The Kelpie (WIP) And My New Gel-Pens

in art •  7 years ago  (edited)

I Lost A Day To Jelly Roll Pens

(WIP)=Work In Progress

I sat down to test my new pens that arrived a day early and before I knew it the day is almost over. I still have to outline the scales with a fine tip Macron permanent ink pen and add some shadows to the body of the Kelip. The other parts of the drawing will be fun, especially the swirly background.

The Kelpie is a mythical creature from Western Europe. It lives in the water and can change its shape to attract an unaware human. The story of the Kelpie is linked at the bottom of this article.

The gel pens go from transparent to opaque and come with small and medium tip sizes. I can use the transparent colors to mix the opaque and make new colors or blend. The glitter pens are awesome! I'm kind of like a crow; I find shiny objects attractive...hahaha

I tested my pens on my least favorite pen drawing for a coloring book I am putting together. The Kelpie's body was too stiff and unnatural looking. I thought to myself, "What the heck, I can't ruin the drawing, I don't like it anyway."

I haven't used gell-pens since the late 90s. I loved the effect. However, the ink didn't flow evenly and the pens clogged up easily. Over 21 years have passed since I have used gel-pens, the gel-pen has evolved! I love them and quickly became lost in the ease of using pens instead of a paintbrush.

With a paintbrush I have to focus, and if I don't, I can ruin my painting. Especially with watercolor paints. There are so many factors I have to be aware of while painting. I don't think about all the levels I have to be mindful of now because I've been painting for many years. However, my mind still has to be aware, and I can get tired quickly. Drinking lots of water and getting up every hour helps.

With pens I don't have to focus so intently, and there are only a few factors I have to be aware of using gel-pens.:

  • 1. The ink dries slowly; I have to be careful not to smear as I work on different areas of my drawing.
  • 2. I can't layer with a heavy hand; the pen will rewet and lift away the bottom layer of dried ink. Using a light touch, I can layer without mixing or moving the bottom layers.
  • 3. The dried ink will blend with wet ink. You can go back over an area and blend in ink with a transparent color. You can use a light opaque yellow and move it around with a transparent sliver or orange and get a nice golden color. That's cool if you want to blend. But not so cool if you want to add detail without moving the layers of dry ink.

9 x 12, Mixed Media Paper, Micron Pen, and Sakura Jelly Roll Pens

I bought the 64 pen set with some of my Steemit rewards. The cheapest deal I could find was in Ebay for 66.99 and the shipping was fast, 3 days! I was hoping the pens would arrive today so I wouldn't be distracted and finish my Chickenosauras piece.

I trade SBD for BTC and use the cryptocurrency Shift Debit card through Coinbase

I started with the tail and before I knew it I was lost in my painting. That's a really nice feeling when time goes by without me noticing it.

Kelpie Ink Drawing


    Since 1984 After intense research and development, Sakura was first to market with the invention of gel inks in 1984. Sakura has continued to master gel ink technology offering a variety of colors, opaqueness and special effects. Today, Sakura Gelly Roll® pens come in medium and fine point Classic gel ink, Metallic, sparkly Stardust®, dual color Silver Shadow® and Gold Shadow®, and bright and creamy Moonlight®.


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      Lady you are a Chimera art genius. Love this as well.

      Chimera, now that is an interesting word...lololol

      Thank you @hashcash<3

      Although Kelpie is not exactly a chimera but with your Chickenosaurus project in mind, I found the word apt :-)
      Also - just after your page I visited another great piece of work by another artist on steemit. Visiting to great works one after another was a pleasure tenfold

        ·  7 years ago (edited)

      I love talking to you, its like our minds are in the same steem, I mean stream current, except you are better with words than I am, I have an awful time with words after painting all day...I admire people who know unusual words...hehehe

      Now I will have to go check you blog and see if you have written anything with unusual words ...hahaha <3

