Fangirl moment.

I apologise for having to indulge in a fangirl moment. 

Backstory? I think most of us have that one band / musician that we grew up with. You know the one you listen to when you're cramming for exams. The one you are blasting in your room after you've argued with your parents. The one you are hysterically singing / crying along to when you've had your heart broken. The one you are jumping around your room like a mad monkey singing after the last exam for the year. Yeah. That one. For me that was (I confess) Nickelback. Yes, yes, I know that there's a lot divided opinion on Nickelback but yes, for me it was Nickelback. 

I had long giving up hope that they would come to Singapore but after 24 years (and almost 20 years of me listening to their music - which I still do on an almost daily basis), they did!  

 I was intially hesitant to buy tickets to their free-standing only concert - at 5 foot, I'm pretty much at arm-pit level... which doesn't exactly make for much fun in a mosh pit. Like if I held out a lighter at a rock concert, I might set someone on fire... 

But it was Nickelback! Of course paying a premium of S$20 for priority admission so that shorty here could go and stake out a nice spot. 

oh. my. god. No regrets. I don't think I've been this happy since... like I don't know how long... days after the concert and I was still "woooooooooooooooooo!". 

[Feed the Machine. Lullaby. Hangnail. Animals. Something in Your Mouth. How You Remind Me. We Stand Together. Photograph. Burn it to the Ground. Million Miles an Hour. Rockstar. Hero. Far Away. What Are You Waiting For]

My photos suck because I was too excited. But that's how close I was to Chad Kroeger! They of course played their mainstream hits but I was so chuffed that they played some of my favourite non-mainstream songs! Not to mention that I was surprised that Chad Kroger could still sing! AHHHHHH!!!! I love live music... live rock music... LIVE NICKELBACK OMG. 

I don't think words can really describe how excited/happy/fangirl I'm still feeling but OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG maybe cuts it close. One hour 45 minutes of pure joy! 

*contented / excited sigh*

*ahem* *pats down blouse and regains composure*

Back to the Zentangling.

Diva Challenge #387 feat. Hawy:

Inktober (Part II) (long overdue!)

Days #10 & 11 - Marvy Uchida for Drawing:

My comments on the pen: disposable plastic nib pen - it's deliciously smooth on this "cheapo" paper. I'm not sure whether this "for drawing" pen is the same as the Marvy LePen (I don't have one so I can't tell) but it's awesome nonetheless. The barrel is a little bit fat for me but the smoothness of the pen sure makes up for one. This one makes my "must try!" list.  

Days #12-13 - Copic Multiliner SP 0.2:

My comments on the pen: refillable plastic nib pen - the "switch-ability" of this pen is attractive. It's refillable and the nibs are apparently replaceable (which is a good thing for me because my pen pressure is murder for plastic nib pens). This was a recent gift and I'm loving it this far. How can you go wrong with a Copic? Because the barrel seems to be made of metal, it has a lovely weight to it (though some might find it a tad heavy). 

Day #14 & 15 - Ohto Graphic Liner 01:

My comments on the pen: disposable metal nib pen - I've never quite fancied metal nib pens but it appears that the lines from metal nib pens are generally more "precise". This one was lovely and smooth on this budget store paper. 

Day #16 - Maxon Sketch Liner 01:

My comments on the pen: disposable metal nib pen - this was a gift from the sister when she traveled to Japan. I can't get it locally and finding an online vendor to link was difficult! However it is worth the try. Deliciously smooth (to a point where you almost forget it's not a plastic nib pen) with crisp and precise lines. I've tried this pen on other papers and had a bit of a "crunchy" start. Visually the pen does not appeal to me as much as others (I don't know why!) but once I started drawing the Joki swirls I just couldn't stop! I suspect this pen takes a while to "warm up" before use (either that or it does will with budget store yet made in Japan paper). 

Day #17 to 19 - Rotring Rapidograph 0.20

My comments on the pen: refillable metal nib pen - this was another gift from the sister! She had bought a Rapidograph set and apparently it came with a "free" 0.20 Rapidograph which was offered to me. I've tried it on other paper before and loved it but on this "cheapie" sketchbook, it was a little scratchy and fluffed up the paper a little when colouring in the narwal. It's a deliciously smooth pen that leaves crisp fine lines. It looks very fragile but seems to be able to take quite a lot of torture (taking into account my pen pressure!)!

 

BONUS the white on black tile was of course done with a Sakura gelly roll... need I say more!

 

Day 20 & 21 - Pilot Drawing Pen 01

 

My comments on the pen: disposable felt nib pen - this was one of the first pens I bought to try. I loved it and still do. Sadly the barrel isn't very attractive and the ink life doesn't seem to be particularly long. The "01" ness seems finer than the Sakura Micron 01. It is well worth the try for an inexpensive technical pen but it seems to be less readily available (here at least).

