Sandy Steen Bartholomew's Blog, page 16
December 30, 2014
December Journal Pages
Yeah! And Oh Wow! I did it - a whole year of journal pages!! Whoohoo! Maybe you know this from your own experiences, but keeping with a program for a whole year is really hard.
So here are my last four pages from Journal52. I made 52 new pieces of art this year. Wow. If you are up for a challenge, I highly recommend this group and the 2015 challenge is just starting up.
And it's free. What's not to love?
Week 48 - Let's Build a Snowman!
Journal52 has been full of cool coincidences this year! The weekend before this assignment, I went for my interview and portfolio review at the Center for Cartoon Studies where I am applying for my Masters in Applied Cartooning. The application, which I had JUST started, requires a comic book as part of the portfolio submission, And this comic book must include myself, a robot, a piece of fruit, and... a snowman!! So I did my J52 homework with this in mind and this is my final panel for the mini comic. That's me, standing in the doorway.
It's drawn with a Sharpie pen, and shaded with a gray Tombow marker.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 49 - Doodle
Doodle... I tried to do this "quickly". I always take too long when I draw, so I think of a doodle as a quick drawing. And not planned...much. This is actually the tangle "Fret" - which would make a good video, if I get some time.
Drawn with Sharpie pen and colored with a gray Tombow marker.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 50 - Sparkle and Shine
Metallics and fluorescents don't scan... and they are hard to capture in a photo too. The first image shows the photo with nice hot fluorescent colors. I thought you might like to see the contrast - the second image is the good quality scan. The metallics have the right colors, but the oranges and pinks are all gone. Interesting, eh? Oh well, it was fun and sparkly to make. Good enough.
I sketched it with a white Prismacolor pencil, and drew the letters with Gelly Roll Moonlights and Metallics gel pens - on black card stock.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 51 - Sing a Song!
I confess, I did this piece a while ago, but it's not "cheating" since this is exactly what I WOULD have done this week - but I applied to cartooning school instead. I used this in my admission portfolio too. Another example of Journal52 themes paralleling my real life!
Drawn with Sharpie pen and colored with Inktense pencils. The Purple-People Eater song is by Sheb Wooley (genius).
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 52 - Circle
Wow - a journal entry - with an actual journal entry! At the beginning of a new year, I go back thru my calendar and my journals to see what my intentions were for the year. This time I was a little shocked to see how my "word" of the year had warped. I also watched one of my favorite movies last night ("Begin Again") and realized that phrase (and the story) feel very appropriate for this coming year. So my CIRCLE is the year beginning again, and my life circling around, and my calendar/agenda book... around and around... Drawn/written with Papermate ballpoint pen in my Moleskine agenda notebook.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
So that is done.
For 2015, I hope to keep up with a different Journal group that uses Zentangles.
Wish me luck.
So here are my last four pages from Journal52. I made 52 new pieces of art this year. Wow. If you are up for a challenge, I highly recommend this group and the 2015 challenge is just starting up.
And it's free. What's not to love?
Week 48 - Let's Build a Snowman!
Journal52 has been full of cool coincidences this year! The weekend before this assignment, I went for my interview and portfolio review at the Center for Cartoon Studies where I am applying for my Masters in Applied Cartooning. The application, which I had JUST started, requires a comic book as part of the portfolio submission, And this comic book must include myself, a robot, a piece of fruit, and... a snowman!! So I did my J52 homework with this in mind and this is my final panel for the mini comic. That's me, standing in the doorway.
It's drawn with a Sharpie pen, and shaded with a gray Tombow marker.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 49 - Doodle
Doodle... I tried to do this "quickly". I always take too long when I draw, so I think of a doodle as a quick drawing. And not planned...much. This is actually the tangle "Fret" - which would make a good video, if I get some time.
Drawn with Sharpie pen and colored with a gray Tombow marker.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 50 - Sparkle and Shine
Metallics and fluorescents don't scan... and they are hard to capture in a photo too. The first image shows the photo with nice hot fluorescent colors. I thought you might like to see the contrast - the second image is the good quality scan. The metallics have the right colors, but the oranges and pinks are all gone. Interesting, eh? Oh well, it was fun and sparkly to make. Good enough.
