Day 14, Inspire...

I'm having such fun with my pointed brushes! Once I decided to quit trying to emulate the "typical" ways this brush is used for lettering, and developed my own style with it, it has been easier to use! (It's still a challenge with certain letters, BUT I'm getting the hang of it!)

Used gouache, and an old Pentel brush. So happy with how it turned out.

Diff. lighting.

Added "Aspire to". Wish I had left alone.

And, my sketch! Love the p/s ligature. Actually, I love all of it, except the i tail.

Java House mock up

*I scheduled this post WAY earlier in the year, as I recently came upon the piece from my graphic design days in college. But in taking a closer look at it, I find it more than fitting for today as well, as the font looks like Brush lettering! 😄

So, another one for National Coffee Day...

This was an assignment for a fictional coffee house (and this was back when coffee houses/cafes, etc. were just starting to emerge).

All hand-drawn with color pencil. And, no idea what grade I got on it, but I was happy with how it turned out.

Day 13: It's National Coffee Day!

oh, I how I love me some coffee. 

Go ahead and take away my soda/pop, wine, liquor, etc.... but let me have my coffee!

I remember the first time I tried a PSL: Up to that point, psl's sounded so gross to me (I'm more of a mocha gal). I don't like pumpkin pie, but pumpkin bread I enjoyed (seasonally). There were free samples at the grocery store, so i wanted to see what all the fuss was (thinking I'd spit it out). But oooooohhhhhh myyyyyyy.... I was HOOKED.

I couldn't believe what all I'd been missing! (I have no idea how long ago this was, but within the last 10 years.) From then on, it was PSL city for moi!

And now, every fall, although I don't go crazy, I do search out fun pumpkin-flavored treats. (and I'm even making my own concoctions at home!) 

Day 12: Om Mani Padme Hum

Again, more inspo from yoga!

Ever since i started meditating, I've always loved this phrase, and the meanings behind it. Such a lovely chant...I found myself getting lost in it.

I've lettered it before, but decided to do so once again, for my brush challenge!

Old Wink of Stella with purple gouache/watercolor combo.

And, as per "usual", lettering the different meanings over it, did not turn out as I'd hoped/envisioned. (I forgot to do an overlay, which was a secondary idea.) Decided to still share.  :/

This next idea is for a one-page folded booklet! This is a screen shot, as I forgot to take a pic when finished. Below is the lettering video.

And making the booklet:

When I looked up the meanings for my top piece, I learned even more ( https://www.yogapedia.com/2/8623/meditation/mantra/the-meaning-of-om-mani-padme-hum ):

"Mani" means Jewel and "Padme" means Lotus. So, there is the phrase, "The Jewel is in the Lotus."

i LOVED this, for a few reasons. First, it just sounds lovely. And second, I was once given an analogy with healing, esp. when one feels stuck in the muck (i.e. going through a sh*t time): That we have to go through the sh*t in order to bloom; And lotus flowers grow in the yuck muck of mud under water, but look at how lovely they are!

So, this phrase has even more special meaning to me now. 😊

Day 11, Balasana (Child's Pose)

Inspo from my Art & Movement class from earlier this week:

Lettered this in my Art Joy Journal. Used my blue Wink of Stella brush pen.

So happy with it! (the ink came out a little too much on the n though.

 

and here it is with my poetry added. Watercolors and gouache w/old Wink of Stella pen.

(I may color in some of the counters in balasana -- "Child's Pose")

Apples! (Day 10 -- 21 Day Project)

I know I already posted one like this using my pointed pen, but am redoing for "Johnny Appleseed Day"! 🍎🍏

Do you like my little apple in place of the "o"?  😁😊

diff. style, "a"

And another perfect example of how my sketches turn out!

(*Fave apple treat: apples slices w/pb and dark choc. Oh yeah, and apple Snicker dessert!)

Day 9 (21 Days) -- Cmas in 3 months!

Another repeat, as I did this in 2021 (when I got my new Wink of Stella pens!)

Thought it fitting for today, as Cmas is in 3 months! 

(but I also want autumn to go sloooooowwwww!!!! Dare I say, Linger?)

 

Art & Movement

 I took a Movement & Art class today at our local Art Center, and thought I'd share what I created.

I saw this posted last year, and missed out, so I was thrilled to partake this time!

We set up in the museum and this was our view.

But this is the art piece we faced.

We were to look at the shapes and see how our bodies "correspond" while in certain poses.

I definitely felt it while in forward fold, wide forward fold (parallelogram), and pyramid pose.

(Also, down dog & table top)

However, for the art part, I chose one of my faves: Child's Pose!

The art "prompts" were endless possibilities...We were given a handout with the yoga/sanskrit names and symbols of the poses and for Child's Pose, the name was "Balasana" (which sounds so pretty!)

