Weekly Challenge #72

This week's challenge at I am the Diva is "Tangelation Nation - Crescent Moon". Crescent Moon is one of the foundational, official tangles. Tangelation is using just one tangle and create variations of it. This is my version of this tangle. The "tile" is actually a 5" by 5" Ampersand aquabord. I created the background colors using Dr. Ph Martin's India inks. Crescent moon reminded me of blue color, so I painted the tile blue first. Then I drew the tangle using white gel pen. I intentionally left a blank space  and filled it with Sanskrit text. In writing the text, I rotated the tile so that a portion of the text can be read from each direction. As I had noted in my previous post, I will be using these as coasters. 

Thanks for visiting. 

Weekly Challenge #71

This week's challenge at I am the Diva CZT is to use the latest official tangle called Pea Nuckle. This is my version of this tangle. I used it as a link to other larger tangles. The "tile" is actually a 5" by 5" Ampersand aquabord. I created the background colors using Dr. Ph Martin's India inks. Then, I wrote a few sacred verses in Sanskrit using a gold pen. Then I drew the tangle using white gel pen and black Deco art pen. I will seal it with a clear acrylic sealer since I want to use it as a coaster. These aquabord are four in a packet; so they make a nice set.

On this box (below) I used the aquabord to paint the mandala design.

Thanks for visiting,

21 Day Photo Challenge: Pretty Patterns

Pretty patterns the theme for today at the 21 Day Photo Challenge over at Elle Moss Photography. This terra cotta pot has pretty patters all around.

21 Day Photo Challenge: Travel

Travel is the theme for today at the 21 Day Photo Challenge over at Elle Moss Photography. Photo taken at China Town, Toronto.

Mandala Tile Zen Art Box

This is the last of my "art" boxes, as boxes of this size, shape and wood are no longer available in the market. To make this special, instead of painting directly on the top of the lid, I created the mandala on a watercolor aqua board. The mandala is based on the Indian "rangoli" or "kolam". 

The design is drawn on a background that was first painted with India and acrylic inks. Over this background, I hand wrote several sanskrit verses: (1) invoking Ganesha, the elephant god, known as remover of obstacles, (2) couple of verses from Yoga texts, (3) a verse from Bhagavat Gita. I scrubbed the board to give it a weathered finish. Typically kolam or mandala is drawn on washed and scrubbed mud floor and I wanted the same look on the board also. Finally, I drew the mandala over this background with black and white inks.

The aqua board was anchored on top of the box with strong gel and nails (they are invisible). The top of the box was painted a lovely shimmery peacock green using Jacquard's Lumiere paint.

The sides are painted in coordinated colors. The inside of the box is layered with foam. 

The inks and the aqua board are archival. Several layers of varnish have been added to protect the paint and the design. 

The box measures 7"x7"x3". A capacious box, it can be used in multiple ways--to keep your journals, prayer beads, jewelry, photos etc. It would also make an excellent gift.

You will find more hand painted, decorated boxes in my Etsy shop 

21 Day Photo Challenge: Three Things

Three Things is the theme for today at the 21 Day Photo Challenge over at Elle Moss Photography. These are photos I took at the Metropolitan Museum of Art last November. All of these except the last one are from its medieval, renaissance collection. The last photo of Iranian turquoise pottery is from the Islamic art collection. Enjoy.

Thanks for visiting.

21 Day Photo Challenge: Horizon

Horizon is the theme for today at the 21 Day Photo Challenge over at Elle Moss Photography. Of the many photos I had I chose this one because how the foreground and the horizon lend a balance to the composition.