I sketched it with a white Prismacolor pencil, and drew the letters with Gelly Roll Moonlights and Metallics gel pens - on black card stock.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 51 - Sing a Song!
I confess, I did this piece a while ago, but it's not "cheating" since this is exactly what I WOULD have done this week - but I applied to cartooning school instead. I used this in my admission portfolio too. Another example of Journal52 themes paralleling my real life!
Drawn with Sharpie pen and colored with Inktense pencils. The Purple-People Eater song is by Sheb Wooley (genius).
© Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 52 - Circle
Wow - a journal entry - with an actual journal entry! At the beginning of a new year, I go back thru my calendar and my journals to see what my intentions were for the year. This time I was a little shocked to see how my "word" of the year had warped. I also watched one of my favorite movies last night ("Begin Again") and realized that phrase (and the story) feel very appropriate for this coming year. So my CIRCLE is the year beginning again, and my life circling around, and my calendar/agenda book... around and around... Drawn/written with Papermate ballpoint pen in my Moleskine agenda notebook.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewSo that is done.
For 2015, I hope to keep up with a different Journal group that uses Zentangles.
Wish me luck.
December 13, 2014
November Journal Pages
Feels like we jumped right from Halloween to Christmas - but when I think hard about it - there was a lot that happened in November. Makes my head spin thinking about it all. December is moving just as fast. I'm getting those weird fantasies again about a week spent just "puttering". At home. Maybe with someone leaving meals for me on the doorstep...
For now, here are my Journal52 pages for the month of November:
Week 44 - Skyline
Uni Pin Pen, Tombow markers, waterbrush
I strayed a little above the "skyline" but had fun making a sunset in the background with the markers and blending with the waterbrush.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 45 - Thinking of You
Pilot brush pen, pencil, watercolor, solid tempera paint crayon.
I find that song lyrics help me to focus my ideas for these prompts. This song, "Try" by Colbie Caillat, has been haunting me lately. It makes me so sad. I have met so many people - mostly women, but a few men too - who are trying so hard... but still aren't happy. And this time of year especially, I find myself wondering, "Why am I doing this? ... this isn't ME."
That's not really lipstick on the mirror - it's a very cool hybrid product. It's kind of like the Gelatos, smoodgey and silky, blendable, but it dries like paint.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 46 - Napkin
Sharpie Pen, dinner napkin, fingerprints
It was just before Thanksgiving and not a single interesting napkin in the house! Time to remind myself that I am OCD, not a perfectionist... it only needed to be "finished" not "perfect"! This quote gave me another reason not to feel bad that I don't host Norman Rockwell worthy Thanksgiving parties.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 47 - Wise Words
Sharpie pen, Staedtler Fineliner Pens
I think this has been my year for playing with lettering and quotes! I work with words and pictures all the time, but separately. I love the idea of playing with them combined... illustrated letters and letters that form the illustrations.
This page uses the Staedtler pens I mentioned in the recent coloring book post. [If you are interested, I added some more art to that post with these pens - scroll down near the bottom to see it.]
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
For now, here are my Journal52 pages for the month of November:
Week 44 - Skyline
Uni Pin Pen, Tombow markers, waterbrush
I strayed a little above the "skyline" but had fun making a sunset in the background with the markers and blending with the waterbrush.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 45 - Thinking of You
Pilot brush pen, pencil, watercolor, solid tempera paint crayon.
I find that song lyrics help me to focus my ideas for these prompts. This song, "Try" by Colbie Caillat, has been haunting me lately. It makes me so sad. I have met so many people - mostly women, but a few men too - who are trying so hard... but still aren't happy. And this time of year especially, I find myself wondering, "Why am I doing this? ... this isn't ME."
That's not really lipstick on the mirror - it's a very cool hybrid product. It's kind of like the Gelatos, smoodgey and silky, blendable, but it dries like paint.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 46 - Napkin
Sharpie Pen, dinner napkin, fingerprints
It was just before Thanksgiving and not a single interesting napkin in the house! Time to remind myself that I am OCD, not a perfectionist... it only needed to be "finished" not "perfect"! This quote gave me another reason not to feel bad that I don't host Norman Rockwell worthy Thanksgiving parties.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 47 - Wise Words
Sharpie pen, Staedtler Fineliner Pens
I think this has been my year for playing with lettering and quotes! I work with words and pictures all the time, but separately. I love the idea of playing with them combined... illustrated letters and letters that form the illustrations.
