I have to say, it is a motif I’m familiar with, probably early Celtic art or architecture. It was great fun for me to draw, and in keeping with my rather higgldy-piggldy arrangement I chose to use it in that way. As a nod to the architectural origins of this pattern, to me anyway, I’ve worked with shadow and highlight to practically ‘scuplt each ‘snack’ element. I particularly like the ‘half snack’ versions; again, they are familiar to me but not connected to Zentangle, and there’s nowt wrong with that at all!