Metamorphosis December 13, 2009

Design4 © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

The latest study in line and color resulted in experimental excursions into the digital realm as well. Many of you know that I began doodling as a way to overcome my beliefs of not being able to draw. After two years, I’ve let go of that belief and now I’m just wanting to know how to do what it is that I want to do. But the digital realm is my first love, and I love being able to incorporate the two worlds.

Design 4b © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

I added digital paint, blurred that with gaussian blur , and created some texture with pattern overlay…

Design 4c © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

Removed  pattern overlay, added outer glow …

Design 4d © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

Used overlay blending mode on main image layer. The light on all layers  matches now.

I’m still restless though.

SueDoodles

LET YOUR CREATIVE SPIRIT LIFT YOU UP September 5, 2009

RISE UP MANDALA – © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

Don’t worry. Be happy. ~ Bobby McFerrin

Doodling makes me happy, captures my imagination, allows my creative spirit free reign. Doodling doesn’t care about perfection; it exists for its own sake.

I love choosing the colors and seeing how they play with each other. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone could play with each other the way that colors do?

The more I focus on having fun, the less I worry about other people and what they think of me! (Now there’s an admission, and also a truth about life).

Got the blues? Go find some paper and put  marks on it.

Have fun.

~suedoodles

QUEEN OF THE OCEAN July 26, 2009

Mighty Pacifica – © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

The queen of the ocean knew she could create quite a stir…and she liked it!

DIPSY DOODLING May 8, 2009

posi-doodley – ©sueokieffe 2009

“ The Dipsy Doodle’s a thing to beware,

the Dipsy Doodle will get in your hair

and if it gets you it couldn’t be worse-

the things you say will come out in reverse,

like,You love I and me love you-

that’s the way the Dipsy Doodle works !” (Larry Clinton)

revi-posi-doodley-©sueokieffe 2009

SURRENDER May 5, 2009

Surrender – © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

Surrender to the Night -© Sue O’Kieffe 2009

All day I think about it, then at night I say it. Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing? ~Rumi

My Kid Loves All The Colors April 17, 2009

All the Colors – © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

It’s only in innocence you find any kind of magic, any kind of courage. ~Sean Penn

When days are long and all linear thought has disappeared from my brain, I am grateful for the comfort and calm of doodling. I love the sound and feel of my Sharpie scratching against Canson sketch paper.  My time with my sketchbook is a late night visit with my BFF.

And then I get to play with colors. Oh my. I love the choosing and then watching the interplay of my choices. I know it is basic color wheel theory, but I still love the magic… as well as the soft feel of prismacolors spreading like butter on toast.

All The Colors at Night – © Sue O’Kieffe 2009

Using the digital alchemy of Photoshop, I can turn my colored doodles into scratchboard with just one click. Remember doing that in kindergarten…laying down color on paper, covering  it with ink, and scratching out hidden colors underneath?

My doodling is pure expressive therapy. My thanks goes out to all you graphic designers  who have turned doodling into a respected art form. I groove on the joy.

How do you express yourself that puts you back in touch with your inner child?

JUST ANOTHER MANIC MEHNDI January 4, 2009

Yup, it’s true, Im still busily doodling mehndi patterns in mandalas and creating variations on those themes in Photoshop.  Not only am I currently captivated by these patterns, Im also loving lush green. Did you notice I redid the theme for my blog in a lovely spring green? I like this layout better and find it easier on the eyes, as well.

I’m thinking in a couple of days I will present a tutorial about making these images and how I transform them in Photoshop. Would that be fun? Learning new things is way up on my list of values. How about you?

I’ve joined Leah Piken Kolidas for another year of Creating Every Day. These Mehndi Mandalas fit in nicely with her monthly theme of play.

See you next Mehndi!

~suedoodles