This page uses the Staedtler pens I mentioned in the recent coloring book post. [If you are interested, I added some more art to that post with these pens - scroll down near the bottom to see it.]
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
December 6, 2014
Cartoon School... Step One
I suppose this might be step "Two" if I count Cartoon Camp this past summer as my first step.
Today I am up in White River Junction, VT for Portfolio Day at the Center for Cartoon Studies. I haven't shown an actual portfolio in twenty years! I was so incredibly nervous that I almost let the winter storm that woke me up, serve as a sign from The Universe... "Go back to bed! You are too old to go back to school!"
"No!" I shouted! Well, maybe I whispered it.
I'm glad I showed up. Sometimes a storm is just a storm. I chose to take the next event as the real sign from the Universe. My interview with Jason, a teacher at the school, went something like this:
Him: "wait- did you say you went to RISD? When did you graduate?"
Me: "1992, I think."
Him: "I was '91! Illustration?"
Me: "yes! Wow! So you had classes with Judy-Sue and ...?"
That's a pretty good start for an interview!
With everything I learned about the school, the teachers, the community, financial aid and applications... I no longer have any excuses to put off making my decision. It comes down to - if I do my best with the application materials - I will make the cut. But I have to do it soon since it is rolling admissions and only a very small group is selected.
Then I can start thinking about how to pay for it! If you are interested in an adorable cottage on a lake in New Hampshire - please buy mine so I can go to cartoon school! And you will notice me selling off more things from my studio too.
I can do this. I want to do this. I KNOW I can do this. I will find a way to make this work.
Oh - and we had dinner at Tuckerbox Cafe tonight - Turkish food, as the name suggests ;-). This place is across the street from MY school. Yet another reason I want to come here. Yummy.
Today I am up in White River Junction, VT for Portfolio Day at the Center for Cartoon Studies. I haven't shown an actual portfolio in twenty years! I was so incredibly nervous that I almost let the winter storm that woke me up, serve as a sign from The Universe... "Go back to bed! You are too old to go back to school!"
"No!" I shouted! Well, maybe I whispered it.
I'm glad I showed up. Sometimes a storm is just a storm. I chose to take the next event as the real sign from the Universe. My interview with Jason, a teacher at the school, went something like this:
Him: "wait- did you say you went to RISD? When did you graduate?"
Me: "1992, I think."
Him: "I was '91! Illustration?"
Me: "yes! Wow! So you had classes with Judy-Sue and ...?"
That's a pretty good start for an interview!
With everything I learned about the school, the teachers, the community, financial aid and applications... I no longer have any excuses to put off making my decision. It comes down to - if I do my best with the application materials - I will make the cut. But I have to do it soon since it is rolling admissions and only a very small group is selected.
Then I can start thinking about how to pay for it! If you are interested in an adorable cottage on a lake in New Hampshire - please buy mine so I can go to cartoon school! And you will notice me selling off more things from my studio too.
I can do this. I want to do this. I KNOW I can do this. I will find a way to make this work.
Oh - and we had dinner at Tuckerbox Cafe tonight - Turkish food, as the name suggests ;-). This place is across the street from MY school. Yet another reason I want to come here. Yummy.
November 25, 2014
Doodlers Anonymous Coloring Book!
I get so excited about the strangest things, but being in the new Doodlers Anonymous Coloring Book really tops my charts!
"Volume 4 of the Doodlers Anonymous coloring book features the doodles and drawings of 60 artists from around the globe - some fresh novices, others seasoned veterans, all of whom share a love for the hand-drawn.
The artwork is playful, beautiful and inspiring - not something off the shelf. So treat yourself, your family, and your faves to a little bit of happy!"
This crazy animated gif features a few of the images from the new book. If you stare really hard at it, you can catch a glimpse of my art! It's a mandala-ish sort of thing made up of plant pods... no, really, it's cool!! Even Lilah likes it. And it will be very fun to color.
