Pot with Artificial Ivy

This brightly painted ceramic pot, about 3 inches tall, was a gift from a friend thirty years ago. It is filled with (not very convincing) artificial ivy.

Inspired by Illustration Friday's word for the week, "artificial."

• Copic marker colors used: C1,3,5, R08, E25,41,43, Y38, G12,17,40, YG03,63,95
• Paper: Neenah, cut down to 5x7"

Gilt-Edged Notebook

Once again, Illustration Friday prompted me to draw something I never would have thought to draw otherwise.

This week's word "diary" started me thinking about my mom and how she encouraged my creativity ... drawing, painting, collage, writing, singing, sewing, knitting, embroidery, and more. Especially all the journals, paper, and art supplies that she gave me over the years. This gilt-edged notebook, my current diary, is just one example.

I really enjoyed drawing it and thinking of her. Thanks, Mom. And thanks, I.F. See below for a scan of the actual diary.

• Copic marker colors used: W1,3, YR00,07,15,20, Y19,26, G17,21,24,28, YG97, E43,44, V000,12, BV04, RV13,91
• Background: Copic airbrushed with B45 marker, dotted with B41, 45
  
• Copic multiliner colors used: Pink, purple, sky blue, orange
• Gold Uni-ball gel pen
  
• Paper: Neenah
  

Blog News 12 - Greeting Cards, New Blog, and Sources

My blog "Mostly Markers" is one year old this month, and I've really enjoyed doing it. A big thank you to all my viewers and especially everyone who's left a comment or question for me.

My biggest news is that, while this is still my primary blog, I've just begun a new "companion blog" called Mostly Markers - Cards. All of my posts labeled as "cards (greeting cards)" have moved over there. I placed links on the headers of both blogs, so it will be easy to go back and forth.

Why a new blog? Lots of reasons. I think it will simplify my blogging. Some of my labels for drawings don't make sense for cards, and vice versa. Cards have their own aesthetic and charm, and I think it's interesting to keep them together. Etc.

I've really enjoyed creating cards again. As I wrote in the header for my new blog, they are small collages - mailable art. Along with the lines, shapes, and colors that I love about drawings, cards also feature textures and dimension, not to mention layout and construction challenges. They are just plain fun to do. So while I'm adding more drawings to this blog, I'll be adding more cards to the new blog. I still plan to keep my "reference posts" here, such as "try this" and "about my tools and materials." They have been linked to this blog from the new blog"s menu bar (below the header).

Finally, I added a new post to "about my tools and materials." It's about my sources, titled "Where I Buy My Tools and Materials." Hope it will be helpful to others.

Orange Card with Beads

Updated July 9, 2010: This post has been moved to my new "companion blog." Please click here for "Mostly Markers - Cards" to see it (dated the same as this original post.) For the future, I'll post all of my new greeting cards in Mostly Markers - Cards. This blog, Mostly Markers, will also still be active with all of my non-card drawings and reference posts.

Two Cards with Large Punched Dots

Updated July 9, 2010: This post has been moved to my new "companion blog." Please click here for "Mostly Markers - Cards" to see it (dated the same as this original post.) For the future, I'll post all of my new greeting cards in Mostly Markers - Cards. This blog, Mostly Markers, will also still be active with all of my non-card drawings and reference posts.

Sun and Flowers Card - Punched Dots

Updated July 9, 2010: This post has been moved to my new "companion blog." Please click here for "Mostly Markers - Cards" to see it (dated the same as this original post.) For the future, I'll post all of my new greeting cards in Mostly Markers - Cards. This blog, Mostly Markers, will also still be active with all of my non-card drawings and reference posts.