Category Archives: black book

Black Book January

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I did this challenge last year in January, I was probably inspired by #carveDecember and wanted to try something new and do it for a whole month. I called it Black Book January. Even a friend from Instagram joined and did several pieces. The goal of the challenge is to create something on black background. I bought a Derwent Black Book and did the challenge for the whole month last January. I did not create 31 pieces, because these are a little bit more complicated and time consuming than carving a stamp every day, but I quite enjoyed exploring what can be done on black paper.

This year I am repeating the challenge. I will be doing mandalas, because I am currently inspired to do them and I have already tried some supplies that can do wonders on back paper. I finished two mandalas until now. The first I did with white UniBall pen, Carad’Ache Luminance 6901 pencils and Liquid Pearls.

 

For the second I used UniBall pen and Sakura Metallic Gell pens in gold and bronze.

In parallel I am also doing the first lesson of Life Book, actually not the main lesson, but the warm-up. I did the meditation and for the first time I actually saw a symbol and an animal. I decided that I would include them in the painting, so it’s not really a simple warm-up exercise, but a whole thing, with the animal and the symbol. So I am a bit stuck, because my animal (which was actually a fawn in my meditation) does not look anything close to what I saw, meaning that it’s as far from the fawn as at all possible, but I am accepting it, as there is no choice, it’s either that or nothing at all. I think I will finish during the day… I keep wondering why I cannot draw cute animals… Maybe I should make it a challenge… Maybe in February…

Anyway… The weather is beautiful and sunny, but so horribly cold that I think I will not go out today. Last two days I went ice skating and enjoyed it enormously. Yesterday was also nice and sunny, but very windy and the day before was snowing and that day was actually much more to my liking even though it was cloudy, because the snow made it so calm and charming. So, off I go to nurture my muscle fever and wrstle with the ‘fawn’ 🙂

Have a nice day!

Black Book Update: 16 September

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I was almost late for work this morning because I got carried away trying to finish this one:

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Obviously I managed to finish and I was not late, but did not eat salad for breakfast because I did not have time to wash and cut… Ah well… Here is a detailed photo under artificial light with all shimmer visible:

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What else to tell you except that today is Friday. So, have a peaceful Friday and get ready for the weekend!

Black Book Update 13 September

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Did I tell you how much I enjoy drawing that circular pattern? LOL!

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You’ll have to bear with me, because more is certainly coming. It’s so easy to do and the effect is amazing. At least I feel it is calming me down. I could just watch it for hours…

Black Book Update: 12 September

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It’s Monday. The start of another long week in the office. But the weather is beautiful warm and sunny and it makes me happy. I hope it stays like this until spring 🙂

Here is the Black Book entry from yesterday:

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I am totally in love with this circular pattern on the outer part! This morning I started another one that will use the same pattern. Yay!

Have a good Monday (as much as Mondays can be)!

Black Book Update

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It’s a beautiful Saturday here and another entry into my Black Book:

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Of course if the photo is made in natural light, the shimmer from metallic pens is gone. Here is a close-up made in artificial light:

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Actually I made another one today, but I could not make a photo because it’s already getting dark, so I will post it tomorrow. I worked in my She Thinks Positive journal too and will have a few pages to share. Maybe I do that tomorrow and leave the Black Book for later. Ah! So nice when there is lot to post 🙂 Have a beautiful weekend!

Frozen

Posted in black book, doodles, Mandala, Musings About Stuff by

It’s raining. It’s been raining for two days. I am confused. I have too many things to do. I do not feel like doing anything. I am tired. I do not know what to do. That summarizes it.

This one I worked on during our company retreat:

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The retreat went well, but left me exhausted. It was too much. I needed time to come back to normal. But I did not have time. I needed to travel and work. And then a problem appeared which needs solving, and more travelling and it unsettled me. Hence my feeling of not being able to do anything. And the rain does not help.

And then I am thinking about catching up with the courses I took. Why did I take 5 courses I cannot possible manage to follow? I knew it would be impossible, but I still tried. I am a bit mad at myself because I always think I can do more than I can. And it creates anxiety. Like I do not have enough of it anyway…

So I am paralized. Frozen in time. Cannot get going. There are too many things to do and I know I cannot make it. So I choose to not do anything. Does it make sense? Instead of enjoying the courses I am taking, I made myself miserable and started thinking about the lessons like something I have to do. Like work that needs finishing, like obligation that needs to be fulfilled. Look, it’s crazy!

This morning I painted with watercolors. It’s drying, I will post it tomorrow. I did not do any of my outstanding lessons in my five courses. They will have to wait and I will need time to recover. From today until December 31 I am enforcing a ban on buying art courses. On January 1st I will reassess the status. There is only so many hours in a day and there are limits to what I can achieve and stay sane and happy. That’s what I wanted to say today.

Dots…

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I am a bit unsettled because today I am going to a company retreat. It will be nice I am sure but being who I am of course I do not want to go and I am nervous and restless.

Anyway… I am taking my Black book with me so I’ll have something to calm me down in case I will need it. Which will be the case 🙂

Here’s the page I finished today.