All pens are not created equal. Nor are writing and/ or drawing and creative surfaces for that matter. I had not realized how spoiled I was using Micron pens almost exclusively the past few months until they all began to run dry at the same time.  I then picked up a pack of Prismacolor pens that included a brush tip and a calligraphy tip in the set.  I have several friends who are as partial to Prismas as I am to Microns but there is a difference.

Then my Prismas also went dry. Recovering from holiday spending left me lacking funds so I got desperate enough in looking for creative options to *gasp pick up a simple sketching pencil!  This owl was done in pencil and overall I am pleased with the way he turned out....

I then decided to try an eagle also using pencil.  I'm not as thrilled with the eagle as I am the owl. It may be that I am simply drawn to owls more as they, like myself are nocturnal by nature!

I also tried several brands of ball point pens for drawing options and am not thrilled with the results thus far but of course there are many different pen options and I've barely scratched the surface. The search continues to find 'the BEST' pen/pencil/combination for artistic purposes. Then again I am also still exploring surface options and as we all know different surfaces require different  mediums. 
The good part of this period of exploration is that I am spending more time working on my creative doodling options.

Well...Here I am finally back after a long absence. While MIA here and in my other sites, I've been undergoing some major changes. Moved with my daughter and her family to Alabama and have been taking time to reassess and plan my future on a bit of a different plot than I had planned  but it is ok.

Moving ahead and finally taking time for me once again.

I visited Erin at The Bright Owl  and took on Zendala Dare #72!  The first I've done in several weeks!  Here is what the template looked like...

There was an extra challenge to work our tangles or design with a larger pen so I used the 08 Black Micron.  If you look at my logo and many of the pieces in my gallery here you can see that I often work with a larger pen than many experienced Zentangle artists. Still this template was challenging do to the small spaces.

I am not exactly happy with this, especially the shading which I may rework. Or, I may try a second version entirely. But here is this end result weak shading and all...

This week's Zendala decided a trip to the dark side was the order of the day. I really thought the template called for something light and airy then, as sometimes happens, this zendala decided to go a different direction entirely! So I guess maybe it is a reminder that sometimes things are a combination of black and white! I continue to go with the flow and add a outer border to fill the 5 1/2 inch diameter paper.

 Good-morning all from DayLee Doodler!  I am back online thanks to a new-to-me laptop computer!

Different than my old PC and I am still learning the controls and so on but much easier to see than trying to post from my phone or tablet!

I sent off several ATCs to WOYWW desk hoppers last week. Hopefully you have received them, or they will arrive soon (one is on its way from here in the US to Scotland!)  

Unfortunately I lost my pics including the WOYWW button on my old computer but will be snagging it again.

In the meanwhile pop on over to The Stamping Ground and click on the links to visit desk hoppers from around the world!

Have not really doodled much the past few days. here is a Zendala design in progress...I promise a more interesting desk next week, perhaps the WOYWW ATCs will be in by then! Have a blessed day!

Sad and to the point...my computer
died last week and all efforts to revive it have failed so I am making this entry on my phone. An interesting experience.  Did not want to miss the celebrations at the  Stamping Ground and if you look just below my monitor...you can glimpse the ATC I have ready to go!

So...I am posting this blind since I  can't find preview on this app......WOYWW4.....Let's party!

Last week I took the plunge and decided to start adding shading to my Zendalas and I am really enjoying the dept it brings to them!

Line work still ongoing and I've been getting a lot of creative time in working on several pen and ink projects including the commissioned pieces I talk about in the previous post and the Artist Trading Cards venture that is almost as addicting as Zendalas!

So, this post will be brief but of course the point is to show this week's creation!
Be sure to click on the Zendala Dare button to visit and see a more creative interpretations of this week's template!

Enjoy!

Well - I picked up my phone to snap a picture of the desk and found I never charged it yesterday as planned so while my smart phone is recharging its brain cells, I'll fill you in on my very productive week!If you need to get a look at some GREAT work spaces, hurry on over to the Stamping Ground you can get there easily by clicking the WOYWW button above!

After a very busy week and weekend drawing, doodling and designing nearly non-stop...my desk is shockingly empty..... I mean totally except for the keyboard and monitor of course. LOL... So I guess it is a good week for my camera to be napping. Have no fear, I doubt it stays that way past noon today!

I have gotten totally addicted to designing ATCs and so in between working on a couple larger projects, I've been taking breaks making and trading ATCs.

ATCs are mini-works of art in any media done an a 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch cards. Here are a few I've made and already traded this week! Do you make ATCs? If you are looking for a way to learn more and find others to trade with, check out the site ATCs For All  you can sign up for free and post cards to your own gallery to start trading! There are a lot of great forums and great fun to be found there!
Well until next week...keep on creating! I'm off to desk hop and see what some of YOU have been up to this week~~!

No doubt you picked up on the fact that there are a lot of feathers flying around hey?

Well that is because I am doing a set of (4) 8 x 10 inch pictures for a friend's new home. The first which has taken me over 20 hours .... I hope she does not read this so I can give you a sneak peek. She is busy packing up everything except her laptop so I don't think she has been blog hopping lately. Here is the first of her four pieces...shhhh don't tell!

I had fun with this dare as I found it a good opportunity to work on two weak points for me...lines and shading.

While there is still room for improvement, isn't there always?

Overall I like how this turned out.

I just happened to have a piece of scrapbook paper in gray and I like how it shows off both the lines and accents the shading so maybe I'll actually frame this one like this and give it as a Christmas gift!

Have a great week all...!

Thanks Erin once again for the fantastic fun at The Bright Owl by providing us with the weekly Zendala Dares.

Perhaps the better question is not What's on Your Work desk...but, What isn't?

It took me five minutes to find my phone under there so I could take a picture!

I've had a busy week/ weekend and in addition to the artwork even got in a writing assignment! The feathers and dreamcatcher is a 5 x 7 ordered to be delivered this weekend.

Micron pen done on watercolor paper ..

This is the very beginning of a 8 x 11 piece with feathers that will be done in the same style. For a different order.

Feathers seem to be popular lately which is good because they are fun to do and I've yet to do any exactly alike!

This started out black and white. However, a friend requested a feather in multicolor so I dug out the watercolor pencils and give this ink piece a color wash. ( I still am a black & white fan)  

Mandalas, Zendalas, floral doodles, and doodle ideas in the journal are all under this mess somewhere... I'll pst some of those the next time!
If you are curious about What's on other work desks...head on over to Julia's at the Stamping Ground!