Week 19 of 365 Days of Art Challenge - Skull Challenge

March/April 2014
Cloth Paper Scissors magazine

I had fun with sketching this week. I even got done early! I created a skull for Cloth Paper Scissors readers' Skull challenge for Dia de los Muertos. This was first posted in the March/April 2014 Cloth Paper Scissors (CPS) mixed-media magazine.  I actually started working on this a few weeks ago with a couple posts (see Feb 27 and Mar 6).

I finally chose a skull shape to work from and added some doodling to it. Then I used Aquarelle watercolors to paint it. I added brighter colors with Prismacolor markers, Sakura Souffle pens, and Sakura glaze pens.

Dia de los Muertos reminds me of my heritage, my ancestors, and where I come from - all combining to make me who I am today. With that in mind, I wanted my skull to be colorful and happy.

Floral Calavera is a 6" x 6" mixed-media Dia de los Muertos skull doodled with flowers and various other patterns using 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.08 black Sakura micron pens, Prismacolor markers, Sakura Souffle pens, Sakura Glaze pens and Aquarelle watercolors on 140 lb. watercolor paper. 

Cloth Paper Scissors will post the winners on May 16. I hope to find my name listed. The winners' work will be published in the Sept/Oct 2014 issue.

Whether I win or not, this was fun to create and I think I will print it onto fabric to  use as a centerpiece for a Day of the Dead quilt that I've been planning to make.

Week 9 of 365 Days of Art Challenge: Dia de los Muertos continued

I've continued to work on calaveras. (skulls) for the mixed-media Skull Challenge for Dia de los Muertos sponsored by Cloth, Paper, Scissors this week. (You can check out my blog from last week for more information.)

I googled Dia de los Muertos images for inspiration. I found a couple skull shapes that intrigued me and a couple of faces that were interesting. Unfortunately I only got a couple sketches finished of what I wanted to try. 

6" x 6" Three-quarters profile in Sakura black pen (0.1 micron) and pencil. I had some trouble with the neck vertebrae, clavicles, sternum, and ribs, but wanted to add these to make her more skeletal.

6" x 6" Calevera in Sakura black pen (0.1 micron and 0.8 micron) and pencil. I used a variety of tangle patterns, including ennies, copada,mooka, paisleys, and florz. I like skull shape for this one and had fun with it.

I enjoyed the sketching more this week. I think I was able to relax better while sketching. I started another skull shape, but ran out of time for this blog to add it here. I did sketch another lady skeleton in profile, but was not happy at all with how she was turning out, so did not complete her. I think I'm well on my way for deciding what kind of skull I will do for the challenge. Now I can start experimenting with mixed-media methods.

Also, I will submit this design to F&W Media for their new book, Zen Doodle Oodles of Doodles call for entries. Need to hurry on that one, as the deadline is tomorrow!

Enjoy your week! Happy sketching!

Week 8 of 365 Days of Art Challenge: Dia de los Muertos

March/April CPS mixed-media magazine cover

The week goes by so fast!! Not sure where the time goes. I did get another sketch done, but thought I'd have more than one by now! I received the March/April 2014 Cloth Paper Scissors (CPS) mixed-media magazine this week. (You can find out more about CPS here.) They are having a reader challenge: a mixed-media Skull Challenge for Dia de los Muertos.

For those unfamiliar with Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration, you can read more here on Wikipedia. Briefly, Dia de los Muertos is celebrated throughout Mexico, the American Southwest, and elsewhere. It focuses on gathering to pray for and remember friends and family who have died. The celebration occurs October 31, November 1 and November 2, similar to the Christian All Hallow's Eve, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Traditionally, altars (called ofrendas) are built, honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these gifts. Possessions of the deceased can also be left at graves. Skulls (calaveras) and skeletons, usually depicted as enjoying life,  appear everywhere during this holiday.

To enter the reader challenge, you need to create a 6" x 6" (or 6" x 6" x 6") mixed-media skull or calavera. Photos need to be submitted by May 9, 2014. CPS will feature some of the finalists' artwork in the Sept/Oct 2014 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors and/or on their website.

So I thought I would practice drawing skulls this week and doodling them. Unfortunately, I only got one completed.

6" x 6" calavera ZIA (Zentangle-Inspired-Art) with tangles, flowers, and doodles.
Sakura micron pen (0.1, 0.5, and 0.8), and pencil on mixed-media paper.

I was happier with it before I added the printemps (spiral) tangle pattern around the eyes, upper cheekbones, and bridge of the nose. This tangle didn't leave enough open space like the rest of the skull has.  My shading doesn't show up as well as I would like, either, and I want to play more with the exact shape of the calavera.  But that's why I want to practice, until I get a design I'm happy with and from which to create a piece of mixed-media.  I also need to experiment with mixed-media techniques to decide what I want to include in creating a mixed-media calavera.