Zentangle

Inktober Tangles 2024 – Day 2

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‘MaryShel’, the tangle for day 2 of #InktoberTangles2024, was formulated by Alena Light. It’s a delightful, organic tangle in its original two variations. However, I couldn’t resist playing around with the basic principles of the tangle—the initial ‘s’ curve and the ‘lobes’ that grow from it.

You can watch the video of my explorations of MaryShel on my YouTube channel.

I had played around with the tangle in a sketchbook, and some variations appeared in this collection. However, a few didn’t, and I also realized that many more could be created.

Not all the variations appeal to me, per se, nor do the ways I’ve added patterns to some. It is all about exploring, however, and not all discoveries will be pleasant ones! However, the not-so-pleasant ones are the ones that lead to reflection and learning.

I also like the softly coloured background with some stencilling on it. I achieved this by using Distress Inks—Rusty Hinge for the background and stencilling and Walnut Stain (I think) for the darker edging. I used Rosa Studio Watercolour paints to colour the individual MaryShels. A burnt sienna Prismacolor pencil was used to add drop shadows.

Although this page isn’t perfect (and it wasn’t ever meant to be), I very much like the colour. It’s warm and friendly compared to yesterday’s ‘Ambler’ exploration. The black and grey Ambler on the off-white paper has such an austere and cold feel. Perhaps I need to try some coloured Ambler!

I didn’t fuss around too much when adding watercolour; too much tends to break down the Canson Imagine mixed media paper. I just used very simple, mostly flat, colour washes, intending to add shadow with textures and patterns and highlight with a white Posca pen,

The patterns/textures/highlights/shadows are the parts that have not been completed. However, I want to work on larger-scale drawings of MaryShel variations.

What will Day 3 of Inktober Tangles 2024 bring? I don’t know, but it’ll be fun I’m sure!

Zentangle Inspired Drawing 29 July ’23 and why I’ve been missing…

Angela Porter6 Comments

A #DrawWithMe video tutorial featuring this design is available from 21:00 UK time today, 29 July 2023.

Missing from social media…

It’s been nearly two weeks since I last posted any art to social media. I managed to burn myself out with too much adulting, a people-y couple of hours, and pushing myself way too much to get all the sketches done for the Daydreams book. I just ended up exhausted, unable to focus, and couldn’t even muster the energy to draw for my own pleasure. That is a bad sign.

I’m having to learn and understand a lot about myself at this time in my life. Lots of things have changed – not the big things in life, but things of personal matters to me, including health, age and a couple of other things. This means I really need to make sure I start to set limits for myself as to how much I realistically can do. It seems that it may be better for me to do less, rather than push myself to my maximum limit which results in the start of burnout.

What does burnout look like for me? Intense fatigue, inability to focus, a loss of joy in things I usually enjoy, a desire not to communicate or leave my home, an upset digestive system, and frustration if I try to do anything slightly demanding.

I still remember how I was when I have my first huge burnout and all the health problems (physical, mental and emotional) that built up in the run-up to it. Back in February this year, I nearly ended up in such a state again. Just a few months isn’t quite enough to fully recover, however. It took me years to recover from the first two big burnouts, which happened within a year and a half of each other.

It’s taken me until now to recognise the connection between what’s happening to me, which is only being exacerbated by perimenopause.

This means that I’ve had two weeks without being able to make any social media posts. I’ve avoided social media, apart from reposting posts I’ve found interesting on the times I’ve checked in. I’m not the most sociable person, being an introvert, but am less sociable during times like this.

I’m exhausted not just from the pressure I’ve put on myself to get as much work done as possible. There’s also been the masking when I go out where people are so they don’t know how much I’m struggling inside. Keeping that appearance up is exhausting. I’m a bit like a swan – calm and serene above the surface, but underneath I’m going ninety-to-the-dozen to keep myself afloat and moving.

Yes, I know the expression is nineteen-to-the-dozen, but I really have felt like it’s ninety not nineteen.

The thing is, that’s how I’ve always been for as long as can remember. I didn’t have the words or way to describe how I felt or thought when I was a child or teen, or even an adult. In therapy, I had to learn what emotions were. I was astounded to discover that not everyone thinks or feels like I do.

Not having conversations about my constant anxiety bordering on fear, or my negative self-talk meant I thought this was all normal. If only I’d had those conversations as a child!

Still, I got there eventually…and am still learning about myself and how this impacts me, especially at this time. I have to know my own limits and do a lot more self-care of my energy and focus, mind and emotions, body and soul.

