Tree of Life WIP

Tree of Life (WIP)

I thought I would share the stages of the zentangled/doodleart Tree of Life I've been working on.  It's not exactly a step-out so to speak, but the pictures should provide a general idea on how this piece came to be.

Below is the picture of the first stage, no color or finished work here, but I'm loving her just the same. 

Stay tuned for more Tree of Life pics as the project progresses.

Tree of Life WIP part 1

Second attempt at Verve

I received some tips from the amazing Eni Oken after my first attempt at Verve and shading Verve.  She suggested I go from using a shading pencil to a 2b pencil and here is the results.

Before Shading:

 

After Shading:

Verve with shading

Here are the 2 pictures I posted before, my originals on Verve that I used a shading pencil on, then switched to a black pencil crayon because the shading pencil wasn't doing the trick.



Before Shading



After Shading



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 #22 Shading the Verve

Zentangle #22 Shading the Verve

This was a challenge on the facebook shading site.  Use the verve tangle, take a picture of the piece before and after shading.  I used a micron .005 and a black pencil crayon because the shading pencil wasn't working properly.I love the way this turned out - the picture does not capture the shading as well as it should have.

#21 Remembrance Day Gal

#21 Remembrance Day Gal

Again, I was motivated by Remembrance Day and came up with this little soldier girl.  I screwed up so many things, but I learned in the process.  The hills... what a disaster.  And the flag is blowing one way, but her hair is moving the other way.  Regardless, she gets the feeling across. She may not be the best, but she's mine.

Tangle #20 Witchy Ways

Witchy Ways

Drawing #20

Okay so I may have steered away from the zentangling and gone more for some actual imaging here, but Halloween inspired me and I just love her. 

Zen Witch

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.