BVCG - Cowboy Wisdom - In The Saddle

My Guild's next challenge is "Cowboy Wisdom" and this is my 2nd piece and my favorite... and so true. In my younger days I used to ride a lot... mainly English style but also quite a bit western style as well. I was also honored to ride in EXPO 67 in Montreal in "Le Grand Spectaque" (spelling??)
size: 7.5"w x 5"h
On Canson Mixed Media paper drew out the outline cowboy style text. The border words were done in a 2 tone style using w/n Burnt Umber on the lower part of the letter and Gold Ochre on the upper part and letting them blend together. For the inner text I dropped water into the letter then the Ochre and blotted the liquid up. I really like the result of this. I added graphite shadow (2B Caran d'Ache) on the inner text.

words: No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. 

Winston Churchill

BVCG - Cowboy Wisdom - Bull, Horse, Fool

My Guild's next challenge is "Cowboy Wisdom". I though this was a good lesson...
size: 5.5"w x 7"h
On Canson Mixed Media paper wrote out the text in a light and heavy funky serif style using both a Juice Up pen and a ZIG Calligraphy Marker

words: Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from any direction.

BVCG Numbers Sept Galleria - Balloon Numbers

size: 8"h x 7.5"w
Our BVCG Sept 2025 Galleria is "Numbers". I was doodling trying to come up with an idea and started drawing balloon shapes... You can figure out the rest BIG Grin
On Canson XL Pen &Ink Paper using Twinkles H2º brand of watercolors for the balloon shaped numbers adding white gel pen highlights. Funky lettering with a shadow using a Zig Writer.
words: It's All In The Numbers

1 - Sunburst; 2 - Jasmine; 3 - Ginger Peach: 4 - Mystic Blue;

5 - Irish Mist; 6 - Deep Coral; 7 - Green Tea; 8- Orange Peel;

9 - Guatemalan Green; 0 - True Blue;

BVCG Galleria - Teacup - 5 Ways

Our Galleria topic for March 2025 is 1 word written 5 ways. I've done this before for a Scribbled Lives prompt. Then I did one called Whirlpool recently... now Teacup
size: 4.25"sq
On misc cardstock created my decorated teacup using Juice Up pen and Zig Writer, colored with Prsma Colored pencils in "tea" colors... Don't drink mine with milk -  ugh!!

words: Teacup

BVCG Galleria - Whirlpool 4

Our Galleria topic for March 2025 is 1 word written 5 ways. I've done this before for a Scribbled Lives prompt. So needed to do something completely different...
After doing the 1st 3 renditions I decided to do 1 more...
size: 6.25"sq
On Canson mixed media paper created my whirlpool lines and then wrote in various lettering styles using a Zig Writer or a Sharpie pen. Colored with Black Edition colored pencils.

words: Whirlpool

BVCG Galleria - March 2025 - Whirlpool

Our Guild's (BVCG) Galleria topic for March 2025 is 1 word written 5 ways. I've done this before for a Scribbled Lives prompt. So needed to do something completely different...
size: 6.25"sq
On Canson mixed media paper created my whirlpool lines and then wrote in various lettering styles using a Zig Writer or a Sharpie pen. Painted with various brands of watercolors and a gold Uniball gel pen.
words: Whirlpool

The 2 images below were done on copy paper and using Posca colored pencils. I'm still not sure if any of these are my final pieces...

 

Made Up Word - Nohowzaway

BVCG November Galleria topic is "Made Up Word". This is so not me... But one of my calligraphy friends (RW) gave me a boost and got me thinking... In the middle of the night I woke up and this word popped into my head. I immediately opened my iPad and wrote down the word because I know 2 seconds later I would have forgotten what word I just thought of... old age is no fun...
size: 9.5"w x 7"h
On Canal St Armand paper drew out the word "Nohowzaway" using a Zig Writer in "Inside Curve Variations" taught by Heidi Stolp. Colored with Kuretake "Gem Colors"  Used an HB pencil and paper stump to shadow the letters.  The rest of the words "no way no how I don't believe u" in "Blue Rider Typeface"
words: NOHOWZAWAY no way no how I don't believe u.

BVCG Galleria Sept 2024 - I Walk The Line

Our Galleria topic for Sept 2024 is Lyrics (we had that topic 2 years ago so I can't use the same lyrics... which were "He Wore Black Denim Trousers"). This one was done by Johnny Cash.
On 12 x 12 scrapbook cardstock I applied Pan Pastels to the upper half of the cardstock (red, violet and gold/copper with a dry baby wipe). Used an eraser to create my letters. Added a white Gelly Roll gel pen highlight to each letter. Created the rest of the text with the gel pen in various funky styles going this way and that...
 

words:
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open ll the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I find it very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day's through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line

BVCG June Galleria - My Boots On

This was the 1st piece I created for our next galleria "Under the Western Sky" which is the theme for Stampede this year. Definitely not happy with my cowboy lettering. Not clean enough... Hence the other piece I uploaded yesterday which was cleaner and I liked a whole lot better...

size: 6"w x 4"h
I used another rubber stamp I created of just a plain border, inked with various colors of Distress Oxide pads, misted with water and stamped onto Canson Mixed Media paper (I think...). A ZIG calligraphy pen which I couldn't get the clean lines like with a broad edge nib... Highlighted with a white Juice Up pen.
words:
I may not have much but I still have my boots on.

