Today's Discovery in Creativity

This is today's tile.  I tried several new patterns such as "purk", "paradox" and "facets".  I'm not doing so great with designs that are heavy on the squares and triangles.  That doesn't come naturally for me.  Not sure why.  So, I decided to practice some geometric designs. 

This is what I got.  I tried doing the lines differently so that it created varied shading.  I wasn't crazy about the end result.  So, I tried to do just one square at a time.  This practice was done with a Platinum Preppy inked with R&K Verdigris.   

This was the result.  Do you remember Spirograph?  I reminds me of that.  I just took a square and then made arcs from corner to corner, turning the page to draw each arc.  It's not facets.  It's different.  There is probably a real name for this tangle pattern, but for now, it's my breakthrough in perseverance and giving myself some grace.

Happy with my "outside the box" thinking with the squares and arcs, I decided to try a tile that focused on square or triangle patterns.  The square/arcs experiment can be seen in the middle/upper right.  I purposely chose an odd shape with four sides for that particular exercise.  Then, to the left of that, I tried to do half of facets, but in my own way.  I drew lines from the center to the corners.  It's definitely not "facets", but it was more fun for me.   I realize that the result does look borderline "swirly", but really it's triangles with lines drawn from corner to corner.   I used an Esterbrook with 9461 nib (dry pen) and Diamine Eclipse (wet ink) for this exercise.

And so, that's sort of where the transformation took place today.  I couldn't get the hang of "facets".  So, I attempted my own interpretation.  So, then I decided to try some other new things.  I combined "feathers", "fescu" and "sez" and made this.  You can see my humble beginning in the upper left corner.  I didn't care for the end result, so I tried again.  and I liked it.  So, I did some more.   I really like peacock feathers, and that's what this reminds me of.  This was very pleasant and made me feel as though I had a breakthrough today.  I almost actually drew something.  By myself.  I can't remember the last time that I drew something that I liked, or drew something without "copying".  If that makes sense at all.  

I was so happy that I had a little fun with Instagram to memorialize the occasion.

What I'm Listening to This Evening

Musically speaking, these guys are hot.  Play it Loud! is a prerequisite.  Loud in the car, and preferably with a little extra bass.  I really can't get enough of this album.  For me, a really excellent album - and I mean excellent from beginning to end, not just two songs- is hard to come by nowadays.  Typically, I download from iTunes, but I am smitten with the fact that tucked inside the CD cover there is a fancy little fold-out with pages upon pages of old, rusty minivan photos.  Very witty and clever, and I just appreciate that type of sophomoric humor.

Until I find one of those neat blog widgets that shows what I'm listening to this week, sadly, you will be subjected to this type of nonsense.  That is if you are even reading this.

I'm a little behind the times, so all of this is probably old news for you, but here is one of my favorite tracks from El Camino.  Just as noteworthy are tracks #6: Run Right Back and #7: "Sister".

Tangles with Pens and Inks

I am new to the world of Zentangle, but was encouraged to do so in an effort to try and "find my inner artist".  I have always said, "I can't draw".  But, now I'm making progress.  I have only been trying my hand at this for about a week, but I am enjoying this activity, and learning to do something that I didn't know how to do before.   

I like swirly things.

This reminds me of the Death Star.  Kinda.  =)

For this tile, I decided to "tangle my name", meaning that I chose a tangle pattern that began with each letter of my name.  I think the end result looks like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.  I laugh every time I look at it.  No, seriously.  I'm LMAO.   

This was an effort to participate in a weekly tangle challenge.  Don't think I'll be submitting it, but most of these patterns here are patterns that I had not attempted before.

The drawings above were done with a Pigma Micron and pencil.  Here, I decided to have a little fun with R&K Alt-Goldgrun.  Just because it happened to be loaded in a pen within arms reach.  To be honest, it's not one of my favorite inks to write with, but was great fun to draw swirly things with.  

I used a Levenger True Writer with medium nib, because it happened to be within arms reach.  The True Writer was very lovely to draw with, but if I were to attempt something like this again, I would use a pen with a fine or extra fine nib. 

I really enjoyed drawing in color.

