handmade envies

Ever since the SMC Aug. swap, I've been on a roll! Have taken my scraps/failed pieces/practice pages and making them into mini env.'s (3.5x5, so they're still mailable).

Top Left, clockwise:

1) folded pen, "Calm" (it's upside down), 2) exemplar with marker, 3) ABC connected with walnut ink,

4) page from usps catalog, 5) practice sheet from online class (Halloween looking!) and 6) fp & gouache

 

Lately... (class)

omg, I'm currently working my way through a class by Sharon Zeugin (LOVE!) but the only thing is that I now want to upgrade some of my supplies!!  :D

i'm loving this class and the projects and her style as well as her meditative approach. She is a former therapist and studied calligraphy in England (by some very well-known calligraphers!) and I love how thoughtful she is! (something more people in this world need)

This project is a study on black using Haiku's. Lately, I've created a few nature-inspired ones (true Haiku's) but this one came to me as I wanted it to represent the darkness and finding the light:

Darkness all around

Breaking free, I see the light

Shining as I heal.

We also made little books from our pages:

The border lettering says, "I shine" and I used color pencils.

I then lettered, "i break FREE" across

This says the first line of the poem, "Darkness all around" in metallic blue, representing the spiral many of us fall into.

The center page (which I want to redo as my ink was either not dark enough or too d*mn runny!)

It's then the 2nd part of the poem, "Breaking Free, I see the light..."

And here I tried to use my cheap chalk pastels.

close up of "seeing the light"

I shine as I heal. Again want to redo as my pastels aren't showing up well.

Then, I converted some practice sheets into a few envies!

(can you tell I'm in the fall mood??!! ;D )

This piece was one of the first things we did: experimenting with our pastels and lettering.

I almost like it. (it's the middle part that needs fixed)  :(

hello Autumn!

diff. angle

I'm loving my online classes!!!

Nat'l. Candy Corn Day

This one is from 2019.

(lettering challenge on IG)

It was actually a sketch turned into the final piece.

Was pretty happy with this idea, but after some comments on IG (good ones!) wish I had planned it out better. I could always redo, but was happy that came together (somewhat) as i did it.

I did the candy corn first in watercolor, trying to make each one in the shape of the letter. Then, I lettered over it in marker. The IG comments were about how clever it was that some of the pieces fit perfectly into the letters ("N" & "Y"). SO, wish I had done the same with all the letters (esp. with the A -- cap vs. lc). Not sure it that means lettering first, then adding wc or what.

Still, I was happy with all of it!  :)

Abraca...

...pocus!

Any Looney Tunes fans out there? I did this insert for a LT themed Halloween envie. Used my lovely Brody pen and mixed Ecoline watercolor and Dr. Martin India ink.

 

Blood drips

 Came up with this idea in Oct. 2019 for a few Halloween themed env.'s, but am sharing all my samples from over the years:

First one I did. Not as eerie as I wanted, but it was my first attempt.

Jean's is better, but the "dot" above the j was mean to look like a drop of blood. #fail

the hello is ok.

Susan's is prob. the best.

I might have to redo and take a pic with a knife instead! (to get the full effect)

Spooky Season!

 It's that time of year! Love fall/autumn/October, etc.

In 2019, did a bunch of Halloween-themed lettering challenges. So much fun, and i love how this one turned out:

I can't find the original OR a pic so I screen-captured this from my IG acct. I'd love to find the original, so I could frame it for my house.

These 2 are from last year:

Just got an idea to redo! ("They're creepy and they're kooky, Mysterious and Spooky...") -- Stay tuned!

30 Days of Boos

In 2019, I decided to do another "word" challenge, 

so I did 30 Days of Boos.

It was VERY challenging, as I ran out of ideas. But I was thrilled with how some turned out. So, here are a few faves.

I love this B. Tried to use it with my idea below, but didn't quite work out.

Homemade folded pen.

I love how this one turned out!

Not quite even all around, but my flourishes -- yes!

Before pic.

Sketch idea and how it turned out:

one of my first Boos. White india ink.

love this one too. Not sure why but there's something about it.

Homemade folded pen and metallic acrylic ink.

Here is another fave, using gouache.

Test piece.

I love this one, except the last o (messed up b/c of ink!)

one that I turned into a card/insert.

This is a fun one too. Another repeating pattern.

Fun face. Simple.

 

Spooky, Ghost & Redrum.

It's Halloween season!!! 

So, here are a few pieces from some IG lettering challenges.

I don't like the last one as much as the first 2, but at the same time, there's something about it. 

And just for fun, one done with a chisel tip nib. (Need to work on my gothic lettering style!)

This is one I tried to emulate from Rachel Yallop (except I added the ghost for the o). Wish I had left my h & s as shown below. (I did a video for this and these are screen shots.)

Just for fun, I played with filters.

I think I like this the best.

And this one I love!

Check out my video on my youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/1FabMum/videos

(or see below!)