Book Making...my other fun pastime!

Well, I haven't posted much for a long time, but I'm really happy to share my two new works! These books are in the style of the Glazier Codex and based on a model from 500 AD. I'm not going to pretend their exact replicas, but they are certainly 'in the style of!'

One book has a wooden cover with mahogany goat leather for its spine and wrapping. There are two carved bone toggles which I stained with terracotta coloured ink. That book has leather wrapped that continues off of the spine and wraps around the edges of the book.

The other book's cover is paper covered davey board. The leather used on it is deer hide. It will soon have toggles, as well.

Enjoy!

Pointillism... This week's Diva's Challenge!

This week's Diva's Challenge was to use pointillism. It was a fun challenge, playing with the density of the dots to create the patterns and the darkness of those patterns

My tile has Printemps, Florz and Cubine. I left the fourth space blank. I also played with dots to create my string. ...just for fun!

A great challenge for the week! I may have to try another one!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Zentangle Notecards

Zentangle has a brand new and beautiful product! Zentangle Notecards! They come I'm packages of 4. You get 4 beautiful cards to "frame" 4 tiles. Each card features Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts' beautiful art work that frame your tile!

Betweed and Purk

Here is my first use of the new product and I decided to try out a tan tile! Love the tiles and love the cards!

Ibex and Zinger on a tan tile

I'll be selling them in my store in the next week or so. If you're interested, let me know!

Posted with Blogsy

Zentangle: Process or Product?

90% of the time, the art of Zentangle is about the process....at least for me.

In other words, it's about putting pen to paper, losing myself in the moment, and while certainly wanting to create a beautiful product, it is the activity itself, the ability to let go of everything and to just be mindful that I truly get the most joy from. It also means that the end product doesn't need to be perfect, that I truly try to let go of that end result, too.

When I started learning about Zentangle, my big drawing accomplishment was being able to draw flowers (loopy grade 3 ones) and stick people. My drawing aptitude likely stopped in about grade 3. Art, when I was going to school wasn't really drawing classes. And, that's fine, but it does leave you with a sense of being 'art challenged'

What I love about Zentangle is that it makes art accessible to so many of us who thought we'd never be able to draw, and in that accessibility it allows us to find that inner creativity that was dying to get out...we just didn't know how to express it.

I issue a challenge to all of you emerging artists!

LET GO!

We live in a world that judges, that labels and that determines something is better that something else. We also judge ourselves quickly and easily. Those voices in our heads that say we are too this and too that...or that say we need to do this or that better, you know those voices.

It is also easy when practicing the art of Zentangle to find ourselves intimidated by the amazing creations of others. There are some incredible artists out there.

What's interesting, though, is that I've noticed that those talented people also ooh and ahh at the work of others, too. It's so easy for us all to look at someone else's creations and think ours shoulda, coulda, woulda been better...if... And that the other work we are seeing is 'better.' But, those gifted artists are saying that too.

What if you challenge yourself to be kinder to yourself, to LET GO of your judgments? To LET GO of your labels and comparisons?

Treasure your personal creativity, learn from it, grow with it and love what you bring to this world. Only you are able to make those creations!

Learn from other's beautiful work, but LET GO of your desire to disparage yours in the process of admiring theirs.

LET GO!

And, LOVE your amazing creativity!!! Recognize the wonderful process that you are in! Admire the beauty that comes from your pen!

Posted with Blogsy

8 Parte Dos. The Diva's Challenge!

My entry in this week's Diva's Challenge!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Where have I been? Santa Fe!

Well, except for yesterday's post, I've been MIA for a month and what a month it's been! 

In September I had the wonderful opportunity to spend 12, yes twelve whole days in Santa Fe, New Mexico! 

It was an absolutely fantastic experience. 

I attended an Art Journalling class and it was absolutely lovely! 

I joined some great friends, and met new ones, learned some drawing skills and some water colour pencil skills! 

We toured various areas of Santa Fe and recorded things we saw and did in our journals. 

I laughed until my stomach hurt, and found joy on the paper. 

What fun!

Zentangle Adventures

Today's Zentangle Adventures class was small, but lots of fun.

On the first tiles, I had the students work on four different patterns that could work well as borders. They learned Onamato, Meer, Avreal, and Knase! We also had fun with Cadent, Betweed, and W2. 

A great group of ladies in the class, lots of fun!