Tangling for ArtOMat

“You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
― Maya Angelou

Zentangles on blocks in a row

Recently, I discovered a new way to open up channels to my creative process by learning how to Zentangle.  Do you know about Zentangle?  It is a doodling type process where a structured pattern is created using pencils and pens.  If the spirit moves you,  you can throw other mediums into the mix.  It's an intuitive activity where the general rule of thumb is little to no erasing in the course of creating the work.   Basically, it's a go with the flow, at least that is how I approach it.

Adrift - Digital Zentangle

Tangle in Blue - pencil, pen, watercolor

Zentangles are usually no larger then 3.5 x 2.5 the same size as an artist trading card.  The size makes it ideal for art on small wood blocks; give or take an inch.

The idea to create Zentangles for ArtOMat didn't come to me right away.  As I was exploring the technique, my daughter said to me, "Mom, those designs would look great on the art blocks!"  Walla, the inspiration was born.

The Tangle in Blue is one that is on the next batch of art blocks I'm currently preparing for shipment.  I used pencils, pens and watercolor to create it.

What I love about Zentangles is the liberating feeling I get by just sitting down and letting the lines, shapes, and circles "tell me" what it wants to be.  It's a funny way of putting it but I think its a thing many artists experience when they begin a work.   So essentially, you can say, I'm hooked  because the lack of conformity is a language I understand very well.  No boundaries - just go for it  The one exception is that repeat patterns work very well in Zentangles but that is an exception I can live with and welcome, in fact.

I just about have all the new work completed for ArtOMat.  Half the artwork has been mounted on the blocks.  Some of the recent work is shown in the image at the top of this blog post.  It's always an exciting time when new work is shipped out.  I never know where the blocks will vend.  I learned recently, that the previous batch was vending at The Cosmopolitan in Vegas - super exciting!  It's thrilling to share my work.  It feels down right good because we artists that contribute don't do it for the money.  It's more like random acts of kindness.  We do it to share our work and hopefully in the process add a ray of sunlight in a person's day.

Pebble Garden Zentangle, pencil, pen, watercolor

Purusing What You Love

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
  ~ Mahatma Gandhi

I gain a great deal of satisfaction creating art.  It is a thing I was told when I was very young that I had an aptitude for but lacked the self confidence and belief in myself to recognize it.  Fast forward decades later and now in my mid-life, I'm doing what I love.  I don't do it with the high expectation of getting rich because if I did that, if I thought in that narrow way, it would negatively impact my creativity.  I would therefore, be trapped with the constant thought, this thing I make must be good enough so others will want to buy it.  It must be good enough for others first and foremost.  I can't do that.  It's one of the reasons why I struggle sticking to one type of genre.  For me, it's very limiting to do only landscapes or whatever.  I do whatever moves me simply because it's important to me in that space of time.

The true pursuit of happiness is following our dreams.  Doing things that motivates us from the inside out.  I've done the corporate grind in the first half of my life.  It was always a means to an end.  It made the difference of keeping food on the table and the roof over the head.  It was not something I loved doing or looked forward to with a great deal of satisfaction.  Living life in that way although very necessary for many is enslavement.   Our current economic system by design forces us into these boxes of confinement to survive.  Life shouldn't be just about surviving.   It should be about enjoying and doing so much more then just getting by.

The above video resonated with me because it is so very true in my opinion.  It states plainly and clearly how limiting life can be if our primary motivation is getting rich.  If getting rich is the main focus not the pursuit of doing a thing that enriches our soul is a death to our spirit.  Having disposal income makes living life easier in many respects but when we master what we love by pursuing it, often times the money will follow.

I am nowhere near being independently wealthy through the sales of my art works.  I am however, doing something that is fulfilling.  It is also extremely satisfying to know that my work gives joy and meaning to others.  I believe being true to my life which reflects in my work will lead to compensation that assists in my livelihood.  That my primary focus is to create art because it gives me joy and the rest will follow.

A Different Point of View

A LIttle Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

"How important are the visual arts in our society?  I feel strongly that the visual arts are of vast and incalculable importance. Of course I could be prejudiced. I am a visual art. "  ~ Kermit the Frog

I completed and shipped another set of 25 blocks to ArtOMat - Artists in Cellophane.  As always it's a mixed bagged but I did make a Wild Flower series in this set.