I’d like to think I’m making progress. However, when everything crashes in it can be hard to remember all of this. I get caught up in a maelstrom of fear and the old negative, destructive thoughts of that inner voice that is so damn judgemental.

The positive thing is I recognised that I was spiralling down back in February and sought out medical help. The hard thing is working out what my new limits are. I need to learn to stop before I start to crash and fatigue and low mood and other problems set in.

I think I may have overdone it today – I recorded, sorted out and am uploading a 2 hour how-to tutorial today. I enjoyed drawing and so on very much, but I feel so tired now. Perhaps all the social media was a bit too much! But I do want to do it and will take a break in a wee while for sure.

Seed Pods and Tangle L’s by Cyndi Knapp

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I drew this design in my latest YouTube video, which premieres today, 16 July 2023, at 21:00 UK time.

It’s a draw with me video, where I show you how to draw this design, step by step. I also do some colouring, shading, highlighting and addition of texture patterns. I don’t, however, complete the drawing in the video.

Currently, I really enjoy drawing designs where there are layers included, like a collage or a break and the floor or wall to see what lies beneath or behind them.

Seed pods are one of my favourite things to draw. There are so many different kinds, both based on reality and imagination. Today, I stuck with the familiarity of plump, teardrop-shaped pods. The tangle pattern between the faux ripped edges is called L’s, and it’s by Cyndi Knapp. It is a bit of a challenge to draw, well, for me at least. It does result in a curious interweaving pattern, however, and is worth the time spent mastering it.

I used a piece of grey-green PaintOn mixed media paper from Claire Fontaine. The colours almost glow against the paper. To add colour, I used Derwent Coloursoft pencils along with tortillons and Gamsol to blend them.

Although I haven’t finished this drawing yet, I’m quite happy with how it’s working out.

I have needed a couple of days of quiet time this weekend. I over-stretched myself last week in some ways. When I find inspiration lacking, I know I’ve overdone it. Hopefully, these two quiet days will give me renewed energy to carry on with the illustrations for Daydreams, my next colouring book. The self-doubt and fear that I’m not good enough – imposter syndrome – has awakened for some reason, and it robs me of my oompf. I will push through it, however. I always do.

A collection of some of my recent ‘small art’

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I’ve been doing smaller pieces of art lately, and here a just a small selection of them.

The top design is one I drew and started to add colour and highlight to in a YouTube #DrawWithMe video.

Small artworks are just the thing needed when I don’t have the energy or brain power to do anything larger. They do have, however, their own challenges!

What I had a flash of inspiration from somewhere, probably watching an arty crafty YouTube video. The inspiration was to use gloss Mod Podge to coat the artwork. The glossy surface really brings out the colour and cleans up the watercolour from the black lines. There is no, or very little, movement of colour when it’s applied, so long as it’s applied quickly with little fussing. I did apply a second coat as there were brush marks in the first one.

All are Zentangle and diaper patterns from Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts inspired, apart from one. The one with trees, birds and buntings was inspired by Danielle Donaldson in her book “Creative Girl”.

Exploration of Zentangle Fragment A1

Angela Porter2 Comments

Link to the accompanying #DrawWithMe YouTube video tutorial.

This afternoon, I spent a lovely hour or so exploring variations of a simple pattern cell, or fragment in Zentangle terminology. I picked one of the most basic ones there is and just tried variations to see where it let me. In about 20 minutes, I’c come up with 12 variations.

I then chose one of the variations to turn into a grid pattern. I had a very pleasant surprise as the pattern started to build up and star shapes started to appear!

The Zentangle pattern Flux and a simple daisy motif complete the design. I did start this drawing off with the fluffy flux foliage!

The next thing to do is to add colour and/or shade with highlights. But not today. I actually feel I need to eat something. So, that’s what I’m going to do when I’ve finished all my social media posts.

A small Zentangle Inspired Tile; A WIP.

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Accompanying #DrawWithMe YouTube video.

This was a lovely way to spend an hour or so this afternoon! The design isn’t quite finished. I have more colour to add, and textural patterns too. But this gives an idea of where I am going with it.

I started with a simple ‘fragment’ – a square with a diamond in it. From there, I built up the central panel of four motifs. I decided to use the same starting point for the outer borders, just a smaller and simpler version.

Colour was added using Kuretake Gansai Tambi Art Nouveau watercolours and Winsor and Newton gold calligraphy ink.

It will take me a wee while to finish. It depends on my energy levels and ability to focus on a task. I seem to be improving little by little – hurrah!