 

Day 22 to 24 - Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen S (with Sakura Koi Sketch Box watercolours)

 

My comments on the pen: disposable felt nib pen - I wanted to try this pen because of how much I loved the Ecco Pigment pen that was featured in the first half of my Inktober feature. Wasn't quite sure how think "S" was but it seemed thicker than the Sakura Micron 01 - sure enough Jetpens says it's 0.3mm (whereas the 01 Microns are 01). I didn't really enjoy the pen as much as I did the Ecco somehow but these guys can be purchased loose. They are more expensive than the average disposable technical pen and I don't think the price difference really shows in the feel or the outcome.

 

Days 25 to 27 -  Shinhan Touch Liner 01 (together with a Faber-Castell Graphite Aquarelle 2B)

My comments on the pen: disposable felt nib pen - This was an interesting pen to try. I think it's the only allegedly Korean pen that I have. It was quite nice but I felt like the ink would "cut out" now and then - though this could be because I have damaged the pen nib with my pen pressure. Whilst I liked the feel of drawing with the pen I quite dislike the "design" of the pen that has like layers near the nib (open the link and see the picture!). Because I tend to hang on to my pens for dear life, it does kinda hurt / cut in after a while. More expensive than the Micron but cheaper than the Pitt. Good to try but hard to find.  Days 28 & 29 - Zig Mangaka 01 

 

My comments on the pen: disposable felt nib pen - while Zig pens are one of the more readily available technical pens available locally I have to say that they aren't one of my favourites. They are easy to use even when you're trying to vary line pressure but there are small niggling things that really turn me off this pen (though I could be jut being difficult): (1) the barrel is much thicker than a normal pen which I find a tad uncomfortable to use (2) the design of the pen and barrel don't appeal to me (3) the nib somehow seems hard and I don't like the "feedback" that this gives my hand - it's not scratchy... just hard.

 

I confess to not having completed Inktober last year but I did want to post whatever I had completed both for my own reference for the tangles and the pens as well as people who may be interested in finding out what pens I tried!

 

Thanks for reading! Till next Inktober!

A long overdue post

Recently attended a Brush Lettering class with Leah Chong of Leah Design - I must admit that whilst I was skeptical, the reviews of her classes and what she says she will deliver are pretty accurate.

I tried to learn Brush Lettering on my own, with purchased worksheets from The Postman Knocks but I felt like I didn't really know what I was doing and I didn't feel or see any improvement. Don't get me wrong the worksheets were gorgeous but perhaps I'm the kind that needs a bit more guidance. 

I must admit that at first I was a bit shocked at how young she was - most classes I've attended were taught by at least middle-aged people who've spent yonks learning to do what they do. However it became clear almost immediately that Leah knew what she was talking about and was skilled in transferring knowledge. 

Even though I only attended the first of the 3 classes with Leah, I feel that I know a lot more than I used to, that I'm writing a lot better than before and I'm a lot more motivated to keep practicing. She's young and cool and open to continuing support (e.g. sending her pieces of work for her to crit so that you know whether you're headed in the right direction or what you should and should not be doing). 

These are the gift tags that I've written up for office valentine's. I think they aren't that bad but of course, there's always room for improvement: 

In case you're wondering why the message is so weird - the are getting personalised bag clips clipped to bags of snacks.

Also sharing my first zentangle tiles of the year: 

Started when I was feeling crap so used some of my favourite tangles on a home-cut Canson Watercolour tile. 

knightsbridge.funsin.shattuck.meer.huggins.frunky.andromeda

My Diva Challenge #384 contribution on a bijou tile, feat. Anthem. I love Anthem and am grateful for the Diva for sharing it. 

Inktober (part 1)

Thankful for Inktober and CZT Stephanie's Zentangle prompts - they are a welcome exercise to re-centre in view of recent events. 

Working on the Inktober Challenges in a small S$2, made in Japan thrift store sketch book. Playing more with "out of the box" tangling because well... I need to think out of the box. 

Doing each "spread" with a different drawing pen, just for kicks - as well as to force me to dip into my collection of pens (which I embarrassingly admit to being relatively extensive).

Days #1-3 - Staedtler Pigment Liner 0.2: 

My comments on the pen: disposable plastic nib pen - until I found the Faber-Castell Ecco Pigment, this was one of my top picks. The ink is not "black black" but seems to be a deep grey (which I do quite like). Readily available locally (albeit slightly pricier than the Sakura Microns) and they come in a multitude of sizes - 0.2 was the one I found to be most comparable to the 01 Micron which I understand to be 0.25mm. Of course, it is notable that they seem to be endorsed by the very talented Johanna Basford of Secret Garden (and more) fame.