If you pre-order it now, CLICK HERE, you can save $3 off the regular price. The three previous coloring books are also really nice.
If you are thinking of giving this as a Christmas gift, I suggest including a set of Staedtler fine tip coloring pens. I have just recently gotten addicted to these and was freaked to discover that there is not only a gorgeous set of 20, but also two additional sets with pastels and forest colors. The images in these coloring books have very fine details, so I think these pens - with the books - would be Doodle Nirvana!
Here are some Amazon links for the pens:
And, yes, you can create tangles in color with these pens too!
"Volume 4 of the Doodlers Anonymous coloring book features the doodles and drawings of 60 artists from around the globe - some fresh novices, others seasoned veterans, all of whom share a love for the hand-drawn.
The artwork is playful, beautiful and inspiring - not something off the shelf. So treat yourself, your family, and your faves to a little bit of happy!"
This crazy animated gif features a few of the images from the new book. If you stare really hard at it, you can catch a glimpse of my art! It's a mandala-ish sort of thing made up of plant pods... no, really, it's cool!! Even Lilah likes it. And it will be very fun to color.
If you pre-order it now, CLICK HERE, you can save $3 off the regular price. The three previous coloring books are also really nice.
If you are thinking of giving this as a Christmas gift, I suggest including a set of Staedtler fine tip coloring pens. I have just recently gotten addicted to these and was freaked to discover that there is not only a gorgeous set of 20, but also two additional sets with pastels and forest colors. The images in these coloring books have very fine details, so I think these pens - with the books - would be Doodle Nirvana!
Here are some Amazon links for the pens:
And, yes, you can create tangles in color with these pens too!
November 14, 2014
Tangles of Kells - Now in the Physical World!
I wanted to tell you about my new BOOK! I added a new cover and some new art to the e-book and had it printed on very nice paper and - voila!! - The
Tangles of Kells
is now available as a BOOK!
I sold pre-release copies to the ladies at Bette Abdu's CZT Retreat a few weeks ago and then I gave copies to my attendees at this past weekend's, ART SWARM. (Yes, I know, I need to do a blog post about the Swarm - it was fabulous!)
While I was procrastin-... ahem... trying to get it listed on my Etsy shop - I saw that it was already having an impact on a fellow SWARMer. Jacque was posting it's effects on her family on Facebook and I asked if I could re-post here:
And here is proof that her boys enjoyed the book...
It got them drawing!
And it got Jacque drawing too!
Stunning white on black...
...and more tradtional black on white..
I think these may be Jacque's first tangles? (Welcome to the rabbit hole!)
I love ebooks and the chance they give to try out a subject without a huge investment. It also makes it really easy to get my books into International tanglers' hands! If you love ebooks, The Tangles of Kells is still available as a downloadable PDF, HERE.
The (NEW!!) printed version is available as a Limited Edition book - signed, with three special postcards, and two Bijou tiles in a pocket inside the front cover. (Get it HERE).
And the regular version of the (NEW!!) Tangles of Kells is available HERE.
Lastly, if you are a CZT, or a teacher, or another person who needs large quantities of Zentangle related books, you can get quantities of ten or more Kells books at wholesale, HERE.
I am very excited to have piles and piles of the new books!! There is something so satisfying about seeing your work in print. But now I need to get these books into YOUR hands. I hope that you will enjoy it and be inspired to make beautiful work of your own. And please share what you are working on on my Facebook Page!
I sold pre-release copies to the ladies at Bette Abdu's CZT Retreat a few weeks ago and then I gave copies to my attendees at this past weekend's, ART SWARM. (Yes, I know, I need to do a blog post about the Swarm - it was fabulous!)
While I was procrastin-... ahem... trying to get it listed on my Etsy shop - I saw that it was already having an impact on a fellow SWARMer. Jacque was posting it's effects on her family on Facebook and I asked if I could re-post here:
And here is proof that her boys enjoyed the book...
It got them drawing!
And it got Jacque drawing too!
Stunning white on black...
...and more tradtional black on white..
I think these may be Jacque's first tangles? (Welcome to the rabbit hole!)
I love ebooks and the chance they give to try out a subject without a huge investment. It also makes it really easy to get my books into International tanglers' hands! If you love ebooks, The Tangles of Kells is still available as a downloadable PDF, HERE.
