A Beetle Doodle

I have been sorting through closets and cupboards in my home this past weekend.

It feels good to get things better organized. I have discovered that I have too many hobbies however… and I need to get rid of a few as they are cluttering my mind.

Any suggestions? How do YOU get rid of art supplies you are no longer using?

In the evenings, I have been working on a beetle doodle:

I am using gold pen in addition to black ink. I noticed that REAL beetles tend to have an iridescent shine.

I cannot remember ever working on a symmetrical pattern. It is a bit more challenging. 😉

What did YOU do this past weekend? I hope you share it with me.

Cheers! 🙂

P.S. I will show you my finished beetle doodle when it is complete!

A Weird Bug?

I interrupt this blogging break…

To show you this strange bug that appeared in my art journal:

Wednesday’s can be about weird birds…

And weird bugs!

One never knows what creative bug will land in my sketchbook next…

Happy Weird “Bug” Wednesday!

Cheers! 🙂

Where Is Spring?

It is hard to believe that Spring will be here in two months where I live in the Pacific Northwest!

We recently got about a foot and a half of new snow!  So pretty when it is fluttering down from the sky but not so pretty when the snow plower piled the driveway with a huge berm yesterday…Ugh!

I finished my doodle from last week!  YAY! 😀 If you didn’t see that post, you can find it here:  A Little Doo-da-ling

It was super fun to work on it a little each day when I had a few minutes:

And the finishing touches:

I added two colors of color pencils to complete it.  I’d love to hear what you think!

Happy Friday!

Cheers! 🙂

Cats And Doodles

My cat, Jack wouldn’t eat this weekend.  Three agonizing days were spent trying to get him to eat!  Sigh…

Finally, a fresh can of tuna was the winner!  Hooray!!

Sometimes life catches us off guard and we must find ways to unwind… like this doodle I started awhile ago…

I completed it this weekend when I needed a distraction from a sick cat:

I’m so thankful the cat is back to his old self and now I can start a new doodle!

Cheers! 🙂

Making Masks!

I have started a new art series with making masks!  With Halloween a day away, my timing seems like a scary coincidence! Lol!

Each week, I plan to create masks using a variety of art materials… The ones I’m showing you today were inspired by the Gelli-plate printing method I learned from yesterday’s post.

I love when one idea leads to another.  I call it, “the domino affect!” 😉

I will show you the before and after photos of my paper collaged masks I created and then explain the materials I used after each one.

I collaged other papers I created with the Gelli-Plate for this one.  Some of my prints were made on deli paper so they are more transparent.  Others were done on watercolor paper.  I outlined the features with a pencil and a turquoise color pencil in some areas.  After I outline the areas, I smear the lines with a paper tortilla to give dimension.

The second mask is much different and yet I used the same paper pattern:

Color changes things so much!! I used a limited color palette for this mask.

I added white circles with a Uni-ball Signo white gel pen.  Using tracing paper, I cut out the shapes I wanted from copies of doodles I did previously.  I used a pencil and a paper tortilla to add dimension to my mask.

I hope my process of making masks may inspire you in your art making!

Cheers! 🙂

A Doodle Sampler

Do you remember the needlework or cross-stitch samplers?  They were created to demonstrate or test a skill of needlework.

I have a friend, Marsha who creates the most AMAZING needlework!! I always enjoy seeing what projects she is working on!  🙂

This doodle reminded me of the cross-stitching I used to do…

A Doodle Sampler

It is like a sampler of doodle patterns that are all “interwoven” together!

It isn’t quite done but I thought you might enjoy seeing it anyway.

Have you ever done any kind of needlework or cross-stitch?  I’d love to hear what you have created with thread!

Cheers! 🙂

My Hand…

Do you remember tracing around your hand when you were in elementary school?

This is how my hand doodle started with a simple tracing…

Next, I started adding flowers and dots and swirl patterns and before I knew it, I had created this:

If I was to read my hand, I’d say that a new doodle series may be in my future! 😉

Happy Creating with your hands!

Cheers! 🙂

Good Vibrations…

Remember this doodle from the other day… Forever Variations

Well, I finished it on Sunday:

And I added a little pencil shading yesterday:

I’m calling the finished doodle… Good Vibrations!

Cheers! 🙂

P.S. Do you like the finished doodle better before or after the pencil shading?!

Forever Variations

My hubby was listening to the jazz pianists, Bob James and Keiko Matsui from their album, “Altair and Vega,” last evening while I was working on this doodle:

I thought the title of one of their pieces, “The Forever Variations, was fitting for my doodle which started simply:

And patterns grew in complexity, much like their music:

I had a Micron pen explode on me, so I’m working some “spots” into my design…

It is a work in progress that I’m enjoying while listening to the smooth jazz!

What music do you enjoy listening to while creating?  I’d love if you shared it with me… It might inspire me in my next doodle!

Cheers! 🙂

Finding Balance

I started this drawing of squares and circles recently with a Micron black pen:

I was thinking of using a drawing for one of my monthly Square Projects;  you can read more about my project here: February’s Square Project

I think we all struggle with finding balance in one or two areas of our lives.  I know I do! 😉

Sometimes I wish life was as easy as balancing lights and darks like this collage:

The collage is still waaay too busy for me, much like life is some times… and yet cutting up the original collage and rearranging the pieces helped me to focus on the whole picture, not just the annoying parts!

It also helped me create balance in this drawing:

Creating art teaches me a lot about finding balance in my life.  How about you?

My drawing is almost complete, next I will add pencil shading.

Cheers! 🙂