Freshly picked for ArtOMat

The entire 12 Chinese zodiac series is completed. In this work, I created a digital collage.  I compiled this work into a 2013 calendar which is available for sale in my Zazzle store.

I'm officially a certified Graphic Designer having completed the certificate program at Sessions College Online.  Below are snips of my work:

A psychedelic art journey

  

The psychedelic collage work inspired me to make the Chinese animals montage.  Thanks to Sessions for the leap of inspiration.

Mock Up Label Design

This work is a mock up for product labels.

Mock Up CD Label Design

Jester's Cap

Jester's Cap is a mixed media abstract art experiment.  The original work started out as a pencil, pen and mark drawing.  I digitally enhanced the work to make what is shown here.

The study in graphic design helped opened the door to the works shown here.

Green Crossing

“‎Some of my finest hours have been spent on my back veranda, smoking hemp and observing as far as my eye can see.”  ~ Thomas Jefferson


I support the legalization of Cannabis Sativa.  It's a naturally occurring herb that offers many benefits for mind, body and soul.  One benefit that interests me the most as an artist, is the planet's psychoactive properties that opens gateways to creativity.  As an individual, I should be allowed without restriction to experiment as just another tool for my creative process in the same way I take in the world for inspiration.

 Green Crossing, ink & markers on vellum

"It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics . . . dope and all that crap. It's a thousand times better than whiskey - it's an assistant - a friend." ~  Louis Armstrong

Exploring New Skills and Social Awareness Messages

I've been in a graphic design program over the past 7 months.  It's coming along and I've been getting good grades on my projects.  It has been a challenge which helps to stretch my creativity as well as help me grow professionally.  It's not easy coming up with creative ideas but lately, I'm drawn (no pun intended) to concerns that mean a great deal to me.

I'm very active in things related to social awareness and humanitarian concerns.  It takes up a great deal of my energy in my thoughts so it's only a natural progression for it to impact my artistic work.  I want to create artworks that are meaningful - to me and what I think matters in the world.  I see myself as wanting to take my art and adding messages to it but not in a contrived manner.  For me, it really needs to come from my heart.  I find that sometimes, I'm just waiting to be inspired as if I'm holding my breathe waiting for the spark.  It helps when I write my ideas down or doddle or both.

My newest work is all in graphic design.  I didn't pick up the pencil on these but rather jumped into illustrator for these social awareness message pieces.  I've often found it's easier for me to create via my keyboard instead of thumbnails to the larger project.  The approach helps me collect my thoughts and make modifications with relative ease.

“Culture of the mind must be subservient to the heart.”   ~M. Gandhi

The first one is Global Citizen:

In the next design, I modified the artwork with a similar yet different message.  Both hold the meaning I was aiming for while creating the work:

These ideas are meaningful to me and in my mind, holds a great deal of importance.  I actually apply these principles as I see myself as part of the larger picture on this planet.  And, although I'm not a capitalist in the sense of the word, I do need to make some sort of living in the confines of the monetary system in which we all live.   With that being said, I've made these designs available in my Zazzle store on cool products.

Think Globally, Shop Locally Earth Peace Dove Tshirts by sunfluer

 

Global Citizen Peace Dove Electronic Case by sunfluer

 

Global Citizen Onesie by sunfluer

Thanks for stopping by.  Namaste.

"A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.”  ~ M. Gandhi

Fruit Salad

One holiday observation I find to be very interesting is Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead.  This day of remembrance honoring ancestors, dearly departed and friends is celebrated throughout Mexico.  It is also celebrated in various ways around the world often known as All Saints Day or All Souls Day.


The artwork depicting Dia de los Muertos often uses skulls designed in many colorful expressions.  I've been working on a graphical representation as a way to practice new acquired skills through the Graphic Design course I'm currently pursuing.  I wanted something very colorful with images of flowers surrounding the skull.

Hey there!  You can call me "Fruit Salad".