The (NEW!!) printed version is available as a Limited Edition book - signed, with three special postcards, and two Bijou tiles in a pocket inside the front cover. (Get it HERE).
And the regular version of the (NEW!!) Tangles of Kells is available HERE.
Lastly, if you are a CZT, or a teacher, or another person who needs large quantities of Zentangle related books, you can get quantities of ten or more Kells books at wholesale, HERE.
I am very excited to have piles and piles of the new books!! There is something so satisfying about seeing your work in print. But now I need to get these books into YOUR hands. I hope that you will enjoy it and be inspired to make beautiful work of your own. And please share what you are working on on my Facebook Page!
November 12, 2014
It's That Bauble Tree Time of Year
I received the following email this weekend:
Dear Ms Bartholomew,
I have to thank you again. I recently had the pleasure of purchasing your book "The Bauble Tree" in your Etsy shop. I have since written a short blog post about it at http://www.stxradley.blogspot.com The book was so quick and easy to print out and I love it so much. My 6 year old loved it as much as I for she quickly absconded with it and sat down to draw. You inspired her yet again with the Lilah beans and the tree. I was lucky to get a look at the book after I put it together. Haha. But thank you again for all your efforts and your books that you produce. I know you are a very busy lady and I admire both your work and your simple instructions. These books have been tools for myself as well as our craft program at camp. I look forward to seeing what is next.
Sincerely,
Chelsea Radley
Stx
I was so blown away by the blog post... and then a second post, that I begged for permission to re-post it here. I edited a little, so if you would like to see the complete posts, just click the titles for either and they will get you there.
Following her suggested directions I created a book out of the printout and even added a cardstock cover.
I folded the pages in half ...
and glued the back edges together.
Look at my little munchkin. No sooner did I print and glue than the book was stolen from me! Yes, stolen I say! Because as soon as she got her hands on it she proceeded to draw "bauble" to her heart's content.
Copying the ideas in the book, Cali sat down and immediately drew her own tree and accompanying tangles.
She was very intent on her work. And who isn't? Honestly it was a joy to watch her stretch her creative muscles. I fancy that Ms. Bartholomew's daughter and mine would get along quite well when it comes to tangling.
Cali even cut it out and asked for a string to hang it up like an ornament. Seeing as it is not yet Christmas, I headed outside for this shot on our neighboring pine tree. I think her tangled ornament came out quite well! Now if only I could get the chance to play with the book myself. *sigh*
My first attempt was this little card. I colored on with metallic colored pencil. But I thought to myself, can I do more?
Yes! I did! And I absolute love this little card!
So how could I make this even better? Well, color it in of course. Thankfully, my color printer did a fantastic job so I just had to cut and fold my papers. I now have over 40 of these little cards to send out this Christmas. I don't think I have ever had Christmas cards ready this fast!
And my daughter even sat down to tangle and color yet again. What do you think of her version?
For the third installment in this series, in which Chelsea creates all of her Christmas cards, in November - and under the influence of the Lilah Beans...
click this link to read all those details...
More Ebooks and Tangle CardsAnd here are some quick previews of the adorable cards which are available on Chelsea's Etsy shop.
If you would like to get your own copy of The Bauble Tree ebook, come on over to my Bumblebat Etsy shop. This is the perfect time of year for Baubles!
Dear Ms Bartholomew,
I have to thank you again. I recently had the pleasure of purchasing your book "The Bauble Tree" in your Etsy shop. I have since written a short blog post about it at http://www.stxradley.blogspot.com The book was so quick and easy to print out and I love it so much. My 6 year old loved it as much as I for she quickly absconded with it and sat down to draw. You inspired her yet again with the Lilah beans and the tree. I was lucky to get a look at the book after I put it together. Haha. But thank you again for all your efforts and your books that you produce. I know you are a very busy lady and I admire both your work and your simple instructions. These books have been tools for myself as well as our craft program at camp. I look forward to seeing what is next.
Sincerely,
Chelsea Radley
Stx
I was so blown away by the blog post... and then a second post, that I begged for permission to re-post it here. I edited a little, so if you would like to see the complete posts, just click the titles for either and they will get you there.
