Back on Line

Rainbow Mandala  Made w/Polymer Clay  12"by12"

Sorry to have been silent for so long, but I was computerless.

I will be spending part of today working on the latest challenge by Diva.  Zentangling always helps be to focus and relax.

More on the Challenge

The work above is one of my very favorite pieces (I may have posted it here before, but what the heck? If I did, it was way in the beginning and I really do like it.).  I embossed the drawing and then colored it in with gel pens (shading with gel pens is very tricky!). 
Somehow, I don't really like to use the words 'gel pens' when describing the work.  'Gel pens' sound so trite, not at all artistic.  I prefer to use the term 'colored inks' or 'art inks'.   Ah well.  My ego is showing.

In the last post, I mentioned the Weekly Challenge that IamtheDiva is posting (see below).  I am really enjoying the challenge and intend to continue.  But I want to comment further about it. 
There are so many positive and (to me) unexpected perks to this challenge.  For one thing, it brings many more folks to my site, which is always flattering.  But even better, this challenge lets me see  the work of so many other talented artists!  I have visited all sorts of blogs that I never knew about before, which then lets me see all the different gifts that folks have.  I wonder about, ooohing and ahhhing, and then I click on some of their links and get to see even more!  What a treat!  It has opened up my world so much.  I really appreciate it.

But there is one other unexpected treat:  Often, I want to leave a short message, so I write my comment and then, before it can be posted, the site will ask for a 'word verification'.  These word verifications are (I assume) randomly chosen letters and numbers, set in confusing backgrounds and often warped.  I understand that they keep us safer by screening out miscreants.
But I have to tell you, I get the biggest kick out of some of the words that come up!  I try to pronounce them --which is not always easy.  Some of them might make good names for a pet.  Some of them cry out for a definition (which would no doubt be very strange).  Some of them look like they are place-names from a fantasy novel.  They are often good for a giggle.

So thank you, Diva, for your gifts to us.  I can hardly wait for the next challenge!

Weekly Challenge #3

Over at "I am the Diva" (http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-challenge-3.html), Laura is giving out a challenge to Zentanglers.  Every week it's a new challenge.  This week the Challenge was to draw the string with your eyes shut.

The drawing above is my attempt.  It was fun.  And some of the other offerings are simply marvelous.  Anyone who is interested is welcome to join.

"Autumn Leaves"   a Mandala done in Polymer Clay

12" by 12"

Take what you like and leave the rest

It's 3:00 in the morning.   All the other humans in the neighborhood have long gone to bed and I am sitting in my living room at the desk, doing artwork with polymer clay.  I am taking advantage of the private time. 

I feel good about myself.

I love working with clay.   It feeds my spirit as nothing else can.  It is so tactile, so immediate.  Funny, sometimes working with clay, feeling it getting warmer, watching it take shape, is exciting.   I can't get enough of it.

Other times, like now, it calms me down, makes me feel as if I am getting in touch with a part of myself that is primal, hidden, secret, wonderful. 

It's very quiet.

Suddenly, something calls my attention. I raise my head and look around.

What was it?

Over on the couch, a big black dog is sleeping where she shouldn't be, legs twitching in pursuit of a dream rabbit, no doubt. The large orange cat is curled up gracefully on the footstool.  I think I hear him snoring softly. The small black cat in my lap stretches and gives a burst of purr before she falls completely back to sleep. 

The room is bathed in a golden light. The bookshelves are filled with mostly old friends, although there are some new friends on a shelf that are waiting to be discovered.  Outside, a very sleepy bird is complaining, probably about a street light in it's face. The cat is still snoring.

What is it that called to me?  Oh, yes. Now I recognize it. 

It is called PEACE.                       

                            

Coloring Books for Grown-ups

Some time ago, long before I discovered Zentangles,  I used to draw full-page designs just for my own amusement.  The process was very soothing.  Like Zenangles, it had a calming effect on me to draw them.  I loved watching the designs grow on the page, watching what a particular line will do. It is easy to get lost in a private world when you are working on art. 

I had a few friends that were interested in art but had great fears about trying to do art, so I started drawing designs they could just color in.   I also drew some posters for coloring.  It ended up as a coloring book for Grown-ups.  I did over 20 drawings, each design printed on a separate page.  A couple of my friends took the over-all designs and cut them up into 3 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches for Art Cards.  (It was not so intimidating to color in the smaller size).  Others used parts to make their own note cards.  And some just put them on the fridge or framed them for hanging.

I really have enjoyed seeing the different ways people have used the pages.  No two folks colored them in the same way, so each time someone shares with me what they have done, I am delighted and surprised.  It is so much fun to see the different forms of creativity come to life.

The Coloring Book for Grown-ups is printed on fine quality card stock and on a separate page for ease of use (framing, cutting up for other applications, etc.) Some of the pages are like the picture above and some pages are like posters.  They can be colored with pencils, crayons, watercolors, magic markers and prolly a whole lot of other media I have not thought of.  

I still have some Coloring Books available if you are interested.  If not, just enjoy the design.  Explore.  See what you would do with it.

Lacey One

Clay Mandala - A Star

This one always reminds me of the Star of David.