Virtual Sketchout, Boston Mass

26 Beacon Street, Boston, MA
all art work used with permision

by Susan walker copyright 2011

My sketch for the Virtual Paintout January 2011 theme: Boston. You need to use the GoogleMap Streetview application.I did this one in my moleskin with Pitt Artist Pen XF in black ink and watercolor.

Again , sorry the image is dark, no sun here at the window sill of the hospital room. :/

30TH Sketch Crawl from bedside

My sketch crawl piece with no crawling....A little bit of skeching while my son was getting brain mapping for his next surgery.He is on the right with the angle changes and my other son I took the picture in the floor pantry. Thought it has a window and we had sun out at the time...a bit dark.

Hearts for inking.falling in love with tangle dooddling

used with permision by artist Susan Walker

all rights reserved 2011 copyright

 3.5 x 3.5

used with permision by artist Susan Walker

all rights reserved 2011 copyright

5x5 

I have been working on Valentines day for the kids. I decided to try some hearts in the pattern art I have been doing lately. Again using my Pitt Artist penns and Pigma micron pens.

I  am ususally not a heart person but I really enjoyed these. I find the entire process of placing just the right pattern for an area challenging and fun. I 'm thinking there will be more hearts to follow.



IF- Illustration Friday: Chicken

Curly the chicken

artwork used with permition by Susan Walker

all rights reserved 2011

I haven't done an Illustration Friday challenge in forever. I think I have only done a few at most. I checked in as my ambtions are high each new year with 'resolutions'. I have been enjoying this tangle doodle/pattern art drawing and applied this pen and ink to the challenge. my daughter named him Curly.
also can apply to EDM challenge #186-something you have always wanted. Yep- chickens. Small mint colored ones and there relation that is light purple...

Stary Eyed Suprise in a Zentangle(R)

used with permision by artist Susan Walker

all rights reserved 2011 copyright

This is my Stary Eyed Suprise for the 4th weekley challenge at the Im the Diva. The week went faster than I could keep up with and only finished up Saturday night. I used my Pitt Artist Penn XF and Pigma .03 micron pen with a 'smushed up' tip that I love.

If you look close you will find the 'surprise'.

Reminder :Up coming 30th Sketch Crawl in a few weeks

used with Permision by Susan Walker copyright 2009

A Sketch Crawl in May '09 at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh,PA

  used with Permision by Susan Walker copyright

From a sketchcrawl at the arm show in August of '09

The Sketchcrawl is a great event and super fun. Especially when folks from 'round the world share their images. How cool to see first hand and personal views of these sites. The next one is in a few weeks, January 22nd. Though I will likely be bedside to my son in the hospital I hope to still participate in some way. Here's the link to the gateway page for Sketchcrawl: http://www.sketchcrawl.com/forum/. Hope to see your work there!

A few sketchbook pages in pen and ink

A few sketches I made while traveling or waiting somewhere.

This is Zachary's Monkey he took with us to the hospital.

This is the  marina at Putt-n-Bat OH as we waited for the ferry to go back to the mainland.

Strathmore Visual Journal week one class

 My selection of art to use for week 1

 Gearing up for a Visual journal class I am taking. I ordered my Strathmore watercolor 140# visual journal and can't wait to get started. In lesson one we are to copy and use artwork we have created and pull together other bits of paper, type, words etc.to add to our page. Many of the originals are in ink from my sketchbooks and some of the Zentangles(R) I have done lately. I think we will be building up the page from this point.

Here are a few of the pieces I have chosen. I am looking at color combinations and possible a black/white look for a completely different effect on an other page.

My journal isn't here yet so I got started on a 140# paper to slip in when it does.

Here I cut pieces and played with the layout.

I used matte medium to attach the pieces down. Another light layer over top.

Eyes Wide Shut in ink

For weekly challenge 3,Eyes wide Shut

Eyes Wide Shut by Susan Walker

all rights Reserved copyright 2011

Simple And double pencil Zentangle for Weekly Challenge

SIMPLICITY Zentangle for weekly challenge # 1

by Susan Walker all rights reserved cpyright 2010

When I was thinking about simplicity I found it quite a challenge in keeping the pattern/s from taking over. so I wnt with one tread in each section though it looks like one thread. Leaving white pace as well to try and achieve a look of simplicity. I will have to try this one again. I really liked  how I had to think and slow down.

two-pencil-string  design for Weekly Challenge 2

by Susan Walker all rights reserved copyright 2010

Go to 'I am he Diva' for details on the weekly Zentangle challenge.

Ink Zentangle

Zentangle in ink by Susan Walker

copyright 2010 all rights reserved

I have recently discovered "Zentangles". Well, actually the term. I think many artist have done them in some form or another but now have a trademark name. "Inchies"come to mind as well. What has attracted me to the idea is the Zen like mind set you get into while working. Right now at this point in my like with my son facing two brain surgeries an the pain I still feel in the loss of my mum, I find focusing hard to do. My mind wonders from this to that and I am forgetting where I was and what I am to be doing. Drawing for me use to be a pleasure but I had been struggling with form and ideas. Zentangles have been quite therapeutic.

A Zentangle is to be 3.5 x 3.5 but this too is not written in stone. I use an Pitt Artist pen by Fabre Castel XF and F. I am using a smooth 140# paper I cut down to my desired size.


From the Zentagle website:
Abstract
You always succeed when you do a Zentangle because you always create a pattern. A Zentangle has no up or down and is not a picture of something, so you have no worries about whether you can draw a hand, or a duck. You always succeed in creating a Zentangle.


Meditational Art form
Zentangle’s non-verbal language of patterns and proportions can open doors to insights which seemed locked before. Creating Zentangles opens those doors, not because they were locked, but because those doors swing on non-verbal hinges. When you create a Zentangle you can enter a meditative state in which intuitive insights flow freely. Get inspirations, ideas and answers unhindered by expectations or worries.

Give it a try and hope you enjoy them too!