Halloween Challenge Art-a-thon

Heart & Skull Mandala

I participated in the ATCforAll.com Halloween Challenge Hunt Art-a-thon last week.  Lots of fun creating art and completing tasks in the challenge.  I only wish I had more time to play.  

I did a little collage and a little drawing.  I only finished 3 cards,  but had a good time.

Purple House

This last card was made for a challenge of telling a story to go with the card.   Below is the story:

Have S'more!

The young camper had just toasted his marshmallow in the flames of the crackling campfire. He noticed a strange mist descending on his campsite as he finished making his smore (sweet treat made by sandwiching a toasted marshmallow and chocolate between two graham crackers). As he eagerly bit into the tasty treat, he heard a tiny scream "Noooo!"

Seems that the strange mist had brought the marshmallow to life. Soon the young camper was the one screaming "Noooo!", as the remaining marshmallows attacked and smothered him.

Happy Halloween!

👻

Making Comics with Lynda Barry : Son of Character Jam

 

 

I'm having fun doing the exercises and assignments in the book "Making Comics" by Lynda Barry.  On page 116, there are 16 characters that were created during a character jam exercise in one of Lynda's classes.  On page 119, there is an assignment to draw a 4 panel comic using character jam characters.

I selected 4 characters from page 116 and made 4 panel comics from each.  I didn't add any extra details, but I had fun thinking about the characters and "what happens next?"

I am trying to draw every day and fill up my composition notebook - which gives me some happiness every time I look through it.

 

 

Art-a-thon July 26th through 29th

Shy Octopus Comes to Visit

There is an Art-a-Thon going on right now at ATCsForAll.com!  The Art-a-Thon will be running through July 29th.   You do need to be a member of the website to participate (free free always free).  The members are all very nice and happy to help you get started.

This is a "Challenge Art-a-thon", which means that there is a list of challenges to do (themes and such), and points are awarded - so it is a little competitive.  

The ATC above was drawn in pen and markers.  I had a challenge to depict the words octopus, shy, and to visit on the project.  I think it turned out pretty cute. 

Next I made this 4" x 4" chunky page using some blind drawing of cats, acrylic paint, Indian ink pen, glitter gel pen, washi tape, paper and fabric flowers, and fibers.  

I hope I am able to find the time to participate a bit more before the Art-a-thon ends.
 

More Lynda Barry Exercises & Stuff

More fun with the Lynda Barry group.  The group has moved from FB to "Butt Island", where you can find challenges, a forum and fun!  You can even collect "badges" for completing exercises and stuff.

Above is a "blind draw" exercise.  You can access the list of prompts here, and there is a random number generator to select a few for you to try. 

This is a skeleton drawn blind 3 times in yellow, then orange, and then blue marker.

 We also had a scribble monster draw.  Here are my scribbles:

And here are my monsters, matched with prompted sayings:

Looking forward to drawing jams and comic creation with this crazy group of #1 Groovers!

 

Go For A Walk Bingo! Quarantine Edition

Another warm-up challenge for the facebook group "Virtually ‘Making Comics’ With(out) Lynda Barry". It is a brand new group (as stated): to self-guide a bunch of our groovy and willing selves a virtual Lynda Barry class.  This challenge was to draw your take on a Bingo game.  If you want to draw more -or- just enjoy Lynda Barry ... come by the group for some fun eye candy and drawing challenges.

Shoebox Treasure and Crazy Tails

I joined the facebook group "Virtually ‘Making Comics’ With(out) Lynda Barry" the other day. It is a brand new group (as stated): to self-guide a bunch of our groovy and willing selves a virtual Lynda Barry class.  We are currently doing warm ups.  Today the challenge was to draw weird items you had laying around. 


In order to strengthen my hand and get into the habit of drawing every day ... I also pulled out one of my old doodle books, "Scribble Doodles! Crazy Creatures", and finished drawing tails on these critters:

Looks like I will be posting more frequent updates!

Right On!

Right On!  I joined the facebook group "Virtually ‘Making Comics’ With(out) Lynda Barry". It is a brand new group (as stated): to self-guide a bunch of our groovy and willing selves a virtual Lynda Barry class. 

Shown above is a warm-up exercise.  Boy, am I rusty!  My pens are dry and my hands are weak.  Gonna take a bit of work to get my doodling back!  This is just what I wanted to do for so long though.

Yay! 

