Foam Stamps of Win!

Hello hello!!! lots of pictures today, got carried away with images representation of my supplies. Today while I sat again avoiding my workout...I was in my scrap bind and found some fun foam. Now I only have this because of an art geeks video I watched quite a while ago now! but I thought why not have a play, so I started cutting...and using a ballpoint pen to indent a pattern into them.

above is just cutouts..and below is using the pen to make a design etched into it. I backed the foam onto some thick chipboard and away I went! making random prints for the basis of my eclectic journal.

I used paint with them first, but wasnt crisp enough, my favourite was using a black stazon ink pad with the 'stamps' they came out much clearer almost tribal like.

 

I am also low on patterned stencils, where its just a pattern not just one element....so I thought to myself, make my own very diy basic one out of scrapbooking paper. I mean its pretty rough but it was fun playing with it. little bit of paint and a sponge and you've got me entertained for a least an hour.

I did crack open my raindrops stencil which doesnt get used often but sometimes I give it a run

 

 And today's supply...is Markers! yes I am still a novice when it comes to markers! as I only learnt to really wield them last year I think...but I do have a small collection of them due to an awesome marker club I used to be in, getting 7 colours a month shipped to me...so I have a little stash.  Now dont get me wrong...markers are flippin pricey! the copics which many call the creme de la creme range from $9 to $11 AUD depending on where you are buying them! and for me...thats pretty epic. If I wasnt in the marker club..doing it monthly...I would not have as many as I do, I was lucky.

there are many cheaper just as awesome brands that are now readily available...such as the letraset markers and the spectrum noir pens, also distress markers have busted onto the scene just recently. 

all fantastic and great quality. Much of a muchness. 

 I store mine lying down in an ikea tub, which isnt ideal but hey what you gonna do. My collection is all copics except for a few Touch markers I got from an aussie art store. They are dual tipped, a brush tip and a chisel tip. very very juicey and very vibrant. (can you see a theme here with my supplies it has to bust open with colour or I'm not interested)

 

 see dodgy photo of the tips, the light is shocking but you get what I mean. I have several shades of the one colour family to help with the blending aspect of these markers, and blending is where they come into their own. Miss Jane Davenport taught me how to use markers in Supplies me..and I've grown from there here are some of my works using my markers both alcohol based and watercolour based

 laying the colour down then using a slightly darker shade they blend on the page as you work, giving your drawings depth and a richness that I cant go past.

 I worked alot with these markers in my fashion drawing class with Jane, I loved how solid and deep they looked at the same time, I use them at least once a day even if its just for a little doodling on my page.

above are some of the Touch markers I own, costing me around $6 on sale at the time.

Some of my first faces during my learning of them...using up to 4-5 shades in the one face! it blew my mind when it all started coming together.

and leaving you with a face that was part of a gulfsprite course but was hand coloured by me with my markers.
If you are considering markers, and you draw portraits, my suggestion is to get a few base skin colours and an eye and lip colour. Don't think you need the whole range, start with a few colours get your bearings learn to blend them and then expand your collection...these markers are an investment and they arent cheap...but they are beautiful
xx Courtney

Hello 2012!!

It's that time again, a fresh year, a new perspective and a huge list of creative goals to start working towards!
Many things will be happening on the little raven ink hub, getting my ideas down and then making them grow into full blown realities will be one of my resolutions for this year. I'm also undertaking a photo a day for the year, aswell as blogging everyday for the year, as a way to make me accountable for my art and my future dreams.

and inside my sketchbook while I've been away, not much has happened, but still things are being created, even if they are only simple... a little sad blue haired girl..

practicing my legs and feet for I heart drawing class, which has been quite a challenge but it's enjoyable knowing that I'm learning new things within my passion.

and to start the year, a little bit of journalling and a little play on my xmas gift.

enjoy the first day of the year, and I will see you for another 364 more days...cant wait!
xx Courtney

a mood Board.

we are off and running in my new class with Jane Davenport, I heart Drawing. The homework for this week was to create a mood board with looks that we would want in a 'collection' so I sat for a while and thought about it, found a few images online to recreate with my copic markers and started my collection 'Pleased to Meet You'

a little rose tinted, popping reds some vintage blues. Tights, cardigans and 50's dresses. I must admit I had such fun putting this together, and creating the actual drawing was so different to anything I've done but I've fallen in love with drawing them!

my sketchbook for this course, is a 1970 Singer Sewing book, its nice and big so there's room to work in, the pages are sturdy so it's holding up to the art, all in all I think this book will look amazing once I've finished altering it.

so that's where I've been! My darling boyfriend told me last night it had been a while since I blogged so after I finished the mood board I snapped some photos late last night to blog this morning.

I hope your weekend is passing by just nicely.
take care, I'll post some more art in a few days.
x Courtney