Playing with Brush Pens

I decided to pull out a few of my Kuretake Zig Real Brush pens to play around with and work some quick sketching.  This is something I need to practice to feel in better control of the pen and how the ink washes out.  I was a bit heavy handed with applying my brush strokes.

The Langton sketchbook / Zig Brush pens / Sharpie pen

This one is watercolor and watercolor pencil using the brush pen only for the lettering.

Stillman and Birn Zeta / W&N watercolors / Zig Brush pen

November 2018 Monthly Challenge - Creepy Crawlies

This month's challenge between friends is illustrating creepy crawlies. 

We are to end up with six illustrations.  We can choose six different "models" or if less than six, we have to sketch in different positions to reach our six quota.

Each illustration has to be done in a different medium.

Worked in Stillman & Birn Beta - large sketchbook

This Past Week's Sketches

Although I've been trying to sketch every day, I was also glued to the TV watching weather news on Florence since I have family in the areas that were hit.  Talk about a long weekend and I wasn't even the one going through what all those folks faced and still facing with all the flood waters. 

Sketch to the left was worked in the Fabriano Venezia sketchbook.  One on the right is using Procreate using a bit of imagination.  Source is from a photo my middle son took when at Universal April 2017.

This one is from a figurine our neighbor gifted us last week.

Using a photo a member in one of my Facebook groups shared with me, I worked this next one using a Kuretake Brush Pen.  I find using brush pens very awkward.

Because I hadn't used the pen, it was dried up and I had to take it apart and clean it.......first soaking the brush end in warm water and then flushing.  It took me near 40 minutes to finally get the dried up ink to "give" and start flowing with the water flush.  I never did get a clear stream of water through the brush end though.  Maybe I should have just let the tip soak for a day or so before attempting the pen cleaning.

This next is where I'm impatiently waiting for some cooler weather.  I miss four seasons living in Florida and definitely miss seeing snow once in awhile.  I'm not one who really likes the hot weather......although I do love and appreciate the sun shine nearly year round.  

This was worked last night......bringing out my autumn favorite figurines/shelf sitters.

Holiday Wish #2

Wednesday, I purchased a poinsettia and last night worked on this in the Strathmore Visual Journal (watercolor).  Again using the Kuretake Zig Clean Color brush markers along with a wet brush.

End results as an e-card.

Holiday Wish #1

Several posts back, I shared a graphite sketch where I came up with Opal dressed up and the two other elements.  Using that, I worked this in the S&B Zeta sketchbook using the Kuretake Zig Clean Color brush markers and waterbrush.

And here is the ending e-card results I created from this color sketch.

Old Time Relics - Lakeshore Dr The Villages

Back in July, Terry and I drove to Lakeshore Drive at the Villages.  What really grabbed my attention as we walked around were the various relics outside shops and restaurants.

Here's a sketch of what drew my attention at Cody's Roadhouse.

Steps as I worked the page:

Eastern Lubber Grasshopper - Ink and Brush Pens

Earlier in the year I purchased a few pens and brush markers intending to do some play and practice.  Only I've gone all these months not really thinking about them.

Tonight I decided to play using materials I hadn't used...........Pentel Art Pocket Brush pen and Zig (Kuretake) Clean Color Marker brush pens.

Using the Strathmore Visual Watercolor Journal, I first sketched using the Pilot Falcon fountain pen.  Then after the ink was dry, I went over some areas with the Pocket Brush pen.  Then I grabbed the brush marker pen colors I wanted or needed and laid down color.  Immediately after adding the color, I would take a waterbrush and blend the color on paper.

I had a lot of fun with these pens.  The colors were vibrant even after drying.  They blended beautifully together and using the waterbrush pushing or pulling color from the initial color stroke made.

After playing with these and seeing how nice they are to work with, I might just have to purchase additional colors to add to the 12 purchased months ago to try out.

Brush Play with Found Brush Pen

Besides sorting through my books, I'm working to organize my art supplies and probably donate those I seldom use or don't think I'll ever use.

In one of my drawers was this red box with two pens and a single refill received as a free gift years ago in an art supply order.  Looking online, I can't find anything on these pens or how to obtain refills.  I love the pens but not much good if one can't find the refills and I can't see a way to add ink.

Just for fun, I thought I'd see if they even made marks figuring they'd be dried out.  They were indeed rather dry but still made light marks.  If I dipped the tip in water, I could obtain the darks you see.

The ideas for the little illustrations come from a Sumi-E painting book that is in my stack of books to donate.

Stillman & Birn Alpha journal

Lost Mojo

Now and then I go through slumps (as I'm sure everyone does at various times and I've mentioned before)..........some lasting for long periods.  Not sure what's going on with me right at the moment; but, I don't think it's one of my normal slumps.  Instead it just feels like I've lost my mojo.

If I were to say that to my family, they'd say I'd lost more than that (which may be true...ha ha ha).

I try combing through books and pictures hoping to initiate some motivation.  Thought I had last night but the results (to me) were .......... disappointing.  Another trick I use is playing with the online scribbler.  So far I'm still feeling like I've lost it.

Not sure if it's the weather or after holiday blues or what.  In all honesty, I just haven't felt up to doing much of anything to include my normal computer regime of reading my favorite art blogs, answering correspondence, etc. etc.  And going through books and photos has only been a half effort.

I did manage this using Scribbler hoping it might help....so far - not really.

And although a bit hesitant to share, here's what I managed last night.  Maybe when I'm in one of these moods, I should NOT try something totally foreign to me.  With this I was trying a brush pen, which at this point I can say I do not much care for.  Why, is a question I can't answer even to myself.  I even tried to dress it with some watercolor hoping that might help.............nope.

Here's hoping this lost mojo feeling doesn't last long!!