Days #4-6 - Faber-Castell Ecco Pigment 0.1: 

My comments on the pen: disposable plastic nib pen - one of my favourites but unfortunately I cannot buy them locally loose - they only come in packs of multiples. I bought mine whilst on vacation. Sizing is a lot more limited and I found 0.1 to be the most comfortable to draw with. Pricier than the Sakura Micons but IMO worth the extra cash. 

Days #7-9 - Tachikawa Linemarker A.T. 0.3 (which also doubles as Diva Challenge #371): 

My comments on the pen: cartridge refillable fountain nib type pen - takes a while to get used to because of the directional nature of a fountain nib. It's wonderfully lightweight. Ink's a bit wet so you have to be careful when drawing (I ended up with accidental smudges here and there - hopefully they are not that obvious). I suspect the wet ink, combined with the clearly not artist grade paper makes it tricky to apply graphite as the paper tends to "rub off". I need to experiment more with this pen.    

Also sharing, for what it's worth, my upcycled tile templates - I carrying them around so that I can draw the tiles in my sketch book when I want tiles. Cut from a pen set packaging - I love fish and I thought it'd be such a waste to toss the box. 

I miss you already Dad

Dad passed away on 23 September 2018 very suddenly. 

I don't know what else to say but that I miss him. 

We miss you Dad.

...

Feeling great that the Diva is back!

Sharing something old and something new!

Catching up on old IAST challenges! This was IAST #251 featuring Stix. 

IAST #256!

 mazorito.pokeleaf.msst.hexa.antidot

Also feeling great that the Diva is back sharing her challenges! 

Diva Challenge #366 - back to basics!

printemps.hollibough.knightsbridge.crescent moon.flux.tipple.florz

I really enjoyed the back to basics tile - and i forced myself to use a "basic" tangle that I've always avoided - crescent moon. Yes don't laugh... Crescent moon. 

So in the same spirit, I moved Crescent moon into this week's challenge. 

 

Diva Challenge #367 feat 'nzeppel. 

crescent moon.flux.tipple.'nzeppel.printemps.paradox

It's been quite a while...

I haven't posted in quite a while. In fact I haven't tangled in quite a while. A lot of things have been happening and it's been getting to me quite badly. Or rather, to put more specifically I have been LETTING it get to me. Was in a baad place for quite a while =(. 

Spent a bit of time trying to "unwind" through the mishmosh of emotions to try and rationalize and look out for / search for the small blessings that (like it or not) are actually in every single (bad) thing that happens / happened. 

I must consciously remind myself to look for these silver / gold / chicken nuggets (I like chicken nuggets) and Thank Upstairs (whatever your belief is) for small blessings. 

Arting / crafting and sharing about arting / crafting seems to help. 

Hence... I thank you for your patience, understanding and your help towards normality. 

Found a new art supply shop (more conveniently located than the ones I do already know of) in a new-ish mall. For locals, you might want to check out, Umistrong. 

They have packed a lot of things into a small shop! They seemed to carry a lot of Chinese products  (e.g. watercolour paper of a Chinese brand) that I have never seen before - but they do all seem to be reasonably prices. I fought the urge to buy some to try (I already have too many art supplies!) so I can't give any input as to the quality of said Chinese products... but I did cave for pencil roll (which was a quarter to half the price of a "branded" pencil roll)! I had been looking for one for a while as my Omni Instense pencils (which I think have been featured on my blog quite a few times) doesn't come in a box with the tray that "slides" out... which makes them difficult to use - and I had been keeping them all in a discount store lunch box.

(in case you are wondering - yes I did number my pencils and create a colour key - yes I am a colour pencil and staitonary geek)

Behold the glory of my pencil roll! *drumroll*

Bask in it's rainbowed glory! 

Ahem - now on to some zentangling (to be honest there was almost a month where I couldn't get myself to draw... =( hence I don't have that much to share but share I shall!). These are tiles done in June. 

IAST #246: 

I loved this string idea! Read more about it here. 

Joey's Weekly Challenge #219 feat pokeroot:

pokeroot.huggins.shattuck.florz

IAST #245:

marasu.purk.'nzeppel

And on to July...

The bestie is on a 6 month stint far far away and she's none too happy about it. So I drew up a little postcard to send to her... using my new gift from the sister. 

Yes, you are looking at Primacolor watercolor pencils - my sister rocks I know. 