Following her suggested directions I created a book out of the printout and even added a cardstock cover. 
I folded the pages in half ...
and glued the back edges together.
Look at my little munchkin. No sooner did I print and glue than the book was stolen from me! Yes, stolen I say! Because as soon as she got her hands on it she proceeded to draw "bauble" to her heart's content.
Copying the ideas in the book, Cali sat down and immediately drew her own tree and accompanying tangles.
She was very intent on her work. And who isn't? Honestly it was a joy to watch her stretch her creative muscles. I fancy that Ms. Bartholomew's daughter and mine would get along quite well when it comes to tangling.
Cali even cut it out and asked for a string to hang it up like an ornament. Seeing as it is not yet Christmas, I headed outside for this shot on our neighboring pine tree. I think her tangled ornament came out quite well! Now if only I could get the chance to play with the book myself. *sigh*
My first attempt was this little card. I colored on with metallic colored pencil. But I thought to myself, can I do more?
Yes! I did! And I absolute love this little card!
So how could I make this even better? Well, color it in of course. Thankfully, my color printer did a fantastic job so I just had to cut and fold my papers. I now have over 40 of these little cards to send out this Christmas. I don't think I have ever had Christmas cards ready this fast!
And my daughter even sat down to tangle and color yet again. What do you think of her version?
For the third installment in this series, in which Chelsea creates all of her Christmas cards, in November - and under the influence of the Lilah Beans...
click this link to read all those details...
More Ebooks and Tangle CardsAnd here are some quick previews of the adorable cards which are available on Chelsea's Etsy shop.
If you would like to get your own copy of The Bauble Tree ebook, come on over to my Bumblebat Etsy shop. This is the perfect time of year for Baubles!
November 2, 2014
October Journal Pages
Week 39 - In the City
This prompt was so much fun! Since I don't live in a city, I was free to imagine whatever kind of buildings I liked. I started with my tangle CUdad and built the buildings UP from there... bigger and bigger! I used a Sharpie Pen and tried really hard to stick to just clean lines. I entered this piece in the Doodler's Anonymous Coloring Book contest!
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
I often feel torn between the very simple coloring book drawings... and going all out with color and shading. So when I saw the theme for the next week - "Experiment"... I thought I'd submit my city in B&W and maybe experiment with color on it for the next assignment.
Week 40 - Experiment
And here are my Experiments!
First - lots and lots of shading (with gray Tombow markers).... to see if I could create some depth.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
... and then color on top of the gray (with more Tombow markers)...
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
My favorite part is the little park on the roof.
Week 41 - Mosaic Inspired
I glued down a piece of an Asian newspaper that had been used as packing in a box. Then I drew the mosaic tangle, Man-o-man, all over it with a Uni-Pin pen, and added some white (GellyRoll pen) and gray Pitt brush marker). This one took quite a while to do!
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 42 - Magic
An old book, tissue paper, gesso, markers, paint pen, Inktense pencil, ballpoint pen... kind of a stew of everything sitting on the desk! I scanned the piece into Photoshop and removed the harsh seam down the middle. I transferred the finished art, using Sheer Heaven, to a piece of Bristol, and I hope to do some more work on that... (after the Art Swarm is over!)
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 43 - Stencil It!
Colorbox pigment ink pads, Prismacolor pencils, Crafter's Workshop bees and hive stencil, Dreamweaver honeycomb stencil, black 12x12 paper.
This one was almost relaxing... easy... after the last few prompts! It was nice to use someone else's art as the basis for a page. Just color and play. Aaaahhhh... But looking at it now - I can't help seeing the beehive as a stack of pancakes or cookies!? I think I may need a snack...
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
This prompt was so much fun! Since I don't live in a city, I was free to imagine whatever kind of buildings I liked. I started with my tangle CUdad and built the buildings UP from there... bigger and bigger! I used a Sharpie Pen and tried really hard to stick to just clean lines. I entered this piece in the Doodler's Anonymous Coloring Book contest!
© Sandy Steen BartholomewI often feel torn between the very simple coloring book drawings... and going all out with color and shading. So when I saw the theme for the next week - "Experiment"... I thought I'd submit my city in B&W and maybe experiment with color on it for the next assignment.
