Working with Twinkling H2O's

Luminarte has a number of products that are high quality and fun to use.  After trying Silks Acrylic Glaze, I moved on to Mastering Twinks Part I - Twinkling Discoveries, where I had a chance to practice using Twinkling H2O's.

Dion Dior teaches an absorbing class.  I wish this class was available when I was in college.  Each week of the five week class is covers a particular subject and applies it to the use of Twinks. Beginners can participate in the class, yet there is still plenty of information useful to more advanced students.  

Each week has a multi-part lesson including video, drawing, inspiration, lesson related pdf's and a main project.

Examples of projects done with Twinkling H2O's

Using Limited Pallettes

Twinkling Mandala

Mandalas

Mandalas

Once again, I've been wandering the web, searching for online classes.  Artist and Illustrator Dion Dior has several online classes interesting classes available, each emphasizing methods and materials that I am interested in trying.   Wisdom Circles appealed to me the most, so I signed up.

It's been a fascinating class.  I've done a series of mandalas in a variety of media ranging from black fine-line pen on white paper, to watercolor and pen, white gel pen on black paper, metallic gel pen on black paper.  I have spent some time experimenting with LuminArte's Silks Acrylic Glaze  and Twinkling H2Os, then accenting the work with white or metallic gel pens. I also had an opportunity to work with frisket, something I've never tried, although I've known about it for years. 

Embellishment is essential to the success of these projects. Beadwork and fiber arts might well be other ways to depict some of these designs. (Projects to try later!)

White gel pen on black cardstock.

Twinkling H20s, fine line black pen on a Strathmore Visual Journal page.

Silks Acrylic Glaze and white gel pen on black cardstock.

Work in progress. Silks acrylic glaze and gold gel pen on black cardstock.

Work continued with additional embellishment with various color metallic gel pens.

Once 

 

 

Project in Progress

While searching through a stack of "stuff" I found a mini-quilt I did for one of Jane LaFazio's online classes: an iris  watercolor transformed into a wool felt square, abandoned after completing the iris.

This time the iris "spoke" to me and I began embellishing the square with pearl cotton stitching.

 Each time I pick up the project,  I add or change the embellishments.

There is no set plan,  just responses to feelings and impressions.

It's a very relaxing way to work.

A Roadrunner Is Not a Cartoon (But It Looks Like One).

Roadrunners are not pretty. They are all legs and beaks and scrawny bodies. They rarely fly, but run like track stars especially when chased by the poodle next door.

I had an opportunity to watch a roadrunner when I was walking Homer. I watched this oddball bird, his movements and habits, approaching as closely as I could, hoping Homer didn't decide to chase it. Being dragged through  a field with by a 70 lb. dog is not my idea of fun.

After several observations, I realized the roadrunner would make a great paper mache project. I studied some photos of roadrunners. I used a combination of materials for the armature: 12 gauge wire,  cardboard, newspaper, and masking tape. After finishing the armature I covered the armature with Creative Paperclay. I realized I need to lengthen the legs, which became a problem I'm still dealing with.

I'm still working on the body sculpting.  Here's what I have so far.