Also sharing my only tile in July so far (which was Joey's Challenge #222 - feat maryhill) 

Using a new thrift store sketch book - I quite like the fact that I have space to do multiple tiles but I really don't like the spiral binding - it gets in the way when I want to turn the sketchbook. the spread features Prismacolor orbs and a Prismacolor watercolour penciled version in the bottom right corner. Also am taking the chance to practice on my (really bad) brush lettering with a Pentel Touch. Practice makes perfect right. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Faber-Castell Art Festival and more!

Warning: Loong, image heavy post! (But do read on... I'd like you to) 

For those in Singapore, the Faber-Castell Art Festival is currently ongoing at Marina Square and will run till 3rd June 2018. If you haven't checked it out you might want to do so. 

Like a little fortress, the fair sits in the central atrium of Marina Square and has several "components". The predominant portion of the fair relates to the children's / school supplies (many of which are on pretty good looking deals). Most things appear to be on at least 15% off with a selection of items on "1-for-1". 

However, for the "hard core" don't dismay!

There are corners dedicated to their "higher end" pens and artist grade art supplies *drool*. Waaay out of my price range but hey! Window shopping is free!

There's also a small art exhibition area which is cool to check out - all pieces made with Faber-Castell products of course. 

I loved the robot / gundam / transformer made of Faber-Castell connector pens *hee hee* 

And perhaps best of all, workshops!!!!! There are workshops EVERYDAY! [It's unbelievably hard for me to find interesting workshops that fit in my work schedule...]

My sister treated me to a 2 hour workshop with local artist William Sim, "Nature Study with Colour Pencils". She went as well of course! This is what I did in the 2 hours: 

Not too bad if I don't say so myself... considering in particular that I've always maintained that I suck at "true to life" drawing, colouring and painting. The wonders a great teacher can do! He was patient, encouraging and gave a lot of "tips and tricks" that I didn't really know about drawing / using watercolour pencils. 

I didn't know much of William Sim before (but my sister is a fan girl). Now that I do know of him, it's really worthwhile taking some time to look at his works - I promise you it's worth it! Here are his pieces that are on exhibition: 

William is holding one more session of this workshop! It's an awesome workshop so do check it out! 

The child in me is also rejoicing at the "fun pack" that comes with joining the class! Woo!

- a tin of 12 Faber-Castell Art Grip Aquarelle - these are AWESOME! 

- 3 graphite pencils

- 1 dustfree easer

- 1 clic & go brush

- 1 clic & go watercup

Bask in the glory of my "fun pack"!  

And of course... all window shopping is never that fun right? Wondering how a pure graphite 3B pencil will work with Zentangle. 

Speaking of zentangle... back to the zentangling! 

IAST #243: Zenbuttons was great fun! Used a different method to do a watercolour background with my Koi markers. Quite liking the outcome!

pokeleaf.florz.chillon.betweed

koi watercolour markers direct wash 

faber-castell ecco pen

Then follows slew of tiles that left much be be desired... and also left me chanting "there's no mistakes in zentangle... there's no mistakes in zentangle... there's no mistakes in zentangle... ". Hence, BE BRAVE! And share the not so great tiles too... right? 

Tried yet another method of watercolour backgrounds, this time with a Koh-I-Noor watercolour pan  that I got as part of the "project pack" of a workshop I attended at Overjoyed some time back. The outcome was a little "powdery" but after a few swipes with a tissue it was fine. To add experiment to experiment, tried to tangle on it with a "pointed pen"- a Zig manga nib holder and a Nikko G nib with Yellow Gold from the Kuretake Gansai Tambi Starry collection. Took a workshop on this a while back at Heartistry - thanks CZT Mabel! CZT Mabel is giving another class on this soon if you are interested!

More experiments were abound with a black background (using my Sakura Identity marker) and 5 colours of Sakura Moonlight pens (and a white of course). ("there's no mistakes in zentangle... there's no mistakes in zentangle... there's no mistakes in zentangle...")

Also experimented with Staedtler Karat Aquarell watercolour crayons with some round gems (the box of 12 that I bought were on sale). 

Also used these crayons for the background of IAST #244:

auraknot.paradox

staedtler karat aquarell crayon background

micron PN in navy.staedtler fineliners.warm grey copic liner 

Also sharing Joey's weekly challenge #217 feat. cadent:

cadent.knightsbridge.aquafleur.tipple.mooka.y.a.f. 

koi direct watercolour

staedtler pigment liner

Started out with a regular cadent then got bored and went a little crazy... resulting in a weird looking tile... ah well.. live and learn. There's no mistakes in zentangle right?

Diva Challnge #364 feat. Puf

puf 

staedlter pigment liner

Joey's Challenge #218 feat Dicso:

dicso.florz.printemps.knightsbridge.huggins

faber-castell ecco pigment liner

Now, if ya'll will excuse me, I need to go and see if there's more workshops at the Faber-Castell Art Festival that I can sign up for!