A New Adventure into Creativity

If this interests you, go here:  zentangle.

This is my first tile.  There was one pattern that I honestly could not "get" how to do.  So, I got a little frustrated.  You can probably figure out which one I'm referring to.  LOL.  Overall, a great activity for someone like myself who has been a creative writer for many years, but now interested in developing new creative skills.  I have often "beat myself up" because I am not very talented when it comes to visual art.  I am hoping that can change.

Grace: Give It Away

I chose "Grace" as my word for the year; for the second year in a row.

This week was one long extended lesson into giving others that which I seek, and I learned something really important about my one word.

If I want Grace in my life, I really need to make it a priority to extend it to others.

I have always felt that Grace is an action word.  It started off with something I really didn't want to do.  But, I knew deep in my heart that I needed to do it.  Not because that person deserved it (she didn't), but because I knew it was the right thing to do.  So I did it.  In order to do it, I needed to give her Grace.

I do believe that it was a transforming moment, both for both of us.  There are those who would say that I should have gone the other way, and not helped her at all.  But, I do not regret my choice.  I feel confident in what I chose.  I feel confident in what I did.

I am grateful that I was available to embrace this opportunity.  This moment was extremely beneficial to me.  At the same time, it really helped someone else.  I am encouraged to extend Grace again.



link:  myoneword.org

Sheaffer Imperial IV

I purchased this lovely pen almost one year ago by placing the winning bid on eBay.  The photos in the listing were few and not of very good quality.  From what I could tell, the nib appeared to be caked with what could possibly have been years worth of ink, but otherwise the nib seemed in tact.  I crossed my fingers and placed my bid.  

I was pleasantly surprised when this pen arrived.  My suspicions were confirmed.  Very inky nib, no damage whatsoever.  Needless to say, this pen had a major cleaning session.

My Sheaffer Imperial would likely fit the description of "user grade".  It was clearly used by someone else, perhaps for many years.  There are slight wear marks where the cap has been fitted onto the barrel over and over again.  There are slight dings in the barrel, more than a few scratches and plenty of scuff marks.  That being said, the pen is really in amazing condition.  What few cosmetic blemishes there are, they are faint and the plastic has dulled somewhat but still has a little bit of shine to it.  Overall, the wear and tear is commensurate with age and use, and I consider this pen to be in very good condition considering the fact that it is approximately 50 years old.  

just look at those scuff marks!  this is one well-loved pen!

When I write with this pen, I often think about its history.  Who the previous owner might have been.  How often they used this pen.  Where this pen may have gone with its previous owner in his or her travels.  Sometimes, I want to tell its previous owner that I'm taking good care of it and that I'm enjoying it very much.  Which is quite silly.

Pen Hero gives a generous overview of the history of the Sheaffer Imperial, complete with lovely photos. According to his timeline, Sheaffer began manufacturing the Imperials in 1961.  (Interestingly, that is the same year my dad graduated from high school.)  Additionally, Sheaffer incorporated the new touchdown filling system with the Imperial instead of the snorkel.  

The Sheaffer Imperial IV is very slender in the hand, and lightweight.  I have small hands, and I sometimes have difficulty with pens that are too wide in the grip section.  Not the case here.   I can write in a nice relaxed position for hours, literally, with no hand fatigue.  

The diamond shaped 14k inlaid nib is very smooth and a pleasure on the page.  The auction listing did not specify a nib size with the pen, but I am guessing it's a medium.  Because of the pens age and use, the tines were quite dull and needed a little "sprucing up".  I sent it to Tyler Dahl for his nib tuning service and he did not disappoint.  When it came back to me, it as as if the nib were brand new.  The nib now skates along the page, giving very slight feedback.  It is very pleasant.  Additionally, the pen puts down a very comfortably wet line that is "just right".  My favorite ink to use with my Imperial is Sheaffer Blue-Black.  It's a perfect match, thus it receives a steady diet of that.  

