INSPIRING BLOG POSTS FROM OTHERS.

Today I was reading a very helpful post on white-on-black tiles by Betsy Wilson, and tested out some of her techniques (which is why my result below resembles a highly mediocre version of one of her her originals).  I think Betsy will be my new idol--from the little I've seen of her other posts I really love her work.

I often like my own work too, even though I know that I need practice.  But I don't particularly like this tile below.  I also don't think comparisons are often useful, but even I can see, when I compare my tile to hers, that I have a long way to go.  I understand, however, that practice will be my savior here.  I will keep at it.  Holding out Betsy's technique as a model will be useful, not discouraging, even though I am not at all thrilled with this first try.  

This tile started out with the central Meer motif; I was using a white Broad UniBall Signa pen, and the ink was NOT going on well at all.  It was not fun to use.  Next I repeated the Meer motif in the upper left with a Faber Castell white colored pencil, testing that out.  Better, but so much fainter it seemed to be disappearing on the black paper.  Not happy with that either.  Finally I did the Meer motif on the lower right with a white GellyRoll pen.  Surprisingly, I liked that best--which isn't saying much.  The coverage on all three was not that good. 

At that point I thought I had finished, but then threw in some Rainbow Lead pencil for a bit of color, and added the Beadlines.

My overall feeling:  Meh.  (Live and learn)

Well, since I wasn't thrilled, I couldn't just leave it alone, so I went into my iPhone and used my mirror app on it.  I don't know if that made it better or worse!  I am definitely fascinated with this app...see below.

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And just one more try with the app...see below.

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I find this mirroring app mesmerizing.  These hardly resemble the original at all.

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More practice (and perhaps studying more of Betsy's blog) should help me improve my technique. 

I can feel a major research project with the black tiles coming on!

While I'm on the topic of inspiring blogs:
If any of you reading this are confused about what Zentangle® is and why it should not be called doodling, take just a moment and read this post by CZT Sandy Hunter.  I love what she's written here.

Don't get me wrong; I'm a big fan of doodling and I doodle all the time, but doodling has a different genesis and purpose, as I discussed in this post which I wrote in June of 2014.