Artist Trading Cards

Since 2006, my artist friends have been making ATC (Artist Trading Cards) 4 times a year. June, our facilitator picks 4 themes and we make 5 cards based on the theme she picks (1 to keep and 4 to trade since we have 5 people in our group). In 2013 the themes have been, Games People Play, Architecture, Spread Your Wings and coming up - My Cup of Tea. The cards are small - the size of a baseball trading card - 2.5 x 3.5 so they fit into standard plastic sleeves. It's amazing how 5 people can create totally different art inspired by the same theme and it's fun to trade and collect them. They're little art gems.

Here are my cards for the Spread Your Wings theme. Each is a little different because I used a paper napkin that I spray mounted to card stock and cut up. 

Fall in the Midwest

Beautiful fall day in Illinois

Turban Squash

The zentangles were fun but here's something for fall. A chalk pastel of a turban squash on a grey textured paper. I did this in 2006. It was the first piece of art I did after not doing any art for a very long time and I remember when I did it thinking, " I love doing this - why don't I create more?" Working and life got in the way but little by little I started doing more art and now I'm very committed to "making more art". It makes me happy.  

Santa's in Town

Here's a Santa tangle step by step. 

I start with a light pencil drawing with suggested tangles then outline with a micron pen. 

Following the shapes of the suggested tangles, I start to add lines and curves changing

directions to add interest and sometimes filling in with black - no black on this one though. 

The tangle part is done when it's filled with many lines. 

I like to complete my zentangle with watercolor. I think it compliments the graphic black 

of the micron pen and adds a softness to the final art. 

Thanks for looking at my zentangles these last 2 weeks. 

Tree Zentangle

Well this is my last "do a zentangle every day". Here's what I learned from doing this: zentangles are fun! Once you start, everywhere you look are tangle ideas. However doing one every day was a struggle in the beginning. I wanted to read my book or bake something or whatever. But once I got going, creating something from start to finish EVERY DAY was a true pleasure. Maybe I won't create a zentangle a day but hopefully will create something every day. That will be what I learned from my 2 weeks tangling. 

Pumpkin Zentangle

watercolor : micron pen

Fall Indian Corn Zentangle

Cat with a Zentangle Fish Tank

fish tangled, cat watching

Leaf Zentangle

leaf caught in a zentangle wind

Peace Zentangle

Owl Zentangle

~ micron pen ~ watercolor ~

Red Flowers on a Zentangle Background

 : micron pen : watercolors :

Tangle Zentangle

My micron pen went crazy!

Cupcake Zentangle

Cupcake zentangle with a cherry on top!

Micron pen and colored pencil

Pillow Zentangle

Micron pen and watercolor 5.5x8.5

Leaf on a Zentangle Background

Micron pen with watercolor

Crazy Hair Zentangle

What a hairdo!

Heart Zentangle

Zentangle number 2 - here's my heart.

Flower Zentangle

I'm attempting to do a Zentangle a day for 2 weeks to participate in the Tangle Challenge hosted by Blick Art Supplies. Here's number one!

2 Fruit Smalls

2 fruit studies - 5"x7" micron pen and watercolor

Anniversary

Lovely flowers from my husband for our 25th anniversary. 

God's Paintbrush

Flair Pens

My friend Sandy asked me what flair pens are. They are fine point water soluble pens that you can get at any office supply store. I get mine at Staples. When I'm ready to add color to a drawing but I don't have my watercolors with me, flair pens are an easy way to "paint" on the go.

Flower Small 

Add stripes and outlines of color

Adding water will make the color of the flair pen bleed and blend like watercolor while retaining some of the line quality.

Flower Small and a Rock

5" x 7" Flower Small with painted rock

Watercolor . Sharpie