Masterboard and Doodle Zine

This is an example of what is now being called a "Masterboard" ... about 10 years ago it was called "Serendipity".  You make a Masterboard (or Serendipity) by gluing your paper scraps and collage bits to a larger foundation (usually card stock), adding some paint, stamping, doodles, texture, stencil work, and whatever else you feel compelled to use.  Then you cut it up to make backgrounds for your other art (postcards, book covers, ATCs, inchies, etc...)

I made this one for a July masterboard postcard swap at Swap-Bot. 

This weekend, I also finished up my latest mini-zine: Doodle Zine I, so it has been an artful weekend.

Happy Sunshine Doodle

Happy Summertime!  It's been a scorcher in Atlanta ... with more of the same planned for the coming week. 

I am just putting the finishing touches on a "Doodle Zine" for a swap over at swap-bot.   I try to make at least one zine each year.  I believe this is my 11th one. 

I always print extras for additional trades ... so if you have a zine (or just some doodles) - give me a holler & we can trade.

Doodle Mandala

Started out as a mandala ... but I think it looks more like a snowflake. Doodled with a Sharpie marker and a Super Fine PITT Indian ink pen.

Blind Contour Drawings

Every once in awhile I like to do some blind contour drawing.  "Blind Contour" is drawing without looking at your paper.  I find I often have funny or surprising results.

I drew this skull as a blind contour drawing and then came back and went over it with a heavier pen and added the little shading marks on the cheeks.

I did this next blind contour drawing when I first woke up this morning.  If you are a fan of Futurama, you should be able to recognize the character.

Yes, it is Bender (or maybe Bender in a blender).   ha-ha!  And if you don't like it, you can kiss his shiny metal a$$.  hee-hee.

To see my previous blind contour drawings, click on the label below.

Spring Flower Doodle

Another colorful doodle: water based markers, Indian ink pens, Sharpie white paint pen, Sharpie gold metallic pen, and colored pencils on 9" x 12" watercolor paper.

I plan to cut this one up to make a couple of postcards and then use the rest for art journal pages, ATCs and inchies. 

I'm so amazed by the color I am getting out of the water based markers.  They are probably close to 20 years old & almost all of them are "juicy" ... funny thing - I have other sets that were more expensive and supposedly higher quality that dried out within a few months of use.

Colorful Doodle

This is what I doodled yesterday.  It is a piece of 12" x 9" watercolor paper.  I started with these old water based markers that I never use because they bleed and run and smear.  In this case, that is exactly what I wanted.  So, I covered the paper in blotches of color and then added water to blend them together and soften the edges.

Next I used my PITT Indian ink brush pens to add flower shapes, vines, and swirls here and there in various colors.

Then I used my Sharpie Gold Metallic pen to add some random leaf shapes, and my Sharpie white paint pen to add a little detail.

I covered the entire page with clear varnish to preserve the layer and keep the inks from smearing.

Next I used my black PITT Indian ink pens in different sized tips to detail the big flowers.  And another go round with the white paint pen to make things pop.  Finally, I used a little sparkly gel pen to add some shimmer.

I plan to cut this up to make pages for junk journals, ATC backgrounds, inchie backgrounds, etc...

I enjoyed the process & was happy to have some time for art on a Saturday afternoon.

Tastes Like Chicken

Doodled this chicken in my sketchbook last night.   Used brand new Faber Castell pens (from Christmas).