Week 40 - Experiment
And here are my Experiments!
First - lots and lots of shading (with gray Tombow markers).... to see if I could create some depth.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew... and then color on top of the gray (with more Tombow markers)...
© Sandy Steen BartholomewMy favorite part is the little park on the roof.
Week 41 - Mosaic Inspired
I glued down a piece of an Asian newspaper that had been used as packing in a box. Then I drew the mosaic tangle, Man-o-man, all over it with a Uni-Pin pen, and added some white (GellyRoll pen) and gray Pitt brush marker). This one took quite a while to do!
© Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 42 - Magic
An old book, tissue paper, gesso, markers, paint pen, Inktense pencil, ballpoint pen... kind of a stew of everything sitting on the desk! I scanned the piece into Photoshop and removed the harsh seam down the middle. I transferred the finished art, using Sheer Heaven, to a piece of Bristol, and I hope to do some more work on that... (after the Art Swarm is over!)
© Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 43 - Stencil It!
Colorbox pigment ink pads, Prismacolor pencils, Crafter's Workshop bees and hive stencil, Dreamweaver honeycomb stencil, black 12x12 paper.
This one was almost relaxing... easy... after the last few prompts! It was nice to use someone else's art as the basis for a page. Just color and play. Aaaahhhh... But looking at it now - I can't help seeing the beehive as a stack of pancakes or cookies!? I think I may need a snack...
© Sandy Steen BartholomewOctober 29, 2014
Ooooo! I'm in!
I'm so excited!!! I just found out that my art was accepted for the Doodlers Anonymous Coloring Book - Volume 4!! I don't know which of two pieces was accepted (or both?!) but it is such an honor. I own the first three volumes and the art is amazing.
I also have a journal piece coming out in the second issue of Mabel Magazine (in November). This is a beautiful new magazine... the tagline is "Making a Living • Creating a Life". And the description on their site sums it up so nicely:
"Mabel is a print magazine that is here to tell real stories about making a living and creating a life.
At Mabel, we’ll be talking about the different ways we support ourselves in the world—
stories from entrepreneurs, artists and small biz owners about how they’ve gotten where they are—
it’s not always pretty, it’s not always tidy, but it’s always beautifully real . . . please join us!"
They are on Facebook too.
Does it seem just a little ironic to be accepted into a doodle coloring book and an elegant magazine at the same time? I don't think that I will ever figure out what my "market" or who my "audience" is.
I just love to draw stuff.
I also have a journal piece coming out in the second issue of Mabel Magazine (in November). This is a beautiful new magazine... the tagline is "Making a Living • Creating a Life". And the description on their site sums it up so nicely:
"Mabel is a print magazine that is here to tell real stories about making a living and creating a life.
At Mabel, we’ll be talking about the different ways we support ourselves in the world—
stories from entrepreneurs, artists and small biz owners about how they’ve gotten where they are—
it’s not always pretty, it’s not always tidy, but it’s always beautifully real . . . please join us!"
They are on Facebook too.
Does it seem just a little ironic to be accepted into a doodle coloring book and an elegant magazine at the same time? I don't think that I will ever figure out what my "market" or who my "audience" is.
I just love to draw stuff.
October 28, 2014
Tangle of the Week - Nebel (take 2)
I recently received this email:
Hi Sandy,
I have the yoga for your brain tangle cards. Right now I'm trying to do "Nebel" and having a hard time with the beginning steps. I was wondering if you could do more of a step out for me. I just can't seem to get it right.
I'd appreciate it and enjoy reading all your newsletters.
Sincerely,
Sylvia
I forwarded the request to my Minion, Bonnie, and she said she couldn't do that one either. That made me think that there might be quite a few people who don't "get it."
OK - I actually needed an excuse to use my new video setup! Ian, my fabulous App guy, had sent me a very cool grippy-bendy-tripod and instructions on how to film myself drawing tangles really fast... all using just my iphone. (Thanks again Ian!) It would be much faster and easier than drawing and posting step-outs.
(Click here to watch this video on YouTube.)
I have found it easier to draw Nebel if you turn the tile as you work and start by drawing all the center lines, horizontally and vertically. It starts out looking like a slightly wonky Cadent!
