More Sharpie Work

This is my latest effort with Sharpies on Master's Touch watercolor paper (140 lb.). The sketch was done with a black Monoline Studio pen (0.5mm), and embellishments were added with Posca Pens and a gold Sakura Pen Touch marker. The image is based on a painting of a classical aristocrat.

As you may be able to see, the markers are losing their ink which results in the streaking (this has happened with more of the skin tones and the lighter blue-grey in this piece) and coverage issues. That means it's time for a replacement set or an upgrade. What a great opportunity to experiment with a different set of alcohol markers!

The hair in this piece is curled around the face with a braided bun at the top back of the head. It was challenging to make out the connection between the two when the areas (around the face) were their solid original colors. So, they have been filled in with dots (large and small) in an attempt to reduce their vibrancy so the face and hair can 'pop' better. Before that, they were all in competition and there was a lack of enough contrast for a viewer to know what to focus on. The dot work has toned down those areas and added to a sense of greater texture in the piece. Even though it was tedious, it is much more effective in 'popping' the central image.

Still enjoying this way of working....with more to come!

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Visiting The Hague and Amsterdam (Netherlands), and Paris!

Since late March, I've been planning an international solo trip that included meeting up with friends. The planning is what makes a trip an adventure, and it was definitely fabulous -- now that it is in the rearview mirror -- so to speak. During my two weeks abroad, the sights visited included the: Mauritshuis, a lovely art museum (The Hague, Netherlands) Binnenhof (The Hague, Netherlands) Delft (Netherlands) Kasteel de Haar, a castle (Haarzuilens, Netherlands) Museum Speelklok (Utrecht, Netherlands) Walking Tour of Amsterdam (Netherlands) Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Dutch Resistance Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands) De Oude and Nieuwe Kerks aka old and new churches (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Anne Frank House (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Sainte Chapelle/Conciergerie (Paris, France) Giverny - Monet's residence at one time (outside Paris) Versailles (outside Paris) Musee d'Orsay/VR Event titled 1874 Impressionists First Exhibition

New Project in Progress

I'm working on a new project with multiple layers and shapes of different colored organzas. It is an interpretation of lighting on an ice rink...from a show I recently saw. There is a lot more stitching to do, but I like how its coming along. I'm learning organzas are not easy to work with especially when you layer them and have overlaid edges. The fabric also tends to ravel easily. This post also linked to http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com .

Concertina Dazzle Days

If you don't know what a Concertina Sketchbook is, it is folded paper (back and forth) that looks like the bellows of an accordion when done. Concertinas can be home-made or purchased, and they are fun to work in. The photos above are of three continuous two-page spreads from my own Concertina (the one on the right - the latest). The mark-making was done with Sharpie markers, Posca pens, Micron pens and Sakura PenTouch markers. All the shapes and color choices in the images above were spontaneous as well as the details. There was no plan. What I like about these is that each two-page spread collaborates with the next one and so on (as the designs spill over from one spread to the next). As new ones are created, they add to the wonderful visual feast. One of the things I love doing with these also -- is to crop sections and digitally mirror them to form symmetrical designs. The results are occasionally delightful. In fact, this one was made from such a process and has a n

Cay Denise

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