Embossed - Wild West

Our next galleria will be "Under the Western Sky" which is the theme for Stampede this year. This was my 2nd piece for the theme... but didn't like the 1st one too much... I really like this one though... and my embossing finally worked the way I had envisioned...
size: 8" sq
On black Full Spectrum Color Line I embossed my "WILD WEST" words using various sizes of embossing tools. Highlighted it with a white Juice Up pen. and wrote the rest of the text with a gold Juice Up pen.
PS: I cut my stencil from 2 pieces of 110# Staples cardstock glued together. I really massaged the paper with the largest embossing ball I had to soften for stretching it... but it worked...

words:
In the heart of the Wild West I found my soul.

Truer words couldn't be said for me...

BVCG Galleria - Mar-2024 - Archaic-Obsolete - Behold The Blackguard

Our next Guild's Galleria topic is Archaic/Obsolete words. I decided to create a sentence....
size: 9"w x 7"h
Quote written on a geli print on Columbia Mills End Paper using a pointed nib and Sumi ink in Pointed Pen Bookhand style.

Words: Behold the blackguard, the beef-witted, baseborn, was betimes sent to bedlam.
translation:
Observe, the stupid low-born scoundrel was speedily sent to the asylum.

This one done on Fabriano 1264 Mixed Media paper.... but several letters weren't very good... and I didn't like the plain background.

BVCG Galleria - Movie One Liners

Since I goofed... and created only basic One Liners instead of Movie One Liners I started a new batch. Some are ending up in book form again, but I thought I'd play with my favorite one... I love Sherlock Holmes...

So I created 3 different takes on that one liner. I'm not sure what my favorite is...

The 1st 2 are done on Fabriano 1264 Mixed Media paper. The Last one on 110# Staples cardstokck.

The 1st one is in color using Bister powders and a 4.5 empty Parallel pen dipped in water in an Arthur Baker style of lettering I really like. 

size: 7.5"w x 5.5"h

For the 2nd piece  I created oversized funky letters and then started to doodle in it using  Juice Up pen... I really like the way the letters pop.

size:  9"w x 3.75"h

The 3rd piece was something I came across in Instagram and wanted to play with that style using a Zig Writer... I love the way it also pops...

size: 5.5"w x 7"h 

 

BVCG Galleria - Sept 2023 - Collage - Sticks And Stones

Our Galleria topic for Sept 2023 is Text and include collage elements.

Click on image for more details etc. Enjoy

BVCG Galleria - April 2023 - Bugs - 99 Little Bugs

BVCG Galleria - April 2023 - Bugs - 99 Little Bugs... some of you computer people can identify with this ditty... I thought it was too cute to pass up.

Click on image for more details etc. Enjoy

BVCG Galleria - April 2023 - Bugs - It Should Work

BVCG Galleria - April 2023 - Bugs - It Should Work. For this one I went in the computer bug direction... That is such a true statement after attempting to fix a bug... famous words "It should work..." I'm ROFL.

I might do this one again on a lighter paper color...

Click on image for more details etc. Enjoy

BVCG Galleria - April 2023 - Bugs - Never Allow

BVCG Galleria - April 2023 - Bugs - Never Allow. What a fun topic... This piece I took in an actual insect bug direction...

Click on image for more details etc. Enjoy

Foundational - A Pizza Of My Heart

As mentioned yesterday our Guild's Galleria topic is "Write Down The Road". I noticed some funny sentences we could use and was inspired...

As you can see, one of the words was crossed out... if there isn't a mistake in my piece, it's probably not mine. My mind has a one track lane... ROFL

Click on image for more details etc. Enjoy

Foundational - May The Forest

Our Guild is having a ZOOM Galleria next week and the deadline is tomorrow for entries... I wasn't going to enter because the topic "Write Down The Road" just didn't inspire me. I'm not into "journaling" and I haven't really traveled in about 15 years... but then in our eBulletin today I noticed there were some funny sentences that we could use... and yes finally was inspired.

Click on image for more details etc. Enjoy

BVCG GalleriaSept 2022 - W/C Ampersand

Our next Guild's galleria is in person on September 19 with the theme of Ampersand... I created a 3D piece a couple weeks ago but then wanted to do a calligraphed piece as well.

Click on image for more details etc. Enjoy

BVCG Sept 2022 Galleria - 3D Ampersand

Our Guild's next galleria is "Ampersands". At our recent garage sale we picked up a craft papered 3D ampersand. I painted mine and embellished it...

Click on image for more details and larger images. Enjoy