#Comictober2019 (part2)

OK.  It's rough ... pardon my crappé tuxedo, but you get the idea.  I am short on time - so I knew I wouldn't get a drawing done every day for "Inktober" / "Comictober", but I am trying to participate a little bit.

Drawn in my Composition notebook with Indian ink pens & color added with colored pencils.

 

Sketchbook Revival

I am playing along in the "Sketchbook Revival" online workshop for a couple of weeks.  I don't have much free time, but I am making sure to do at least 1 exercise each day & hope to make up the others over the weekend.

The first exercise I participated in was the "Portrait Party" with Koosje Koene.  This exercies was about making blind drawings of the face.  I love doing blind drawings & have done this before from photographs, but never using a mirror or doing any type of self portrait.

The next exercise I completed was "Mindful Inspirations: A Thumbnail Sketch" with Rachel Rose.  This exercise focused on finding inspiration all around you in small things. 

 
Next I worked on "Sketching Like a Kid Again: Scribble, Doodle, Color" with Charlie O’Shields.  This exercise was quick doodles, crayons, and watercolors.  I have always been "blah" with watercolors ... but did find some of the tips very useful.  It will take some practice, but I think I will give watercolors another try.  

I am excited to continue on with the exercises that I haven't done, yet.  So ... more to come!

Challenge Art-a-thon

There is another "Challenge Art-a-thon" happening right now through July 23rd.  During the challenge, you are given a list of creative challenges and earn points for making art to fit the tasks.  Then you may trade your art with other artists if you wish.

You do need to be a member of ATCsForAll.com (free for all) in order to post in the forum and play in the challenge.  This is a group of friendly folks, so no worries - and it is lots of fun to be able to make art around the clock with everyone!

Torn Paper Mosaic Watermelon

These are the ATCs (artist trading cards) that I have made so far.  One of my favorite things about the challenge is that I end up creating art that I never would have thought of making outside of the challenge.  

Most folks are making ATCs, however you may create art of any size or shape ... inchies, chunky pages, art journaling, fabric, etc...

Please do pop by and play if you want - or just enjoy the eye candy.  You do not need to be a member to browse the forums.

Art-a-Thon

Roderick the Rhino

I played in a "Challenge Art-a-thon" last week, where you are given a list of creative challenges and earn points for making art to fit the tasks.  Then you may trade the art - if you wish.

Lots of fun!  Here are some of my challenge pieces.  "Roderick the Rhino" (shown above) fit challenges of being hand drawn, rhino themed, and an animal wearing a hat.

Below, my 'Sugar Skull" fit challenges of hearts and circles in same piece, skull themed, and showing a tradition.

Sugar Skull

The ATC below is one of my favorites!  This was based on a challenge by another artist to make a piece featuring a jungle, a pickle, and a sloth.
 

Jungle Pickle Sloth

"Found My Prince" features challenges of things in jars, theme frogs, and a crown.
 

Found My Prince

And finally ... I made this tiny art quilt to fit the challenges Mini ATC 1.5"x 2.5", fabric and yarn, and fruit with a face.

Fabric Mini ATC

It felt good to make some art, enjoy some eye candy, and play around a bit.  As always, I'm looking forward to the next challenge!

PS.  There will be another "Art-a-thon" at ATCsForALL.com February 15-18th.  You do need to be a member to play - but it is a friendly group with a lot of art trading and projects to join (not just art-a-thons). 

Composition Book : Colorful Animals

As part of my effort to try to draw something every day in my composition notebook, I combined a few exercises into one.  

I divided my page into 4 frames.  I looked at children's drawings online and drew similar animals with a non-photo blue pencil using my non-dominant hand.  I used a brush tip marker to ink them.  Next I used a fine tip marker to draw some type of background for each animal.

Then I grabbed 6 colored pencils with my eyes closed and proceeded to color the entire page.

I just love the bright and happy feeling this page gives me!

108 Quickly Doodled Objects

108 doodled objects

I saw an exercise posted somewhere about drawing 100 objects as a "stream of consciousness", taking about 5 seconds for each and moving on to the next.  So, I grabbed my non-photo blue pencil and my composition notebook & gave it a whirl.  

It took me 3 sittings to fill the page ... but I did draw the objects very quickly in pencil.  I spent a little more time inking them in with my pen.  I (of course) went "blank" a few times and looked around for ideas. 

I do see a "stream of consciousness" pattern in the drawings and I can see where I got stuck (between the toast and the butterfly, for example).  

I enjoyed the exercise & it's fun to see all the little doodles in my notebook.
 

