Christmas greetings

This year I hand stitched the star for the front of our Christmas cards. I used two layers of blue paper to give it strength. Funny, I already have the idea for next year's card. Love and joy to all.

The mandala for December is finished. If you've looked at earlier posts, you will see that I been intrigued by the work of Rebecca Blair. I am pleased with this "Flower of Life" creation.

So, I did a mandala a month. Do I continue. I think so. Actually, I have more than 12 in my collection.

Sketchbook

Sketchbook drawing seems to be keeping my interest. I continue to be fascinated at how the pieces can be so varied with a limited amount of stroke designs.

Nov Mandala and sketchbook

November can be so beautiful. I delight in the fall colors. I used watercolors and pens on watercolor paper for this month's mandala.

I have been doing a fair amount of drawing, but decided to post this piece done in the style of Rebecca Blair at rebeccablairart.tumblr.com. There is so much to learn by using pens only. The balance between light and dark is helpful in many of my art pursuits.

October Mandala

October is now also called Inktober. The idea is to sketch everyday using ink. This mandala is mostly ink with a watercolor background and a little bit of colored pencil. It seems to have taken a long time as I would do one part and leave it for a few days before I would add the next element. But, I am satisfied and the amount of time is really isn't the point.

Improved?

OK, I added outline to the September mandala. I like to think that it makes the piece stronger. Well, I can't go back:), so I love it!

Catching up

The August mandala was completed and my dear friend, Sunshine, suggested that I try it in different colors. So the September mandala is also shown. I had decided not to add the outline, but seeing the piece on the computer is making me second guess that decision. Sometimes it's scary to make the final addition!

Figure drawing has begun again and I am encouraged that this piece actually looks somewhat like the model.

Ballpoint pens

As a birthday treat to myself, I ordered The Art of Ball Point by Matt Rota which can be found at Amazon for under $20. What a gift! The work is amazing. Who knew that should works of art could be created with the lowly ballpoint pen? Obviously I recommend it to all.

So, taking inspiration from that book, I decided to use ballpoint pens for my July mandala. I did add some colored pencil as background. I continue to learn.

June Mandala

This is my birthday month and it took a long time to decide which paper I wanted to use as I wanted it to be special. The paper decision helps me decide with which medium I will draw/paint, color. The white is a textured paper,  the circle and pink are pieces of paste paper that I did years ago. Yes, I have a stash of paper! The center is a cut out from a patch of embossed paper that was a gift. Markers are used for the zentangles.

Yes, I have been doing other projects and, at some time, will post them.

Currently, I am quilting and drawing and will continue to do them (inside the house) for several days as the temperatures are near 107 degrees. Ugh.

May mandala

Yes, I continue to push myself to create another design within the 7" circle. 

One can only learn from such challenges.

There was a fundraiser for a biker friend who is fighting cancer in his arm. He is teaching all of us so much about how to push the body and mind. This is the 18th of May and he has ridden about 1,100 miles this month!

My contribution to the fundraiser was this quilt.

               The black was fused applique and a pattern, the background is a solid piece of fabric.

April drawings

My mandala for April continued to teach me about calmness, design and color. 

I have been attending figure drawing session and maybe someday I'll be right on! Max is the first model.

                                                          Zach is another great model.

Golly, I just got his right arm to short. Oh well, I'll have to try again.

March mandala

The mandala for March has been nicknamed "Discovery". I used watercolor, markers, and colored pencils. I do not plan out the design except for the fact that it is 7" on a 10" sq piece of paper. I continue to learn and there is joy in the making.

February's mandala

There is some comfort in routine. Getting back to doing a mandala each month is helping me to focus and be more creative. This month the paper was paste paper painted by my dear "sister" Barbara Parke-Wolff. The black was micron and other markers. The little bit of color added in the center was done with Intense Pencils.

White on black

Decided to try zentangles on black paper. Just play. I am always learning!

 

New resolution

Golly, I see that I started my mandala series in 2005! The goal was to do one a month. There were to be 7" on a 10" square of paper. The last one that was specifically that size was done in May of 2013. Well, the call has come again to follow that path.   

Markers were used for the black, colored pencils for the color (obviously) and the two rings were cut from paste paper made by my friend Barbara Parke-Wolff.