Another Trelina

Another Trelina

 

Yay! I got to play with my new grey tones tiles! Woohoo! And of course, since I’m still working on the Trelina tangle, I incorporated into the piece.  Lots of fun shading on the grey tiles, was able to use a white pencil crayon and really make that white pop (though the pic doesn't do it justice).

 

Gonna post these in reverse…

 

First the finished tile

Trelina zentangle after shading

 

Here’s the before shading tile

Trelina zentangle before shading

 

 

And here are the materials I used to make this piece

First Attempt at B’Dylan Zentangle

First Attempt at B’Dylan Zentangle

 

“The answers m’friend, are blowing in the wind…” 

 

Love, love, LOVE this new tangle pattern!  Easy and fun!  The shading is a little tricky, and I’m not sure if I nailed it, but I’m so very happy with the rest of the shading in this piece.

 

For the first time, I use a “light source”.  Usually I just shade my zentangles based loosely on the light coming from above.  Keep in mind, drawing in general is not in my nature, or wasn’t for the first 37 years of my life.  Until Zentangle came into my life, I didn’t have an artistic bone in my body. 

 

But here! On this tile! I used the light source coming from the somewhat upper right and I think I may have actual done okay! Yay me!

 

So here is the before pic, as you can see I started to shade before remembering to take the before pic.

B'Dylan zentangle before shading

 

And here is the final piece!

B'Dylan zentangle shaded



Jaysix 2nd attempt

Jaysix 2nd attempt



Jaysix Zentangle Shaded

I was playing around with the jaysix zentangle pattern in my head for awhile and thought, “Hmm… what can I do with the ends?”  My first thought was worms or snakes, neither of which I am of, now could I draw, then I thought, “Hey, why not go a little more organic? The jaysix tangle looks a bit like a weaved basket, so why not?” 

Alas, this is what my mind drew up.  I’m pretty fond of it J

Before pic (again, almost forget as the shading is barely started here)

Final piece, lots of shading! Ain’t it perrrty!?!

Zentangle garden tile - with slits

Slits Challenge?

(not part of the Mystery Mega Zentangle Project)

 

Well this could have gone better.  I sort of worked out the slits part of the challenge, as in they look a little more like slits.  Unfortunately I didn’t take into account that the design needed to be simple in order to actually SEE the slits.  So I added color.  Woopsies!

Zentangle Garden with "slits"

By the end of this (omg it took forever) tile, I as disappointed. Way too busy and everything kinda got lost.  Then I looked on the bright side! I’ve created my very own “Where’s Waldo” but it’s “Where are the slots” instead! Go ME!

First Watercolour Challenge

 

First Watercolour Challenge

Watercolor Zentangle Garden Shaded

 

This is my first tile for Eni’s FB grop challenge of using a watercolor background.  This has been a pretty fun challenge so far.  I’ve got a few tiles painted and ready to go.  I followed Eni’s advice and let them dry for 24 hours between waxed paper with heavy books to flatten them out but they still curled a little.  I have no other ideas on how to flatten them, other than to get heavier books :D

I also noticed that the microns tend to bleed a bit with the painted base.  Not sure if others noticed had that issue.  It isn’t a MAJOR issue, but one worth noting.

In this piece I used red and purple watercolor pencils and microns, with copic grey markers for shading.

Figured I'd also add the other watercolor backgrounds I made up and set to dry.

Tri-Roda Zentangle Tile

Tri-roda Zentangle Tile

 

I took some time to work out Eni Oken’s Tri-Roda design.  My spidey-sense is tingling, predicting many more patterns tangled out with this fun design. I wish I'd thought to take a "before" shot prior to shading, but alas, this is all I've got; the finished piece.

Tri-Roda 1st attempt

Sharpies on Porcelain Christmas Presents

Sharpies on Porcelain Christmas Presents

I made some presents with sharpies on porcelain for Christmas. Here are the basics with pics to follow.

#1 – Yes this can be done on glazed porcelain! No prep required (edit: I now wipe down the pots with rubbing alcohol to prevent paint cracking while cooking)

#2 – Your microns will not work.  Regular sharpies will NOT work. 

#3 – You must must MUST use OIL BASED SHARPIES. (read below for more on this.

#4 – Once your design is done, cook in oven at 350 for 40 mins.  Let the piece heat up and cool in the oven to prevent cracking.

#5 – Use a soft sponge to wash once cooked. Do not wash or wet or wipe BEFORE cooking (more on this below).  Add a gift tag or write on the bottom of the piece instructions to WASH GENTLY WITH A SOFT SPONGE.

Check out this video that got me through the tough spots. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jxdyBlhQZg

Oil based sharpies.  Okay so these run a little more pricy than regular sharpies.  I’m in Canada and they are just under 10$ each at Michael’s. Regular sharpies WILL wash off.  Micron Pens WILL wipe off! Oil based sharpies are the only way to go. (that I’ve found so far anyhow)

Here is a finished plant pot.  Cooked and all.  Pretty neat present as it comes with a plant bulb to grow later in the year.  This is completed and cooked and worked out.  YAY! Only about 10 hours to do each one (with drying time included because the paint can run with your hand movements if it’s not completely dry)

 

Kinda blurry - photo taken with cellphone.

The plates, oh how I love the plates! Warning: one of my paint sharpies exploded on the first one just as I was adding so finishing touches.  Luckily the design was “busy” enough to be able to save it.

And this is what happens when you try to wipe the pieces down before cooking them.  Ruined 2 pots this way, goodbye 20 hours… Not only does the paint “peel” off but it re-adheres itself to other parts of the piece.  Unsalvageable.

Finally, if you put the piece in the oven… and let’s just say you heated up some pizza in the oven the night before and a piece of cheese and mushroom and green pepper landed on the burner and you didn’t notice… and therefore it caught fire while your pieces are cooking, rendering them full of black soot… (yes, this is my life) they can be salvaged! After trying alcohol, soap and water, nail polish remover and bleach – (all carefully so as not to wreck the pattern) I found success with a simple baking soda and water paste.  

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!



Zentangle #19 Big Flower Power

Zentangle #19 Big Flower Power

I didn't do much doodling over the summer, and probably skipped a few finished pieces. It pains me to not be able to get a photo of my pieces that do them justice.  Regardless, this one took a long long time, the colors turned out beautifully and I had the chance to play with so many different tangles.

Bloomin'

Zentangle #17

Bloomin'

     The summer put a bit of a cramp in my zentanglin' time, but alas, fall is, well, falling, and I'm able to get back to it.  This piece was fun because it was small.  I tended to go for big complicated pieces, and though the end results are more satisfying, the process of doing a smaller piece provides the instant gratification that I crave after hours of work.  

Fantasy Garden 2

Zentangle Inspired Art Part 13

Fantasy Garden #2

            This is my second fantasy garden, and I’m loving the flowers.  I had the opportunity to use my new pens throughout this one, and I love the depth they provide.  The gardens are a blast to do, and since my honey got me a bigger canvas pad, I’m hoping to do some larger ones.