Art-a-Thon Challenge

This weekend I have been playing in another Art-a-Thon and Challenge at ATCsForAll.com.  It runs through July 6th.  The challenge is somewhat of an artsy scavenger hunt.  You are given a list of themes, supplies, and challenges to make art & earn points for completing the various tasks.

For example, The ATC (artist trading card) shown above earned me 5 points!  I made the card for a combination of tasks: theme: cute monster, theme: bikini, craft: make paper flowers and use in your creation, and also a point for posting at least 1 finished project for the day.

Here are some more ATCs I made this weekend:

Hand drawn zebra - Indian ink and colored pencils. (theme: zoo, also theme: monochromatic).  I love the way this turned out. 

Doodle fish - Indian ink pen and marker. (theme: zentangle animal, also use markers, and I posted a "show and tell" about my process to make this card).

Skele-shrooms - Printed paper and fiber embedded paper collage with a sticker, magazine cut-outs, hand drawn mushrooms colored with ink and sparkly gel pens, and some detailing with Indian ink pen and paint pen. (theme: skeleton, theme: mushroom and butterfly, use magazine cut-outs).

There is also fast and wild trading going on.  I have traded most of my cards already (you get points for that,too).  At the end, prizes are awarded for the top scorers. But, who needs prizes?  It's just a lot of fun to play with all the artists!

Art-a-thon Challenge Hunt Weekend

Had a blast this weekend at the Art-a-thon Challenge Hunt over at ATCsForAll.com!   I finally took some time off to make some art and play a bit.   The weekend was all about getting together with other artists and making and trading art - participating in challenges and just having a creative fun time.

Above is my favorite card from the weekend.  I made it for a 3 word challenge: porcupine, desert, heart.  Indian ink pens and colored pencils.

I also made a Zombie poetry ATC (Artist Trading Card 2-1/2" x 3-1/2") for a "found poetry" challenge.

And a Zombie postcard (6" x 4") for a trade at Swap-bot.

I later filled in the Zombie thought bubble ... I had too many ideas (nice to "meat" you)(would love to have you for dinner) etc ... so I took suggestions and went with "LET'S do LUNCH".

I made this Kitty ATC for a blind drawing challenge.  I thought he would come out a bit funkier, but I draw cats so much that they just about draw themselves.  I love doing blind drawing.

The last ATC I made was this mushroom ATC.  I wove strips of paper for the background.

Over the weekend, I made 5 inchies, 8 ATCs, and 1 postcard.  I haven't made that much art during a weekend in years!

ICAD - Index Card A Day Challenge: Days 59 60 and 61

ICAD Day 59: hopscotch - colored pencils and PITT pens.

ICAD Day 60: sorbet - colored pencils, PITT pens, and a paint pen.

ICAD Day 61: path - colored pencils, PITT pens, and a paint pen.
 
That's all folks!  I have completed the ICAD challenge - and I did it on time.  Hooray!

More info about ICAD can be found here: http://daisyyellowart.com/icad-base/
Be sure to visit the Flickr ICAD group to see what others have created!    

ICAD - Index Card A Day Challenge: Days 57 and 58

ICAD Day 57:stickers - acrylic paint, PITT pen, paint pen and stickers.

ICAD Day 58: graffiti - Collage of clippings, PITT pens and paint pen.

More info about ICAD can be found here: http://daisyyellowart.com/icad-base/
Be sure to visit the Flickr ICAD group to see what others have created!   

ICAD - Index Card A Day Challenge: Days 54 55 and 56

ICAD Day 54: aquarium PITT pens and glitter glue.

ICAD Day 55: Olympics - PITT pens.

ICAD Day 56: texture or text - colored pencil rubbings and stamping.

More info about ICAD can be found here: http://daisyyellowart.com/icad-base/
Be sure to visit the Flickr ICAD group to see what others have created!  

ICAD - Index Card A Day Challenge: Days 51 52 and 53

ICAD Day 50: purple - collage from printed papers, clippings, PITT pens and paint pen.

ICAD Day 51: staircase - PITT pens.

What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs

and makes a slinkity sound?

A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing!

Everyone knows it’s Slinky.

It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky,

It’s fun, it’s a wonderful toy.

It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky,

It’s fun for a girl or a boy.

ICAD Day 52: fortune - PITT pens.

More info about ICAD can be found here: http://daisyyellowart.com/icad-base/
Be sure to visit the Flickr ICAD group to see what others have created!