Hope this video helps!
Hi Sandy,
I have the yoga for your brain tangle cards. Right now I'm trying to do "Nebel" and having a hard time with the beginning steps. I was wondering if you could do more of a step out for me. I just can't seem to get it right.
I'd appreciate it and enjoy reading all your newsletters.
Sincerely,
Sylvia
I forwarded the request to my Minion, Bonnie, and she said she couldn't do that one either. That made me think that there might be quite a few people who don't "get it."
OK - I actually needed an excuse to use my new video setup! Ian, my fabulous App guy, had sent me a very cool grippy-bendy-tripod and instructions on how to film myself drawing tangles really fast... all using just my iphone. (Thanks again Ian!) It would be much faster and easier than drawing and posting step-outs.
(Click here to watch this video on YouTube.)
I have found it easier to draw Nebel if you turn the tile as you work and start by drawing all the center lines, horizontally and vertically. It starts out looking like a slightly wonky Cadent!
Hope this video helps!
October 20, 2014
The Mural's Second Life
We had gorgeous, if really-chilly, weather for the Fall Foliage Festival. I couldn't feel my fingers as they gripped the paint markers to work on the new mural. There were only gawkers and peekers at first... I'd hear them whispering "what is she doing?" and as soon as I'd turn to smile, they'd run off.
But once I had snagged my first, brave soul, others came closer and closer and when they realized that they too could put their mark on the wall, I had plenty of eager hands reaching for markers!
Before I forget - I want to thank everyone who donated to the mural!! See if you can spot your requested images and names on the mural! (Like "Where's Waldo?!") You all financed the sanding and repainting of the old mural, and purchased our new Molotow professional graffitti markers. And, no, I don't think that "Professional Graffitti" markers is an oxymoron. ;-)
I divided the scenes with the left panel as an Ocean theme and right panel with a Forest theme. I explained that to every person and said to sign their names on the border. The one rule was "No scribbling!" I still spent over an hour on Sunday morning painting out the scribbles and plethora of names tagging the artwork. I left the narwhal in the tree... flooding? And the school of fish on the side of the mountain... rock paintings?
Doing a community mural is an exercise in patience and, like Zentangle, involves lots of deep breathing and a constant repetition of "let it go" and "that's just fine" and "it's all good" and "I can always paint over that later..." ;-)
I heard from one of the dad's - that drawing on the mural was his kids' favorite event of the weekend! And that's with competition like Tilt-a-Whirl rides and fried dough! Yeah for Art!!
Laurie, Debbee and I did a bit more work on it the mural this past weekend. I'm still hoping I can get another tree painted and some blue water to help the sea creatures stand out a bit more. We'll have to wait and see what the weather does in the next few weeks.
But once I had snagged my first, brave soul, others came closer and closer and when they realized that they too could put their mark on the wall, I had plenty of eager hands reaching for markers!
Before I forget - I want to thank everyone who donated to the mural!! See if you can spot your requested images and names on the mural! (Like "Where's Waldo?!") You all financed the sanding and repainting of the old mural, and purchased our new Molotow professional graffitti markers. And, no, I don't think that "Professional Graffitti" markers is an oxymoron. ;-)
I divided the scenes with the left panel as an Ocean theme and right panel with a Forest theme. I explained that to every person and said to sign their names on the border. The one rule was "No scribbling!" I still spent over an hour on Sunday morning painting out the scribbles and plethora of names tagging the artwork. I left the narwhal in the tree... flooding? And the school of fish on the side of the mountain... rock paintings?
Doing a community mural is an exercise in patience and, like Zentangle, involves lots of deep breathing and a constant repetition of "let it go" and "that's just fine" and "it's all good" and "I can always paint over that later..." ;-)
I heard from one of the dad's - that drawing on the mural was his kids' favorite event of the weekend! And that's with competition like Tilt-a-Whirl rides and fried dough! Yeah for Art!!
Laurie, Debbee and I did a bit more work on it the mural this past weekend. I'm still hoping I can get another tree painted and some blue water to help the sea creatures stand out a bit more. We'll have to wait and see what the weather does in the next few weeks.
