The Black and White Journal Course

  I've been working through my sketchbook using projects from the Black and White Journal course. Here's what I've done so far....

  We used the quote "Transcend the Limits" as inspiration for a page.

  We learnt how to carve stamps.

Look at my stained fingers! That's how you know you've had fun, eh?

  I didn't have black ink, but that's not too much of a matter. I just used what I had- blue and red. Here's a test page.

  And here are pages in my actual sketchbook.

  I wanted to use Apprentice tiles in my sketchbook, and I knew I wanted to add a coloured wash on them. I would usually reach for really bright colours, but because of the Black and White course, I decided to use shades of grey instead.

I cut them into circles and they ended up looking like moons!
So I stuck one of them into my sketchbook and wrote a moon quote below it.

  We also learnt how to do a mood mandala. Here's how mine turned out once completed.

  It all looks so fun, doesn't it? If you'd like to join in on the fun, you can find out more about the course via this link.

I'm positive that you're going to have a good day today.

  The 13th of September marks "Positive Thinking Day". And no, I am not making this up. You can look it up on Google if you don't believe me.

  With that, here's a little card I made to commemorate the day:

It has a little window, and you can see the word "Dream" through it.

And then when you open the card, you see pretty Zentangle patterns, and the quote adds "... and anything is possible."    ^-^

The entries for this week's Joey challenge were all so good.
I couldn't even think of all those ways to present "Nzeppel"...
I did a very basic wavy grid with some shading; on a bijou tile.

This is, I believe, last week's pattern for thebrightowl's Zendala challenge.

And this is this week's one.
I'm pleased with how it turned out, but I can think of other ways I would have completed it now that I'm looking at the finished tile.

  This week was a little rough for me... But the weekend turned out better. I watched "Inside Out" yesterday. It was wonderful. I also made a new friend. And for a socially anxious potato like me, that's a good accomplishment. (Why potato, you ask? Well, no reasons in particular. I just picked "potato" and it has stuck with me, and it became a joke that I would tell my friends. I'm telling you now. So we're friends. I don't make the rules. That's just how it works. *laughs* )

  Anyways.

  What's one nice thing you'd like to remind yourself today? Is it that you're loved by your family/friends? Is it that you're glad for the fact that you're of good health? Is it that you love the art you produce? Let me know in the comments section below. Happy Positive Thinking Day, friend. May your life be filled with many more positive things.

Joey's Zentangle Challenge: "Maryhill"

  Before I got to know about this week's challenge, I already had drawn two circles on a Zendala tile, hoping to do something interesting with them as a string. And whatdayaknow? This week's challenge was to use "Maryhill" which is a tangle pattern in a circle. ^-^

I added a couple more circles to the composition, and also thought it'd be cool if I did a "cut-away" portion in the overlap.

Pens used were Sakura 01, Derwent Graphik in grey, and a Zig Writer in black to fill in the background.

  "Maryhill" is a really fun tangle pattern to use. It's also another one of those patterns that look really different after adding shading to it. Looking forward to seeing what you guys do for this challenge. Happy tangling~

Zentangle Challenge: All Boxed Up + Big Announcement

  "All Boxed Up" was a really interesting tangle to work with. The look of it really changes after you add shading. The tangle looks more like triangles than boxes after you add shading... Here's my entry for the challenge:

The background was done using Winsor & Newton watercolours.
The pens I used are Derwent's Line Maker.
I quite liked how this turned out.

Now for the big announcement:

  I would like to take this opportunity to officially announce that my very first exhibition, "Building Bridges", will be happening between the 13th of August until the 24th of August 2015. It will be held at Alliance Francaise de Singapour, a place very near Newton MRT. If you remember, it's the same place that The Little Prince exhibition is being held at.

A little map of the area.
The exhibition space is located on the second floor of the building.

Opening hours are as follows:

Mon – Fri: 11am – 7pm
Sat: 11am – 5pm
Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays

  To all my followers living in Singapore, and to anyone who might be visiting Singapore in August; I would love to have you visit the exhibition. 

  I'm super excited for it because it's a joint exhibition between me and a lovely lady by the name of Joni Toh. (She's my mum!) We're both working really hard to get everything ready. Did I also mention that we'll be taking a trip to New York to relax and then fly out to Providence for the Zentangle seminar. And then we'll be back in Singapore for a final push to get everything in place for the exhibition. Does that sound crazy to you? It does, doesn't it?

  Also, if you've noticed, my website has been revamped and I'm loving the new look. (To see how it looks click this link.) Lots of my old art works were taken down as I felt I have grown a lot artistically. The art works I'll be exhibiting are not shown on my website. For you lovelies, though, here's a few pictures of works in progress...

