Inktober update

 For those of you who follow my Instagram account you would have seen my progress for this years Inktober as I posted them at the time.

However, for those who haven't here is the next installment of my tags (the first 12 were posted on my blog here)

I am pleased I stuck to tags over the past 3 years as they don't take up much room, are quick to do (so I actually get to finish the month challenge) and are easy to flick back through to see how my style has developed.

It is not always easy to think of a picture for the prompt but there is SO much inspiration out there as inktober is now so big there are thousands following and painting each day!

It feels a shame when the month comes to an end but I have to admit one month is enough, I have looked at annual challenges before and I know I would not stick to it!

So there you are, another Inktober completed!  Did you take part?  I would love to see yours if you did, please let me know in the comments.

Kyla

WOYWW

Hello peeps, I have been absent for a while and was not easily able to do many return visits as I was sunning myself on a well earned summer (well Autumn) holiday in Malta....ah Malta, lots of free art exhibitions, festivals, swimming in the sea off the cliffs and maybe one or two aperol spritz! 

Whilst I was away I decided to once again take part in Inktober (I think i have done it for about 5 years).  Created 10 years ago by artists Jake Parker you produce a piece each day for the month (see https://inktober.com/ for more details). 

There are various prompts etc you can use and I tend to use the official ones forcing myself to spend no more than 10 mins to draw on a tag - that way I am more than likely to be able to keep up!

So my desk this week is a bit of a cheat as I placed the tags on my dining room table to photograph the ones I have done so far so thought that could be my workdesk (well it sometimes is so why not)

This is the first 6 days worth of tags, most are drawn with Posca pens as I love them as they take on SO many surfaces and I tend to carry a few primary colours with me so I have something to sketch with if I have the time (or stuck waiting for trains etc!)

These are the next 6 I have completed, I am a couple days behind but have an evening free soon so plan on spending some time catching up (as its dark now in the evenings so not able to work on the allotment).

So, What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?

Kyla

Free art update

 Only just realised that whilst I posted these on my social media sites I had forgotten to update my blog-so here is a catch up.

I love taking part in Free Art Friday and Art Abandonment as well as Bristol Rocks and Sidmouth Smilestones.  Basically make art and leave it for someone to find, easy.

This was a small watercolour I sketched whilst at a hospital appointment recently.  You sit there, often for a couple hours so I tend to sketch as it keeps me off my phone and my mind occupied.  I then usually leave the sketches (unless they are my urban sketches which tend to be in a proper sketchbook) for someone to find, pass on or leave for someone else.

I also tend to have some posca pens and a small clear nail varnish with me in my small travel kit.  These come in really handy if I spot any pebbles/rocks that I can draw on and  leave for others to find.  The nail varnish providing a clear protective lacquer. 

 

I never really know what I am going to draw, it depends on the shape of the stone but I tend to have half a dozen "go to" designs that tend to work on various shapes.

I usually leave contact details of the groups mentioned above (usually via Facebook/groups) and people can register a find online and also post a picture if they then move the stones to a new location and abandon them for another to find.

I think it is a lovely idea and a great way to spread a smile.

Do you do anything like this, I would love to hear what you do

kyla

365 Journal Challenge

 Ooh get me, I have been at the craft desk again!

On my previous post I started my 365 Challenge page for March.  I decided to add some additional depth and colour to it, adding green, dark blue and red.  I spritzed water over and this enabled me to move the colour round the page, mix it up to darken and lift some off to lighten the effect.  I then sprinkled a bit more water flicker from my fingers to lift a few more areas of paint off the page and waited for it to dry.

Once it was dry I added my journal squares, stamped the date and then decorated the page

Nothing particularly detailed just some doodling with my posca pens (easily my favourite pen to doodle with as it can be applied to SO many different surfaces from shoes, glass to paper and more).  The main thing is I have finished the page so can quickly update the entries to date and I am all caught up with my monthly journals!

Happy crafting

Kyla

Key Holder upcycling

 As Christmas is well and truly over I am safe to post one of my Christmas pressie makes.

My brother and sister-in-law said they would like a key holder so I thought I would try making one rather than buying one.  

Not something I have ever made before but I decided to have a go.

A few years ago I decided to take off my red rubber stamps from their wooded bases in an attempt to save space.  Now the wood was lovely and smooth so too good to throw away so I have had them all stashed away until I can think of something to do with them and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

I sanded, gesso'd and stamped a hummingbird and the word "keys" which I embossed then coloured in with posca pens.

When it dried I added a few coats of varnish and bought some key hooks.

I was really pleased how it turned out, not too fiddly just a bit of time for the drying between the layers etc but quite effective and totally personal (sis-in-law loves hummingbirds).

Now I just have about another 40 odd blocks of wood to use up!  Any ideas?

Happy crafting

Kyla