Water color experiments

A happy little creation to start with. This is another experiment on how to use water color. I used a heavier paper, colored card stock.
 I am okay with this one :-) it is fun to try and see what comes of it.

Before I made this smiling flower I tried to do the Zentangle, then color it with the markers. Well, they don't mix well. The micron pen runs into the colors when I wet the spots were I applied the marker.

The bright color is where I only used the marker, no water. I'm sort of undecided on this, but I know that if I want that sort of brighter color, I will use my color micron pens instead.
To me personally, I like the black and white Zentangle better. Like this one, I made yesterday evening.

What do you prefer in you arts and crafts? Color? Black & White?

Have a nice day,

XO
Maureen

Finding Zen in a drawing

While my body and soul are recuperating, I found myself longing to create a little piece of art, without too much effort. No computer.
I turned to my paper and black micron pen. Drew this Zentangle©.
They tangles  or patterns, are inspired by the artwork of Sandy Steen Bartholomew, in 'Totally Tangled'.
It was fun to do, made me feel happy with my drawing.

image from "Totally Tangled" by Sandy Bartholomew

Now, on that same page I took as inspiration, there is this artwork by Sandy.
So, is the Universe sending me a sign by any chance? Opportunity to go and get my water color markers out maybe...?
I think it is.
To be continued... :-)

Put your heart in it

I am giving my body and soul the rest they so need at this moment. The cold I've come down with I take as a sign, which I take seriously. "Slow down, rest, get your energy back".
When I walked up to my little studio, the top room in our house, my eye was caught by the sign I put there. Isn't that just so true? So I made a picture to share this with you.
In the meantime I will drink lots of hot tea, listen to beautiful music, enjoy the sight of the old trees across from our house.

XO
Maureen

Key 2 - Inspiration

Inspiration hit me in the shower, this time. It happened after my first 'session' of using water color markers. Trying them out, getting a feel for what they do, how to use them. Taking baby steps, no rush, no pressure. That little corner of yellow and pink was the result.

First baby steps...

The next morning, while taking a shower, it was the shower curtain that caught my eye. Not that it is a new one... it's been hanging there for a little over two years. Having used the water colors, it occurred to me that, this was something I might be able to create too...?!

More baby steps...

Back to my markers, more babysteps, but no magic. I felt myself getting more frustrated by the minute. Not a good mood to be in. I stepped back from it for a while, retried, just experimenting again. Wetting the paper first, then applying the color. Even wetting the marker itself. The frustration level started to decline, I must say, yet I didn't feel that good either yet.

As it was dinner time that was a good moment to just let it be. Literally feeding myself with nice food got me over that bit of a cranky feeling that was lurking to get me.
There was time left for me to get back to it after dinner. Watching the paper with the water color experiment, fighting the urge to just throw it away, I took the middle way: I turned it over...
Then took a few minutes to breathe, get to that more peaceful state of mind, to listen to my inner whisper, looking for a little nudge in the 'right' creative direction. From this meditation I started all over again. About an hour later there were these: water color papers.

They are digital works, reminiscent of the water colors.
You see, the whisper from my inner voice was: "do what you love, use what you know, go back to where your heart lies".
In my case, that means I turn on the computer, fire up Photoshop, switch on my hard drive full of my pictures (flowers, clouds, trees, landscapes, rusty things, textures.....).
Using that, I can let go of everything. It's like taking out brushes, paints, stamps, papers, blending brushes, scissors. They are just not physical, they are in my computer.
So I flipped through the contents of my treasure chest, picking gorgeous blue hydrangea, soft pink tulips, deep pink peony. Added sunset pictures, with fluffy big clouds set on fire by the sun.
The flowers, clouds and scanned in papers I layer, rearrange, using different blend modes, so they eventually melt together, Soft brushes take away the harsh edges. Little by little the 'magic' then happens.

After this exercise I finally felt peace again. Filled with energy. Bubbling with ideas for more papers...
Isn't it beautiful how this all works? I mean, without the water color markers, without Bonita's e-course, these papers may very well have never come alive.

And the water color markers you may ask? Well, more baby steps to take. I'm sure that I will learn lots of new things from my friends in the e-course. I haven't given up on them, or should I say: I haven't given up on me?

Wishing you lots of inspiration for your creative undertakings

XO
Maureen

Key 1 - Solitude - being alone especially when it's pleasant

Today I went to one of my favorite stores in the Netherlands, Xenos. They have all kinds of pretty things for the home, it's inexpensive, a real treat. I almost never leave without having bought something.

In the card rack I spotted this postcard. Isn't it amazing? This says 'Solitude' to me.
"Being alone, especially when it's pleasant", that's what my dictionary says.

So I wanted to share that with you. Hoping you can feel like this tree. All alone, yet in a real beautiful, peaceful place. With it's roots deep into mother nature. Surrounded by the gorgeous colors of the rainbow.

XO
Maureen

ps: this is inspired by key 1 in the 'inspire your life in 12 days e-course by Bonita Rose.

Key 1: Solitude

 

 

These are images that go with the Key 1: Solitude 

in the Inspire your life in 12 days by Bonita Rose. 

Solitude evoked beach, my weekend by the North Sea in Zandvoort (Holland) last week, water, doodles.... That went through my mind as I made the doodle. On the inside of a paper bag (I love how that works out). Which by the way is from a store called 'Speelboek'... 'Playbook' a wonderful store filled with books and gifts for young people. Where I go at least once a month. To buy something... for myself :-)

The white feather I found a few days ago. Took it with me, 'cause it is beautiful, fragile, soft.