Zig – The Art of Cobwebs

I’ve not really ‘done’ a Zentangle before. I’ve dabbled and kind of began drawing one, but begin is as far as it ever got. Words were said, such as: “I can’t quite understand the joy of this…” and …. “.. it’s pretty … but … I’m not sure I’m cut out for it.”. And that’s as far as my venture into this unknown thing got.

So when I was trying to think of something to draw for a daily drawing #InkTober2017 and Zentangling popped into my head, I should have wondered why.

What was I thinking? I know that a Zentangle looks like a quick bit of doodling, but I’m here to tell all those of you who haven’t tried their hand at this form of artwork, that it’s anything but quick. Of course, it would have been a couple of hours shorter had I not began by measuring it out, cutting the right size of paper and got to the drawing of ‘V’ (I’d already drawn and coloured L and O – I didn’t want to lean on any artwork and dirty it, so thought I’d colour it in one letter at a time) … and it was after I began to draw the letter V that a slow dawning realisation came about that although I’d measured out correctly the size of the letters, I’d forgotten to add in the space between the letters which I’d require, so I had to start aaalllll over AGAIN! Grrrr!

To be honest I’m not sure if it’s the planning and sketching out which takes the time, or the then drawing and colouring, but the whole lot adds up to a lot of work. It’s harder than it looks and I now have a new-found respect for anyone who does this as their chosen form of art. Seriously so.

Anyhoo … I didn’t get to post a photo yesterday for Inktober 5th so I’m missing a day, but I’m sure I won’t be expelled for it. So this colourful bit of Zentangled Art is my #InkTober 6th inking.

When I look at it, now that it’s done, I can’t help feeling that maybe this type of Artwork is this modern ages version of Illuminated Manuscript.

I kind of planned it out in pencil before hand, but then added the loops and coils and danglings and curly bits, twirly bits, hearts, dots etc etc, as I inked the words using a Zig Memory System Ink Pen by Kuretake. Everything was drawn out in that pen. From thin to thick lines – all the black you see is that one pen.

All the colour on the other hand comes from ‘Kuretake Clean Color, Real Brush’ Ink Pens. Try as I might I cannot find a better pen than these to colour with ink. They blend so, so beautifully, and with so little effort on my part. And clean up is so easy. If you (for example) use a bright yellow pen against a deep red one and get a dirty brush (nib) you simply do a tiny scribble on a scrap of paper and the pen is clean again. VOILA!

Well … that’s my #InkTober 6th offering which was missing.

Now the observant among you will notice that there was something missing from today. I’ll give the unobservant a clue: Today is Friday.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding.

Yup … there was no Friday Post. There is a very good reason for that. A very good reason indeed. And when I think of it I’ll let you know.

No … actually, to be serious. The truth is … [hangs head, looks down at toes and kicks imaginary dirt around with the toe of her shoes] . . . I er, umm … well … it’s like this … . . . . I [cough] … I fell asleep in the chair and when I woke up I went straight to bed and forgot that I had a date with you. I’m sorry. I shall feel guilty for ages about it. Well … for a moment or two anyway. I shall make up for it by inviting you all round for coffee and cakes next week.

Until then …

Have a truly wonderful weekend. May you find something to smile about; find something to do which you enjoy; and …. don’t forget to put your feet up at some stage and just watch what’s going on outside … even if nothing appears to be going on outside. Just keep watching. Something is bound to happen – even if it’s just a bird flying past; a squirrel running up a tree or a cloud floating by.

Sending love ~

Well I did say yesterday that I’d be hard pushed to not, at some point, break open a coloured ink during InkTober this year … and I didn’t last even a quarter of the month. How dreadful am I?

There are gazillions of the InkTober Artists around the globe all pushing their black ink pens loyally and here I am being the bad girl. Oooooohhh but it’s so delicious to be bad sometimes! 😉

And .. I’m not really bad. Not really … for I still used ink. I used Brown Ink instead of black, and I used it straight from the bottle. A proper glass bottle too!

Aw anyhoo, enough of my bad … let’s crack on and talk about todays inky offering…

This drawing (with some painting) was inspired by a handmade card which I made for Beverly of More Ink Please, – no the name of her blog isn’t made up for InkTober, that really is the name of her blog. Ha! I sent her the card just over a week ago, and she emailed me to tell me that it had arrived. YAY! I’ll blog the card probably tomorrow as I have to re-size the photo’s still, but for today I’m sharing my offering for the 4th day of InkTober2017, which was inspired, as I said, by the card I made for Beverly.

Autumn is a much-loved season by me, so it made sense that I would have to do some sort of nod to Autumn, and here is the inking I created…

I started with the acorns on branches, on the upper left corner, and pencilled in where I wanted them to be before using ink straight from the bottle and a fine paint brush to ink up both the branches and the cups and acorns themselves. The ink used is called Chronicle Acrylic Dip Pen Ink, in Sepia. (I’ve had this bottle of never ending ink for years, and I’m not even sure they still make it). I also used a Kuretake Zig Memory System Ink Pen in black, (size 005) to give some dark shadows to places where they would normally fall. Those two things were the only colours and items used to make the acorn branches.

The Autumn leaf wreath was first drawn out lightly in pencil, then lightly again using a Zig Memory System Pigment Ink Pen, in Chocolate. I then used Kuretake Gansai Watercolour Paints to add Autumnal colours to the leaves. I added the twisted vine to the ‘wreath’ using the same Chronicle Ink I’d used on the Acorn branches, and also added some twisted tumbling vines too.

Using the Zig Memory System Ink Pen in chocolate, I added the ‘Autumn’ word, and that’s all there was to it!

It was quite quick to make, the majority of the time seemed to be waiting for parts to dry before moving on.

I’ve told myself that I have to be a good girl for a few days now and not dip my brushes or pens into the blue ink. So … fingers crossed…. I might be able to do it without falling off the wagon. (to borrow a phrase from somewhere else. lol)

Autumn has really arrived to the South of England. It’s so heart stoppingly pretty here right now. Green is beautiful .. but ohhh.. the yellows, reds and oranges, those stunning sunburst shades that only nature can summon up from her paint-box … those colours just make me want to lie down in those leaves and do the snow angel thing. So yummy!

Hot meals have come back onto the menu, and my soft pashmina type scarves have come out and are enjoying the odd outing now and again.

Did you know …. that today, in 1883, it was the first run of the Orient Express.? Well, you do now! You can go and impress someone with your new-found knowledge and watch them as they try to work out why you’re so amazing!! You’re welcome. 😀

Have a wonderful rest of your day! And … when you get there … Sleep well, for tomorrow you will be gifted with another 24 hours (if you’re lucky enough) and you can join the rest of us as we do it all again … with some differences.

Sending squidges, from me in my corner to you in yours.