Nature Zentangle Art Challenge: DAY SEVEN!

Looks like it’s that time once again to draw another successful Nature Art Challenge to a close. The Zentangle method was definitely a easy and fun way to connect to the patterns and textures in the natural environment! Not only did this challenge make me take a closer look at the intricacies of nature, but it also forced me to process my observations and then make them my own (through creating simplified patterns for my Zentangles).

For today’s challenge, I added shading and color to my Zentangle. Initially, I liked the idea of creating a contrast between the colorful background and the black and white Zentangle. However, once I started adding color, I decided that I wanted the background and the Zentangle to connect. So, I decided to make colors from the background bleed into the colors in my Zentangle. The result was a colorful wonderland!

Obviously there are many different ways that this could have been completed. My husband said that he thought he preferred the black and white Zentangle, so that the patterns and details were a little more obvious. While I definitely agree with his feedback, I think I prefer the colorful results, because they make my shapes stand out a little more, and seem to help everything flow together as one composition. In the end, I suppose it’s all about personal preference

Which do you prefer? Or do you have another way that you think would’ve worked even better?

 

Well, that’s all for this month’s challenge! Thanks for joining me in my Zentangle explorations! If you have any comments or pictures to show from your own explorations, I’d love to hear from you!

‘Til later…happy explorations!

Nature Zentangle Art Challenge: DAY SIX!

Today everything came together quite nicely, as I collected a few more patterns and revised some previously-gathered patterns–filling all of my outlines objects with Zentangle patterns! Here is my resulting explorations:

Tomorrow is the last day of this month’s challenge! I have definitely enjoyed the texture and pattern explorations through Zentangle. I hope you were able to give this a try–and if you haven’t yet, check it out! Zentangle is the perfect way to put your doodling to good use–and take a closer look at the natural environment while you’re at it!

For the last day of this month’s challenge, work on adding shading and or color to your Zentangle. Now, this part of the challenge is completely up to you and your imagination! Here are a few options:

1. Add shading to some of your objects to help them stand out a little more from the composition.

2. Add color to some of your objects to help them stand out or to create a focal point in your composition.

3. Add an interesting, colorful background to your composition to create contrast between the black and white objects and the colorful background.

4. Any combination of the above three! Have fun

‘Til tomorrow…happy explorations!

Nature Zentangle Challenge: DAY THREE!

Let the pattern-making begin! For today’s challenge, I worked on simplifying and rearranging the textures that I had collected the previous day into repeating patterns. I then tried adding some of my patterns into a simple shape. For my example, I used the outline of a tree trunk. Here are my resulting explorations:

I’m loving the patterns that have emerged so far! Looking forward to adding these patterns to my composition tomorrow! Speaking of which—For tomorrow’s challenge, begin adding your collected patterns and textures to your composition, Zentangle-style! During this process, feel free to repeat patterns in several different areas! Also, explore other texture combinations to create a different pattern with the same collected textures. To help with this process, here’s the little worksheet that I posted a few days ago:

‘Til tomorrow…happy explorations!

Sketchbook Challenge: DAY SEVEN!

Today is the seventh and final day of the sketchbook challenge, so get your pencils ready! I’ve really enjoyed my sketching experiences so far, and definitely hope to continue incorporating nature journaling into my weekly routine! Through this process, I feel as though I have become a little more aware and appreciative of the beauty found within the living, breathing world around me.

Now, for the final sketchbook challenge:

Sketch a “snapshot” of a scene that you walk by on a daily basis

Since most of us are living in a more urban environment, this “snapshot” may include some man-made, industrial objects as well. Perhaps it is the view from outside your doorstep…or an area that you walk by every day on your way to your car. Try to find an area that is mostly natural–though it can include some industrial or man-made objects as well.

Happy Sketching! I will post my sketch later this evening.

Today’s Sketch:

Nature Sketch Challenge: DAY SIX!

We’re only one day away from one continuous week of Nature Sketching! Yesterday’s sketch once again posed a challenge for me, as I was not only sick, but also had trouble finding the time to actually be able to go outside to sketch. I guess everyone has days like that..And that’s part of what this challenge is about–working to MAKE a little bit of time for small, artful explorations in nature.

And now for the challenge of the day:

Getting to know a tree

For this exercise, choose a tree–big or small–that you’d like to get to know a little better. To begin with, draw 2 blind contour drawings of your tree (see day one for instructions). Next, examine your tree closely. Feel the bark of the tree and sketch the texture. Draw a tree branch and/or a leaf in detail. You can put as much time into this exercise as you’d like–eventually drawing the entire tree, or only focusing on parts of the tree. The choice is yours. Either way, you will come away from the experience knowing your tree a little better than you did before.

Happy Sketching! I will post my sketch later this evening.

Today’s Sketch:

Here’s my sketch for the day! While in the midst of getting to know my tree friend, I was bombarded with Texas rain (for which I rejoiced!). However, the rain DID cut my sketching session short. I still managed a few sketches…

Here’s a close-up of my bark examination:

Nature Sketch Challenge: DAY FIVE!

Pfew! Turns out tracking down a sound and drawing the cause of the sound is much more difficult than it looks on a computer screen! Thank goodness for the wind–which enabled numerous sounds to be heard, as leaves scattered and rustled every which way, tree branches swayed, and dust flew.

Onto today’s challenge!

Find something hidden to bring out into the spotlight

For today’s sketchbook suggestion, try to find something that is covered or blocked by something else…or an object that is so plain-looking that it is probably overlooked by those passing by. Get to know that object by sketching it in detail. Focus on trying to draw the texture of the object and the shadows. If time permits, move to a different location to choose a new background in which your hidden object will be more noticeable. Draw the background behind your object, being careful to draw it lighter so that your object will stand out.

Happy drawing!! I will post my sketch later this evening.

Today’s Sketch:

Nature Sketch Challenge- DAY FOUR!

Wow! Yesterday’s sketch was much harder for me than I had thought it would be. However, I definitely learned a lot about my flower! For instance, just from an initial glance, I would not have noticed that the petals were actually striped, with a lighter yellow stripe running down the middle. I also would’ve never seen the underside of the petals, with have some dark green on the edges! What a great opportunity to really get to know one of the little, overlooked gems in nature.

Onto today’s sketch suggestion:

Sketch a sound!

For this lesson, locate a nice place to sit or stand and spend about a minute or so just listening to the sounds around you. After about a minute of listening, choose one sound to track down. Once you locate the source of the sound, draw it, as well as some of the environment surrounding it.

I will post my sketch later today. Happy Sketching!

Today’s Sketch: 

Nature Sketch Challenge!

So I’ve been thinking about this for some time now and decided that it’s high time I increased my own art making in the natural environment. So, for the next week I am posing a challenge for myself–as well as anyone interested in doing this with me–to complete one nature sketch every day. This does not need to be anything incredibly time consuming–or costly, for that matter. You can sketch on napkins, trash, notes–whatever you have at your disposal.

Every day next week, I will post some sort of nature sketch activity–along with my sketch of the day. If you choose to participate, I’d love to see your sketches or hear from you about your experiences and gained insights!

The challenge will begin Monday, October 3rd and end on Monday, October 10th. I’m looking forward to gaining new perspectives through this experience and hope some of you will consider joining me!

Step outside today, if you haven’t already! No matter the weather, it’s worth checking out!