We're nearing the end of the year...

...and in our family, it's the silly season.  We've played Cranium, done half a dozen puzzles over the holidays, and a little 5 x 5" thingy that looks like studio play even if it wasn't done in the studio.

Patterning in gel pens on black cardstock

I rather suspect that working on a Klimt puzzle of this Adele Bloch Bauer painting is what has me, once again, pattern crazed.

And because we've been playing so much, I don't have a video tutorial for you today, so I'll give you a video gift of silliness to end the year...this one is all about me learning a new trick.  For years I've wanted to learn how to break an egg one-handed (just because my son can do it), and here's the proof that I did it at least once.  Warning:  mild profanity.  Outtakes included at no extra charge.

That's it for 2018, my year of pronoia.  Tune in next week for details about my word for 2019.  And in the meantime, I'm wishing you the happiest possible new year.  May it bring everything your creative heart could desire!

Still obsessed...

with patterns, I just cannot stop doodling with gel pens on black paper.

There's something about the intensity of the colour contrast that does it for me.

It seems to me that the repeated patterns create a state of relaxation

and the empty spaces tell a story, too.

I can hardly get enough of doing them, and I'm afraid the house will soon be overrun.

I suspect these will soon be housed in their own little book...terrific, another creative project!

Because patterns are invading my mind, I was playing with a set of coasters that were on the coffee tables, naturally arranging them into various patterns (doesn't everyone?). It was fascinating to see the four mandalas that arose:

Noticing Klimt's mastery of pattern and colour made me wonder if there is richness all around us that I'm just not noticing. What patterns are you seeing in your life?  Are they physical, or something else entirely?  I'm wishing us a day of noticing them all.

I'm fascinated right now...

...by patterns, and they're absolutely everywhere.

Whether on the net,

in photos,

in nature,

in my surroundings,

and in my own work

one can hardly escape them.

I'm drawn right now to Art Deco patterns, and there are a host of them to be found with a Google search of 'Art Deco Images'.  These have my mouth watering with their beauty and their seeming simplicity.

This lacquered wood screen by Jean Dunand has my mind whirling with possibilities.

Are you drawn to patterns as well?  Where do you see them?  I'd love to see your comments below.

Rectangular Zen Doodle

I love the meditative state that comes from doodling, and even though a sheet of these tangles can take hours and hours, they're sheer pleasure to create.  Somehow, the ego mind gets totally lost, and the subconscious takes over.

11 x 8.5 rectangular doodle

I'm intrigued both by the process and the results.

Bottom left quadrant

Each area of the doodle is uniquely patterned,

Bottom right quadrant

and for someone who is pattern-obsessed like I can be,

Top left quadrant

it's a wonderful way to play.

Top right quadrant

And of course, the fun doesn't stop there.  I usually photocopy them and turn the photocopies into skins to use in other pieces as you can see in this recent gratitude journal page I completed.

The P page for patterns (can you tell I'm totally hooked on them?) incorporates a circular doodle created a couple of years ago, and there might be another one lurking in the gratitude book when it gets done too.

Some Helpful Hints when doodling:

• Allow your subconscious mind to make the decisions...start in with the first mark, and let it flow
• Try doodling in colour, too - it's a lot of fun!

What are you hooked on?  What do you return to time and again in your artwork?