Speedball Textbook Video

I recently accepted a job co-editing the Centennial Edition of the Speedball Textbook. So we are toying with the idea of making it interactive. I shot this video on using the “A Series” nib that was invented by Ross F. George and William Hugh Gordon more than 100 years ago.

This nib is really amazing because you use both sides of the nib. It was developed for speed in lettering on Sho Cards, Movie Title Cards and signs.

http://www.avgraphics.net/A-NibMovie.mp4

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Inspiration Beats Intimidation

Trying a new expressive form of art can be intimidating to anyone. The key word here is TRY.

See my mentor Marney Makridakis’s post on how she overcame the limiting beliefs she once had about lettering!

http://artellaland.com/art-and-tell.html/

Lettered tree by Marney Makridakis

Hop, Skip, Jump!

I’m inspired by this spunky new guide by Marney Makridakis, called HOP, SKIP, JUMP: 75 Ways to Playfully Manifest a Meaningful Life.  Find out if you are a Hopper, Skipper or Jumper by taking this fun quiz: http://artellaland.com/play.html.

And….simply order Hop, Skip, Jump TODAY and get an instant $15 Artella eGift Certificate for each copy purchased, which is even more than the price of the book!

Hop, Skip, Jump! A new guide by Marney Makridakis

The eGift Certificate is good on any Artella eProduct; no minimum purchase required.  So it’s the best day to order multiple copies as holiday presents, and get $15 back for each one; and the eGift certificates can even be transferred to others as holiday gifts, too.

Go to http://www.artellaland.com/play.html to order your copy and take a fun quiz to find out if you Hop, Skip, or Jump! 🙂

Tangled Eggs at NAEA 2014

Check out the Tangled Egg techniques on this Sakura YouTube video I did in San Diego at this year’s National Art Education Association convention. These eggs were purchased at WalMart for $1.99/dozen. I liked tangling on them because they have some kind of gesso finish on them so you can use almost any kind of medium on it. I used the Koi Watercolor Brush, Glaze, Moonlight and Pigma Microns on these eggs.

I had the privilege of sharing creative techniques with attending art educators in the Sakura booth with Illustrator & Author, Phuong-Mai Bui-Quang (we call her Mai – pronounced “My”) who shared her exceptional Manga Illustration techniques.

Mai getting ready to teach.

NAEA annually provides the latest, cutting-edge information for creative educators, and I can tell you firsthandly, that art teachers still LOVE the Zentangle® method of drawing. We began each day of the conference, by teaching several Zentangle patterns using the Apprentice tiles and pigma 05 pens found in the Zentangle Apprentice Kit. Then we tangled on die-cut, perforated and scored Icosahedron forms using the new Moonlight – 06 size pens. I also taught a session on Illumitangles® with Pigma 05 (with the nylon tip) and Gold Metallic Gellyroll pens that the teachers all loved to take back and share with their students.

The die-cut, perforated and scored Icosahedron (available at StringStarters.com) is also featured in the new Zentangle 10 book
by Suzanne McNeill, CZT. You’ll discover wonderful paper projects for booklets, greeting cards, angels, ornaments, beads, boxes, accordion folds, and more in Zentangle 10 published by Design Originals.

TANGLED ICOSAHEDRON – Each tab interlocks – no glue or staples needed.

I will be teaching an “Icosahedron Tangles” Break-Out mini-class at Legacies II International Lettering Arts Conference this summer July 19 – 26, 2014. Look for the schedule this week at www.calligraphyconference.org.

Discover, Learn and Create at Legacies this summer in Dallas, TX

Check out the 72 Break-Out Sessions open to the public at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts where you’ll also see instructors: Barbara Close, Brenda Broadbent-CZT, Janet Takahashi, Roanne Mathias, Suzanne McNeill-CZT, Master Teacher of Precious Metal Clay – Sharon Gillespie , Myrna Rosen, Joanne Fink, Creativity Coach and Mentor Marney Makridakis – and many more.

Tangled in Irving, TX

The June Zentangle® on Silk class was such a blast!
We had a special student in the class – Cathy Whiteman of Irving Community Television Network who tells about it so eloquently in this YouTube video.

Some of the tangled scarves found their way into the Design Originals book by Suzanne McNeill titled The Beauty of Zentangle®. This new book is came out the fall of 2013 and features more than 100 contributing artist’s Zentangle-inspired artwork. Here is a sneak peak of one of my tangled scarves:

Gutta resist and silk dyes create a wonderful web of colors

No matter what the medium, the Zentangle method of drawing is one of the best ways to “charge your batteries”. There are ongoing classes for all levels of interest and abilities in your area. You can get the Beauty of Zentangle:

If you are in the Arlington area, Suzanne McNeill-Sparks is opening up Sparks Studio of Creative Arts on September 7, 2013 from 3:00pm to 8:00pm during the Gallery walk. A myriad of nationally known teachers (including myself), will be exhibiting and teaching through out the year. Special Open Studio Days, Art Journal Days and Creative Classes will inspire and spark your creativity! Her new Gallery and Studio is located at:

A place to learn, express and inspire.

509 W. Main Street
Arlington, TX 76012
817-266-3085

Visit SparkStudioArt.com

One Zentangle A Day

Nancy Smith, CZT; Angie Vangalis, CZT; and Beckah Krahula, CZT at the Houston International Quilt Show

I spent 4 days with Beckah Krahula at the Houston International Quilt show from October 31st - November 4th 2012 promoting her new book One Zentangle A Day (released November 1, 2012)and sold more than 120 books in less than 2 days!
Beckah's book was designed as a 6 week course on the Zentangle® method of drawing. Each lesson builds upon the next starting with the basics and moving into more challenging patterns and techniques.

My artwork is also featured in this book. Here is a peak of one of the spreads sent to me from Beckah’s iPad. This spread features the tangle pattern Paizel and two decorated letters I call IllumitanglesTM. You can see more of Paizel on TanglePatterns.com.

Illumitangle spread in One Zentangle A Day