Saturday, March 28, 2015

Spotlight Artist for DLP!

Hi Everyone! 
It's me, Martha, in my favorite hat. 

I just can't express my excitement for being a
Documented Life Project Spotlight Artist
for this week!

This month's theme has been "Making Your Mark"  (Doodles and Mark Making). Goodness, how can you not love that one!!
The art challenge this week is "Create a Custom Element" and the prompt is a great quote by Gabrielle Roth--
"Ride the Energy of your own unique spirit."

As I thought about making my custom element within the mark making month I got to thinking about what a custom mark or element could be. I first thought I would make a rubber stamp and go with that which would have been fun. I love making custom rubber stamps! Then I thought that I really wanted to try and make a unique mark that I hadn't done in a while.  So I rummaged through all my ancient supplies in search of this soda pop folded pen that I made at a calligraphy conference many many years ago.  I hadn't used it since then so I decided that the marks this pen would make would be my unique calligraphic marks.  By the way---ANY mark that YOU make whether made by a brush, a pencil, a marker or whatever is your own unique mark.


I love the quote so I decided I just had to make some word marks.
So I just started marking while still thinking about where my quote would go.
Sometimes trying to figure out the layout with lettering can be quite challenging.


I also added some water to make the ink flow and run a bit to add some unexpected excitement!




As you see in this one I did use a regular calligraphy pen and a Tombow marker brush pen.
I was thinking about what type of layout would go into my journal so I decided to try and find some interesting 3x3 squares to cut out that might work.


Pretty cool!
So I guess it's time to show you how I made the marks. I used different colors
of fountain pen ink. Did I mention that I LOVE fountain pens?
So, here goes!


Making My Unique Marks! from Martha Lever on Vimeo.



Here is what finally came out. I had so many marks that I loved it was hard to choose so I did two layouts.  The one on the right was rather "energetic" so I decided to just write the quote
out on the left using the Italic calligraphy hand with a Speedball C-4 nib with red gouache.  
The paper has gesso on it to make for a better writing surface. 




It was so much fun to make my own unique marks for this week. 
Just remember--you are unique so every mark you make will be uniquely your own.

On your mark,
 get set,
GO!
(I just couldn't resist that one! :))










22 comments:

Mary C. Nasser said...

Martha, I LOVE your marks of lettering! Was so great to see the process of your lettering in your video! The blue marks and the energy they contain are my favorite! Thank you for the inspiration!

Sandi Keene said...

Martha, thank you so much for joining us this year. I love your art and your unique spirit! What a great spread. I loved that when you wrote you got that bit of spray off the pen giving the piece teeny texture. How cool is that?! Your lettering is beautiful! I betcha it is easy to learn calligraphy with just YEARS of practice : ) Thank you for sharing your unique spirit with us!

OracleGaia said...

Wow, I LOVE that pen you made out of a can. Your writing is gorgeous., and watching you makes me want to drag out a Calligraphy book I have to learn some. Tfs :)

Linda said...

Wow, Martha. This is so different for you, and I love it. Thanks for sharing the video too.....Linda E.

Sandi said...

great lettering and color play, hugs

sara j said...

Your lettering and colors are beautiful...I'm thinking of cutting up a soda can! Thanks so much for peak into your process.

lori vliegen said...

hello, my sweet, energetic friend! congrats on being the Spotlight Artist!! your unique spirit has been busy creating these FAB-U-LOUS journal pages, and your letterforms with the humble coke pen are spectacular…..love the video, too!! xox

peggy gatto said...

I love these marks!!

Lorraine Bell said...

Oh Martha, this spread is incredible! I am so glad you created the video...I have watched it three times already and I want one of those pens so badly! You make it look so easy! Thank you again for being our featured artist and all you do for The documented Life Project. You fill our feed with light and color and happiness! BTW - you totally pull off that hat - it's stunning!

Wildflowerhouse said...

Beautiful Martha!

www.raemissigman.com said...

Martha this and YOU are just amazing! I can't say enough about how much this made me feel like I know you now! And I want to write like this! You are so talented and I am so happy you joined us this year as a Featured Artist! Off to watch the video again!

Barb said...

love it and enjoyed your video

Unknown said...

Martha - you are a FANTASTIC featured artist. Thank you so much for your inspiring project. It is so obvious that you are making a impressive artistic MARK on many hearts. j.

Roben-Marie said...

I enjoyed this very much, Martha! Thank-you so much for being one of our spotlight artists. Your work is very unique and always makes me feel like dancing...kind of like a "Dancing Queen" from days gone by. Okay, was that weird? It just makes me smile and want to stand up and cheer. You inspire me! :)

Laura Spano said...

Inspiring. Love your take on the challenge.

Robin said...

OMgosh..that pen is amazing and inspiring..id love to make one as well..you took mark making to a whole other level..loved this post so much..Thank you..!!

Sabrina K. said...

What a unique, beautiful way to write! I'll be looking at other options now - inspiring. Thank you for doing the video!

k baxter packwood said...

Fantastic video love your use of vivid colors! Your soda pop brush/pen reminded me of the brushes/pens we would carve from bamboo during my art school days!

Cathy Michels said...

I came upon your site through Pinterest and have so enjoyed my visit. Your work is so beautiful and so inspiring. Presently, I am taking an online lettering class from another instructor, but I will be back to take one of yours when I am finished. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful creations!

Pam said...

Martha,
I always enjoy your blog, and art work. I was wondering if you are offering any classes in Jacksonville. We just moved to Jacksonville in December, from Colorado.

sannasartmind said...

Wow, you letters are so cool and pretty and unique! I want a soda pop mark making pen too! Everyone knows the magic is in the pen, right? Great blog fun stuff. Sanna.

Unknown said...

Such cute lettering and color use. I really love these colors. You have done wonderful work my friend. Hey, why don’t you participate in the contest that is going to be organized at couple of local event venues in SF? I am sure you’ll win them!!

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