It was the first thing I lettered: you can see it in the top round part, which represents my spine.

I first drew the outline with watercolor, then lettered in the name and my own thoughts, feelings, poetry, etc. within the body. (Used a lovely pointed pen -- not sure what kind, as the tools were supplied -- and watercolor, which I've never used for pp lettering!)

My words: 

"I find rest, I find solace, in my child's pose. I relax and breathe deep; Focus on me. I heal and soothe; I find myself." (the body)

(the head):  "I stretch & extend; Lengthen, release."

(the bent leg): "tight, Tight, Tight, CREAK, Struggle to Bend. But I stick with it as I slowly start to loosen. Tight."

Below the body, I write: "ohm, ahh" in pp, and repeat again, Bigger in brush.

The colors represent the energy of my extended arms, from my stretch.

(My drawing looks like a turtle/bird/spider!) 😄 But I had fun!

And this was a play piece using wet spray and dropping in color. I love how it turned out to look like a flower, so I added lettering, "I bloom as I heal", but I don't like how it turned out. (waaa.) 😕

However, I plan to redo for my Healing Journal! 😊

Close up of the "flower"

Day 8 (21 Day Chall) -- Punctuation!

Today is National Punctuation Day, so here is my work for Day 8!

This pen is new, and rather hard to manipulate, as the brush tip is so long and slender!

Did my best. (tiny writing is hard)

Day 7, (21 Days) -- Nat'l. Diary Day

I guess yesterday was National "Dear Diary" Day, so...

(yes, right now, I'm searching for things to letter!)

Blue Pentel brush pen

 

Day 6, "21 Days Pointed Brush" -- Fall

 It's Fall! 😊

🍁🍂🍎🍏🏈🎃

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For Day 6, I did a demo video. I find that if I slow down (as some do with the pointed brush), it tends to mess up my lettering. So, as with my fp work, I go fast.

Old Wink of Stella and walnut ink.

Close ups of the sparkles!

21 Day Challenge (shortened 100 Day)

 About a month ago, a shortened version of the 100 Day Project was announced:  The 21 Day Project. At the time, I thought I'd partake as I have PLENTY of unfinished projects. However, when it started (Sept. 17), I didn't know what to do (or rather, couldn't choose), so I "bailed".

However, on Day 4, I got the idea to do 21 Days of Pointed Brush Lettering, as I recently took Julie W's online class (have yet to finish!) AND I always need brushing up (pun! 😆) with this tool. (Plus, I own so many!!! I feel like giving up, but never do, as I don't know why. Probably b/c I do I so many!)

I also rarely use these, so that's what also prompted me to partake.

Anyway, here are Days 1-5 (playing catch-up):

First up: Almost all of my pointed brush pens! Lots of Pentel ones, as well as Bimoji and Wink of Stella (gold, blue, green), AND even some old metallic ones!

(*the copper metallic one w/tape on the cap -- 3rd from Right -- is one that I use daily for watercolors, as it dried up. I can still get a little life from the others.)

The 4 I used for Days 1-5:  

Bimoji, Wink of Stella (old/used up), New(ish) Pentel Dual metallic (black/red) and an old blue Pentel.

Bimoji (it's so dainty!) -- from my ABC's of Lettering Challenge earlier this year.

elongated practice alpha w/old Wink of Stella pen and walnut ink

(from July, when I started Julie's class)

from a few years ago (2021?) -- IG lettering prompt.

Blue Pentel brush pen (i love how it smudged)

Again, Bimoji. (from my 2022 100 Days of Redos!)

And the Pentel Dual Metallic pen. (new)

Orig. created this for another mini-folded book, but I think I'll turn it into an env. instead.

Stay tuned for that!  :)

Closer view.

Snail Mail inserts

Sharing a few inserts sent out this month.

I want to get more and more into watercolor, to mix in with my lettering. So I'm starting out with cards.

(pointed pen "apple")

another word border

Still need to find a better layout for this.

 

Happy Fall! 🍂🍁🏈🍎🍏👻🧛🎃

Mini Books! (from one sheet of paper)

I'm not really one for making books, but I also get intrigued, as they can look so cool! (I think it's the complicated nature of some that make me steer clear.)

However, recently I came upon a video on how to make these one-page folded books. Although tricky, they can be fun. For my first one, I just used a practice sheet of paper (which, had lettering & marks on both sides). I plan to redo, as i liked how it turned out with the markings!

But not only can you see the markings on the other side of the paper, my folds aren't the best either.

This 2nd one turned out much better. It lays a lot flatter.

Again, it was a failed sheet (I was attempting a pumpkin themed env.), so I added leaves, and was pleasantly surprised at how they turned out perfect on the sheets! Except at the end, where my pumpkin is on its side.  😒

I decided to do separate sheets instead and bind with the sewing method.