Challenge #181 - Water

Bijou's cousins? Sanibelle, Printemps, Dansk, using the W string,
lot's of auras and swirls and Emily Dickinson poem
"I could not drink it sweet"

The Diva's challenge #181 asks us to use water as our inspiration. I chose to focus on the letter W as my string and then try and emulate the movement of water, ripples, spirals, transparencies, I added lot's of swirls in the fashion on Printemps, a Dansk variation, auras, and swirls, and the lovely colors of my Inktense watercolor pencils; blue green, purple, and a touch of burgundy.

For my background I tried resist technique using my white gel pen as a resist and layering my pencils and wash over the white pen once dry. The blogs I've read say to leave the gel pens overnight, not happening... I still like the effect. It's subtle and watery but I'm sure if I follow the longer drying time next time it will be more effective, but I'm not a patient tangler.

I added Emily Dickinsons "I could not drink it sweet", as a texture in my swirl, not well done but I love the effect of her swirling words.

Then as I was looking at all the lovely swirls and water I begin seeing Bijou's cousins appearing. Oh those little devils... little antennae peeking throughout, my oh my, that little Bijou's influence is everywhere!

Water: ING tangelation, Sanibelle, Zenplosion Folds,
White gel pen, Inktense watercolor pencils,
and lot's of shading and line work

I'm really into this water challenge so I continued my journey. My second version uses the same process of white gel background for resist, laying color over top. I let this one sit a little longer to dry and that seemed to help the batik effect I was trying to achieve.

I began using the new tangle ING through the center as a beginning, it morphed and changed and turned into a curvy durvy little cone shaped shell/coral that just screamed for some Zenplosion folds growth. Once I added the texture lines I saw beautiful shells so I decided to add the pink just like Conch and scallop shells. Sanibelle was a great enhancement and continued the water theme beautifully. I texturized my background with white gel pen and then added color to my final version.

Bijou's cousin appeared here also, after all it's water and shells what more do I need to say?

3 views, original line drawing, enhanced line and shading added,
Final version color added (which brings out the white gel pen resist in the background)

Challenge #115 - Amanda Day or Earth Day

Earth/Amanda Day Celebration!
Printemps, Waves, Auras galore
and lots of color

The Diva's challenge this week #115 is to interpret Mother Earth for Earth Day. Laura Harm's son Chewy named the Earth Amanda so that's what this challenge is being called. Great to have the kids point of view here! Lot's of wonderful variations for this challenge, check it out.

My interpretation of Earth/Amanda Day began with researching recycle, earth logos. I really enjoy the recycle arrows and the hands cupping the Earth globe. We are meant to protect the Earth for the future. That's what I went with.

I tried to represent Earth, Water (using a Japanese wave interpretation as a reference), and Sky with stars, of course. I thought it would be a peaceful, gentle representation but it is more active and effervescent than I first thought it would be. Hopefully it looks uplifting and supportive of the Earth.

I pulled out the Inktense pencils that I got a while ago, I've admired them, just haven't actually taken them out of the container. So color and wash were my focus. Fun, crazy, and colorful. It's more of a celebration of the Earth/ Amanda and all it's elements and sparkle.