Imagine Zentangle all over her dress!

Here are two more pieces from the series that I'm currently working on.

Here are some of Joni's works.

  The aim of the exhibition is to build bridges between different cultures and religions, and also between humans and animals. To remind all of us that we're not that different from each other.
We're also hoping to bring more coverage for Zentangle as an art form in Singapore

  I'll be periodically posting more sneak previews on my Instagram and Facebook fan page, and I'll also try to do mini fun projects like zentangle challenges when I can find the time. This is a brand new chapter to my artistic journey and I'm glad that I can share all this with you guys. ^-^

Illustrated Poem Series #007 and #008

"Destiny is not a matter of chance; It's a matter of choice. 

It is not a thing to be waited for; It's a thing to be achieved."

-William Jennings Bryan

"Hatred paralyses life; Love releases it.
Hatred confuses life; Love harmonises it.
Hatred darkens life; Love illuminates it."
-Martin Luther King Jr.

Also, I've just updated my Instagram name. You can now find me @havepen_willdraw.

Also also, my March giveaway is still on-going. Remember to join it for a chance to win a pack of Derwent blender pens. To view the giveaway, visit this link: http://www.everythingis-art.com/2015/04/march-2015-giveaway.html

Painting of the Day: "Mermaid Princess"

  Taken from my Instagram @havepen_willdraw.

"Mermaid Princess" by Stephanie Jennifer

  "But the sky is really beautiful right now and I know I am often sad but there are moments when I fall in love with the world and I adore all the oxygen in my lungs and I'm not scared anymore."

  Head over to www.stephaniejennifer.com to see more of my works. You can always contact me at stephanie_jennifer@ymail.com if you have any questions regarding Art or Singapore. :) Have a lovely week ahead!

Geisha (in a week): Day 7- Completed!

  Part of my "Geisha in a Week" blog series.

  So, it's finally finished. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Beautiful simplicity. Gorgeous line work. I couldn't be more happy with how much I've improved over the years. The inspiration behind it was when I saw another artist doing a drawing of a geisha, and I thought, "Hey, that's a great idea. I should draw a geisha too." And here we are. :)

  Day 7- COMPLETED!

www.stephaniejennifer.com

@havepen_willdraw on Instagram

Geisha (in a week): Day 6

  Watch my progress as I draw a geisha in pen and ink... Part of my "Geisha in a Week" blog series.

  Almost done~ Only have to make some minor touch-ups and add my chinese signature and we'd be done.

  Day 6

www.stephaniejennifer.com

@havepen_willdraw on Instagram

Geisha (in a week): Day 4 and 5

  Watch my progress as I draw a geisha in pen and ink... Part of my "Geisha in a Week" blog series.

  Day 4 & 5

www.stephaniejennifer.com

@havepen_willdraw on Instagram

Geisha (in a week): Day 3

  Watch my progress as I draw a geisha in pen and ink... Part of my "Geisha in a Week" blog series.

  Day 3

www.stephaniejennifer.com

@havepen_willdraw on Instagram

Geisha (in a week): Day 2

  Watch my progress as I draw a geisha in pen and ink... Part of my "Geisha in a Week" blog series.

  Day 2

www.stephaniejennifer.com

@havepen_willdraw on Instagram

Geisha (in a week): Day 1

  Watch my progress as I draw a geisha in pen and ink... Part of my "Geisha in a Week" blog series.

  Day 1

www.stephaniejennifer.com

@havepen_willdraw on Instagram

Yin-Yang Fish- Completed!

"Yin-Yang Fish" by Stephanie Jennifer

Yin Yang Fish commission piece

  I'm actually really pleased with myself for finishing this in two days and not dragging it out till forever... I think it's a beautiful drawing and I'm really pleased with how it turned out. The lines are clean; everything is nicely inked; no smudges and all that. Now I'm just left with framing it.

  Watch the process video of it below. You saw it first on this blog! It'd be up on my Instagram (@havepen_willdraw) in a few days. ^-^

Recommended Artist: Kerby Rosanes

  Gorgeous ink work. Simplicity in black and white. View more of his works via this link.

Recommended Artist: Joshua M. Smith

  There's something about black and white works that makes me drawn to them. The simplicity of it. Where unnecessary details have to be removed. Where there is no distraction of colours. Where you have to have a compelling enough subject to capture a viewer's attention. The symbolism of duality in those works. Good and evil. Light and darkness. The white wolf and the black wolf? Which side of yourself will you embrace?

    The details in Joshua Smith's art is insane and he consistently makes really strong pieces. You should definitely check out more of his awesome works via his website here.