Fruit Salad as I've decidedly refer to it, was created using Illustrator and InDesign.  Working with a variety of shapes, colors and layering techniques, I was able to generate this festive skull.  Instead of coins on the eyes for the ferryman, I used flowers.  Hopefully, Charon will accept it as payment for safe crossing to the other side.  ;))

Eye Read

The graphic design course I'm studying is progressing at a steady pace.  I'm managing to complete a project a week.   I've gone through Photoshop, Illustrator and currently working in InDesign.  All of these are within the Adobe suite.  I love Illustrator due to the ease at which I can manipulate objects.  I work however, interchangeably within the entire suite.  Although still in a learning curve, I've acquired quite a bit of knowledge in a relatively short time.  It takes my work to an all new level.

I continue to practice my drawing skills using the traditional pencil and paper approach.  I love working with pencils and the level of control, detail I can achieve with the medium.  Yesterday, I got an idea to create a piece that represents love for reading.  I read every single day.  Life would be far less interesting without my books and access to doing research.

The piece started out with a pencil drawing of 'my' eye.  Yes, I used my own eye as a model.  I took a close up image of my eye using my cellphone.  Using the photo as reference, I created an 'eye' drawing.

Hello - I see you.  I worked with 2B, 4B, 7B, 8B, 9B pencils to create this drawing.

Using my Photoshop app, I flipped the image to create a "left" eye.  This function is basic but fun to do nonetheless.

I opened the Illustrator app to create the typography elements for the artwork.  Putting it all together, is a piece expressing an interest in reading.

"Life-transforming ideas have always come to me through books."  ~ Bell Hooks

On Connections and Reciprocation

 The other day, I received an email from Natalie Appleton a Canadian writer in Vernon, BC.  Natalie asked if she could use my image, Chinese Year of the Snake on her blog.  Of course, I was delighted to share my work with another artist.  The way I see it, it's a collaborative effort of sharing our individual passions.  Natalie features my work on her blog and I get to tell you about it and share her blog with you.  It's a loop and a supportive effort.

Natalie is a non-fiction writer.  She has written articles for publications such as the NY Times, Vancouver Sun and Bangkok Post.  Right now, Natalie is working on a new book about how she met her spouse in Bangkok who happens to be a Canadian.  Visit Natalie's blog to learn more about her work.

Thank you, Natalie for highlighting my work on your blog.   I very much appreciate it.

“If you have a candle, the light won't glow any dimmer if I light yours off of mine.”  ~ Steven Tyler

Chinese Astrology Dog

I've created the 10th animal in the Chinese astrology series:  The Dog.

The dog years are as follows:
1910*1922*1934*1946*1958*1970*1982*1994*2006*2018

If you were born in the year of the dog, you share the characteristics of being compassionate, reliable, pessimistic, anxious, honest, nosy and overwhelming.

Other Chinese dog facts are:
Eleventh in order, Chinese name—GOU, sign of fidelity
Hour—7pm-8:59pm
Month—October Western Counterpart—Libra

Although this is the 10th drawing, I haven't created this series in succession in the Chinese zodiac wheel.  My entire Chinese animal series can be purchased on great products in my Zazzle stores and prints from Fine Art America.

Chinese Zodiac Monkey

 

The monkey is #8 in the series of Chinese astrology animals.   The drawing is created on 7" x 7" Bristol with archival ink pens and markers. 

"Monkeys can run circles around other people with ease. They are curious and clever people who catch on quickly to most anything. Monkey people generally can accomplish any given task. They appreciate difficult or challenging work as it stimulates them and makes them think."

Years of the Monkey

"Monkey Years are ninth in the cycle following the Sheep Years, and recur every twelfth year. The Chinese New Year does not fall on a specific date, so it is essential to check the calendar to find the exact date on which each Monkey Year actually begins.
1908*1920*1932*1944*1956*1968*1980*1992*2004*2016"

Steam Punk Robot Owl

 I created this new design using Adobe Illustrator.  All the elements in the Steam Punk Owl to create the artwork was done using the shape tools in Illustrator.   It is my own unique design inspired by an assignment for the Graphic Design course I'm taking online.

I've submitted this design for scoring on Threadless.  If I receive a high enough score, it will be a chance to earn a place on Threadless.  Please stop over to add your score on my design.