Entangled Monogram WIP 6 June ’23

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I drew this design partly as I settled and calmed down for sleep, then completed it when I awoke at stupid o’clock until I was ready to settle back to sleep. Now, I’ve started to add colour – Derwent Chromaflow with Gamsol to blend the colours out. Oh and gold ink for the ‘L’ and the border around it.

This design was drawn on a 21cm x 21cm (8.25″ x 8.25″) piece of Canson Imagine mixed media paper. I used TWISBI Eco fountain pens filled with black Dokumentus ink, fine and extra fine nibs.

This is part of my preparation to throw myself into designing colouring pages for DayDreams. Getting back into my signature kind of art, maybe not this detailed, but …

There’s still plenty of colour to add. Then, there’s the highlights and sparkle and any other details that may be called for. A good level contrast is needed to bring out the illusion of dimension to this!

Sketchbook flip through & finishing a small drawing (mostly…)

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In today’s video on YouTube, I share a look at one of my current sketchbooks. Then, I finish drawing this little design and start to add colour to it.

The drawing is only teeny – a little less than 3″ from side to side – but that makes it fun to do! The tiny floral background pattern just needed to have glittery shimmery gold pen added to the petals; it’s so reminiscent of medieval illuminated manuscripts.

It’s unusual for me to work on such a small scale, but when I do I really enjoy it! I think it’s something I need to do more often. Especially so as I’ve been watching videos showing mixed media grid journal/sketchbook spreads.

Mixed media really isn’t my kind of thing … usually. However, these videos are sparking off some ideas in my noggin. I’ll see how that pans out over time for sure.

As to other things… I’m doing OK. I’m feeling less off with the fairies for sure. A number of ‘peopley’ days last week left me exhausted and needing a lot of quiet time this week. My emotions and thoughts are much more even too, which is a good thing. Fortunately, I can still feel emotions, unlike my last periods of burnout when I had the same meds. So all’s looking better on that front.

I still have an interesting journey to make in knowing and understanding myself better. Slowly is the best way to do that after the confusing and unsettling revelation at the end of last year, yet it was a relief for sure too.

The longer hours of daylight are helping too, though some more sunshiny days would really help! It feels like it’s been raining here in Welsh Wales forever! It hasn’t, but some sun would be welcome for sure.

Until that time, I shall enjoy my times of art and creativity for sure.

“Entangled Samplers” – Cover Page WIP, Part 2

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YouTube drawing tutorial

Abstract Zentangle Inspired Art

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Click on this link to watch the accompanying drawing tutorial on YouTube!

Abstract art

This was an interesting experiment. I was inspired by a video tutorial by Ellen Crimi-Trent Artist. In the video, she used a charcoal pencil to create an abstract line design. Next, watercolours were used to fill the spaces. Finally, details were added with pen.

I thought it could be a lot of fun to use this as a way to display some Zentangle style patterns. So I did! However, in true Angela style, I’d first tried not only a charcoal pencil, but a watersoluble graphite pencil, an Inktense pencil and an Inktense Outliner to create the grids on separate pieces of mixed media paper. Then I added watercolour to them to see which method of laying out the main pattern I liked the most.

As it turns out, it was the charcoal! I didn’t expect that!

I filled in the majority of the spaces with tangle patterns. Finally, I used charcoal and white chalk to add shade and highlight to each section of the design. I should say I didn’t do all the sections in the video. Oh, and I added some white highlights/patterns with a white GellyRoll pen.

The intense black of the charcoal really dials up the contrast by quite a few notches! I really did have a lot of fun playing with the illusion of volume in this design.

I’m also glad that I didn’t fill all the sections with pattern; I like that I have some simple, volumised areas whose simplicity contrasts with the complexity of the patterns.

I now have quite a few pieces of coloured, patterned paper to play with in the coming days.

Well and truly people-d out!

It’s true. I’ve not had such an intensely people-y week since well before the pandemic hit. I both feel very much by myself and a little sad about that, but also rather relieved that I get to sigh, relax and breathe for the next couple of days at least.

And with the relaxation may come the introvert hangover or social migraine! Maybe not. I’ll see tomorrow. I know as I take my time to relax, unwind, settle back into my solitary existence I will feel intense tiredness creep over me. Indeed, I can feel it beginning to extend it’s soft cloudy folds and start to enevolop me. I will give in, later. I have a few things to do first! Social media posts, a huge mug of tea, maybe something to eat. And then…I’ll see!