The touchdown filling system is very easy to use, making the pen quick to both fill and clean.  For instructions about how to fill the Imperial, Richard Binder has a great mini-tutorial on his website which I found very helpful.  He stresses the importance of pulling the touchdown filler all the way out before dipping the pen into ink, and then inserting the nib into the inkwell, and pushing touchdown filler all the way back into the pen.  To find these instructions, go to Richards site, and click on "Reference Pages", then scroll to "Filling Systems: How They Work".   I have found that once the pen is filled, my Imperial can write for quite some time.  

This is one of the best pens I own in terms of manufacturing quality.  It is well made, the touchdown filler is easy to use, the pen holds a good fill of ink, and the nib is extremely pleasant.  I like this pen so much that I often consider buying another just to have a back up.  Occasionally, Peyton Street Pens will offer New Old Stock Imperials for sale.  I check the site often.  

I never expected to fall in love with this pen, but I did.  It has not only become a go-to journaling pen, but a go-to business pen, and I often think of it as a loyal friend.  

Writing sample: Sheaffer Imperial IV with Sheaffer Blue-Black on Apica

  

Two Sunsets on a Clear Day in May

I decided to spice things up for handwriting practice today and inked up my calligraphy pens with sunset-themed fountain pen inks.  Caran d'Ache Sunset recently became a surprise favorite of mine over the winter, and since I was so enchanted with it, I decided to try Iroshizuku Yu-Yake (which means "sunset" in Japanese).  They are both quite different, but a pleasure to use.  Caran d'Ache is a deep red-ish, pink whereas Iroshi is a yellow-orange, with deep orange shading.  Where the Caran d'Ache is slightly on the dry side, the Iroshi is neither too dry, nor too wet.  

In terms of personal preference, I enjoy the Caran d'Ache more because perhaps I am simply more inclined towards reds and pinks, as opposed to orange shades of ink.  However, the shading with Iroshi Yu-Yake is really gorgeous, and really "one-ups" the Caran d'Ache in that respect.  There is just this beautiful interplay of yellow and orange within the same letter that it makes the entire word appear to be on fire.  

One of the qualities I enjoy most about the Caran d'Ache is that evokes memories of one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen.  Last fall, I was traveling regularly and had to wake up very early in the morning (3:00 am) to catch an early flight to Atlanta which connected in Philadelphia.  When I arrived in Philly, it was still dark.  It happened to be a Monday morning, and there were hundreds of people at the gate waiting for this flight; it was wall to wall people.  Standing room only.  Business people, college students, vacationers.  I was lucky to get a seat and even better, it was facing the tarmac, but I happened to be engaged in conversation with the person next to me.  She stopped talking mid-sentence and pointed to the glass windows and said, "Look at that sunrise!"  I turned and the sky was flooded with deep pink and dark grey.  Sitting in front of those large airport windows, it was as if we had a front row seat in front of this large expanse of sky.  It was amazingly beautiful, and we just sat there looking at it for quite some time.  I don't think I have ever seen a sunrise that breathtaking before or since.  What I remember most distinctly aside from the beauty of that morning, was that there were so many people at that gate who were entirely disinterested, or playing with their iPad, or iPhone apps, or talking business on the cell phone, or talking business with the person at their side.  It was as if this young woman and I were the only people in the world who saw it, and it was both strange and wonderful at the same time.  I felt transported from the chaos for just a few moments, and yet I was still sitting right there.  The shade of Caran d'Ache Sunset is amazingly similar to that pink sunrise that I saw that morning, and, as a result, I do have a fond affection for it.

Caran d'Ache Sunset on Clairefontaine Graf-it.

Iroshizuku Yu-Yake on Clairefontaine Graf-it.

I had fun with handwriting practice today, but my handwriting really needs some work.  Today's exercise was "horizontals and v-shapes".  I really need to get into the discipline of playing with my calligraphy pens once a day.  I always enjoy handwriting practice, because it's very relaxing but I have long struggled with perfecting "s", "t", "q" and "x".  I really need to exercise a bit more effort in this regard. 

Iroshizuku Yu-Yake / Lamy Joy 1.5/ HP#24

Caran d'Ache Sunset / Sheaffer Calligraphy pen Broad 1.8mm/ HP#24

On Rhodia.

On Rhodia.

05/20/12: edited to add samples on Rhodia.