Score this design: "Steam Punk Robot Owl," to help it get printed on Threadless!


Gratitude  ~ 8))

New Zazzle Products Created From Original Artwork

Blue Rose Rickshaw Messenger Bag by sunfluer

Wild Sunflower Two Tone Digital Art American MoJo by sunfluer

iPhone Speck Case, Midnight Majesty Fantasy Acryli by sunfluer

Ganash Success Deity Teapot by sunfluer

Hat, Sunflower Bouquet Drawing by sunfluer

Ornaments for the Holidays

Ornaments created from my original paintings and drawings.  Find these at my Zazzle Stores:

Peace on Earth Dove Ornament by sunfluer

African American Little Angel Ornament by sunfluer

Father Christmas Santa Ornament by sunfluer

Ornament, Bulldog Drawing by Dogs4U

Ornament, Folk Art by sunfluer

Ornament, Chinese Astrology Dragon by sunfluer

Ornament, German Shepherd Painting by Dogs4U

Ornament Robin Red Breast by sunfluer
OffTheCuffArt.com
SunfluersJewelryDesigns.com
Zazzle.com/Sunfluer 
Zazzle.com/Dogs4U 
SunfluerDesigns.Imagekind.com

Words As Art

I found a cool website off of my kids magazine, called Muse.  The website is Wordle.net.  I created this Occupy Wall Street message art using the application on the site.  This application that allows you to place any number of words in a box that will randomly place the words as shown in my little piece.

Have fun, get inspired.  Add a few words or passages from a book.  After you create it, make it public on the internet.

www.OffTheCuffArt.com
www.SunfluersJewelryDesigns.com
www.Zazzle.com/Sunfluer
www.Zazzle.com/Dogs4U
SunfluerDesigns.Imagekind.com

An Assorted Artful Collection From The Zazzle Stores of James Macabee

Next in the line up helping to promote artists on Zazzle, is the assorted, artfully created products by James Macabee:

SUNFLOWERS by Irina by MermaidMafia
Make a photographic canvas print

Bad Deuce Plaid Keds by KustomKicks
custom made sneakers by zazzle.com

Bluebonnet Railroad by TheRepublicOfTexas
Join Zazzle's artist affiliate program

www.OffTheCuffArt.com
www.SunfluersJewelryDesigns.com
www.Zazzle.com/Sunfluer
www.Zazzle.com/Dogs4U
http://SunfluerDesigns.Imagekind.com

Fun Zazzle Designs by Re Becca aka Gravity x9

The spotlight in this feature is on Re Becca also known as Gravity x9.  Look for these fun designs on Zazzle:

Thanksgiving Cartoon Turkey Pilgrim by Fall_Seasons_Best
Browse more Cartoon turkey Pet Clothing

Fashion Statement made by Snowmen by I_Love_Xmas
Create a notecard template at zazzle

Happy New Year 2012 - Party Hats on White Confetti by NewYearsCelebration
See more Happy 2012 Ties

www.OffTheCuffArt.com
www.SunfluersJewelryDesigns.com
www.Zazzle.com/Sunfluer
www.Zazzle.com/Dogs4U
http://SunfluerDesigns.Imagekind.com

Beauty Within on Zazzle

Precious Moments by capturedbyKC
Sell art online at Zazzle.

Loves Me Loves Me Not by capturedbyKC
Browse other iPod touch cases

New Beginnings by capturedbyKC
See more Nature Posters

www.OffTheCuffArt.com
www.SunfluersJewelryDesigns.com
www.Zazzle.com/Sunfluer
www.Zazzle.com/Dogs4U
http://SunfluerDesigns.Imagekind.com

Captured Moments on Zazzle

Susan Elkin's fine art photography:

Gray Barn - Reflections of Serenity by SusanElkin
See more Colorful Postcards

Roses I - Orange, Red and Gold Glory by SusanElkin
Browse other Colorful Postcards

Night Sky I - Glory at Dusk by SusanElkin
Join one of the largest artist affiliate programs

www.OffTheCuffArt.com
www.SunfluersJewelryDesigns.com
www.Zazzle.com/Sunfluer
www.Zazzle.com/Dogs4U
http://SunfluerDesigns.Imagekind.com