Wednesday, May 18, 2016

The Diva's Weekly Challenge #268: "A bit-o-black"

This week the Diva's Weekly Challenge is about creating more drama by adding more black than you normally would. I love challenges that push me out of my comfort zone. Those so often become my favorites works!


abstract black and white ink drawing with orange colored pencil gems using zentangle, tangle, nebel
Nebel with Gems
ink, colored pencil on paper
Julie Bazuzi (c)2016
This tangle started life as a few practice strokes on a scrap of paper and then miraculously evolved into a piece I really loved creating. This reminds me of some advice I picked up from an interview with painter Robert Burridge:


Always use good materials 
because you just never know when 
a great piece of art will appear!

He talks about using high quality paper even in his sketchbooks from 5:58 to roughly 7:55 if you want to skip right to it, but the whole interview is pretty interesting if you want to learn more about how a prolific artist generates and keeps track of ideas. He also shares his art-making knowledge very generously, which is how I first encountered his work.

The belief in using quality materials as a way of showing respect to your creative journey is also part of the Zentangle® philosophy, which is why the kits and accessories come with archival ink pens and tiles made of such fine paper.

I love, love, LOVE art supplies. I want to try everything when it comes to art. (Why, yes I did pin those DIY instructions for making a kiln in my backyard, thank you very much!) When I go into the art supply store, I want two of everything. And when I get a sale catalog from Utrecht in my mailbox, hold me back!

But sometimes I find it a challenge to justify spending the money on the good stuff when it comes to my art addiction, despite how passionate I am about learning more about making art and how good I feel when I've spent time doing it.

That's the inner critic showing up again.

And while I do need to pay attention to my budget, I also need to protect and nurture my creative spark if I want it to keep growing. So take that, inner critic! (insert karate chop here) I'm very glad that even though I was just experimenting on a "scrap" I was still using the best materials I currently have, and I love what I created.


Strathmore colored pencil sketchbook with Prismacolor 48 colored pencil set and Sakura Pigma Micron pen
Julie Bazuzi (c)2016


14 comments:

  1. Oh gosh, I feel this one! I remember buying supplied at Daniel Smith's and thinking 'why would they sell these things to me? i'm not a real artist'... So much self-judgment.
    High quality supplies for the win! (And when budget allows.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We all start somewhere, right? That "I'm not a real artist" self-doubt hits me a lot too. I'm just trying to remember that impostor syndrome is a thing that happens in every field of work and more often to women. Let's not let that stop us, sweet friend. <3

      Delete
  2. Beautiful tile! I also have that addiction of wanting two of everything.... :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! It is a bit of an addiction, but a better one than most I think!

      Delete
  3. Very nice combination of orange and black. That is already a brilliant dramatic choice, and then these little black pearls; just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Like Ria said, the orange and black are GREAT together!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful tile! I like the combination of black and orange, too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. wonderful combination and contrasts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That bit-o-black challenge really encouraged me to amp up those contrasts. Thanks for stopping in and saying hello. :)

      Delete
  7. Kids stationery, including notebooks, planners, and folders, helps children develop early organizational skills, teaching them to manage tasks, set goals, and keep track of their activities. kids stationery set

    ReplyDelete
  8. Arts and Crafts provide a hands-on platform for individuals to explore their creativity, experiment with materials, and unleash their imagination. Engaging in artistic activities fosters self-expression, problem-solving, and a sense of accomplishment, making it a fulfilling and enriching endeavor.

    ReplyDelete