      Appreciate your kind words................really do. My grammar is is terrible but my vocabulary is alright so that kind of helps me to put some words out there :-)
      Obviously enough, I have no artistic bone in my body and thus my desperation to see good work. It is kind of like the situation where you can't cook food but like to eat it. Lame, yes; but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the taste ;-)

        ·  7 years ago (edited)

      Amazing job @reddust i really like the colors there, so your pack of 64 pens can help you to create great paintings :). Regards

      I joined steemit to pay for my art supplies...lolol A dream come true <3

      Hehehehehehe now you can pay more than just your art supplies :). Regards

      Yes @dim753, the money will be used to help my family<3 Charity begins at home.

      Great know that dear red you really know what to do with money. Regards

      Undoubtedly every work of art is wonderful, for me it is a pleasure to see what you do and the detail of all your work. You are wonderfully good. Here is a fan of your wonderful work. By the way love your colored pencil... Have a wonderful night

      Thank you @denissemata, I am still learning how to use the gel-pen. Hopefully I can master them after I finish my watercolor...lololol I was supposed to work on another piece today.

      When I was in high school I bought many gel pencils but I have not seen those but never ... I know you will master them soon and you can continue making those beauties. I hope you are free of migraine

        ·  7 years ago (edited)

      I haven't had a migraine for over a month now...If I watch my diet and drink plenty of water and get eight hours of sleep every night....no sugar or junk foods and I can't eat after 4pm....sigh...sigh...sigh

      But it's good that you have not had a migraine that makes me very happy. That is to say that your diet is quite strict! I'm just trying to get the sugar. I drink a lot of soda but not anymore ... I'm trying to take care of myself more, and eating a little more healthy.

        ·  7 years ago (edited)

      Soda will give me an immediate headache, it has a ton of sugar. But I can blend up an orange with it's pulp and add it to water. No headache! I can't drink pure fruit juice though...too much sugar I need the fiber to slow down sugar absorption...

      The issue is my gallbladder and pancreas, they are sensitive to sugar...

      I had some problems with my vesicle, but I really want to start taking care of myself more. I will not be young forever and I do not want my body to begin to bill before. But there I am slowly changing the bad habits

      You are really good at drawing ... What a detailed drawing. Congratulations

      Thank you kindly @genesisgaby.

      Looks good, I always like how you use pattern to create form!

      Thank you kindly @natureofbeing! I hope you are doing well with all the new experiences and home.

      Thank you :-), life is chugging along at the usual breakneck speed, lol!!

        ·  7 years ago (edited)

      When we have passion for things, we can go extra mile to achieve our aim
      I love your commitment and dedication towards your woks and sincerely the works speaks for themselves, they are always awesome.
      Havent heard or read about this creature. Will read to know more, thanks for sharing the link @reddust

      I don't feel passionate, more like obsessive compulsive...hahaha

      Funny how that behavior can be labeled a mental disorder but if you are successful with your compulsion you are gifted..hehehe

      Yeah...very true.

      I miss you my dear @reddust

      @reddust Great job friend really really fabulous...This is in my opinion, real art, very interesting, the expression of an artist, spreading and expressing art, thanks a lot...

      This is really cool stuff and first of all congratulations for the attaining the White list. And definitely your art work is deserving and it need more recognition. Keep doing the great work and thanks for sharing this video with us. Wishing you an great day. Stay blessed. 🙂

      @reddust WOW WOW WOW!!....I only can say that, CONGRATULATIONS..is a wonderful project, i could not say who is my favorite artist, because I loved all, you´re great! is necessary visit the link for meet the project...Thanks for sharing!!!

      really a very beautiful picture [email protected] art a very good painting..the very detail in painting a painting @ reddust.itu why all the paintings of artwork you make get response from many people because its beauty.success always for you @reddust. i'm waiting for your next artwork.happy with you

      Flower for you @reddust
      IMG20180502133639.jpg

      @reddust , Your drawing looks like a real living object.honestly speaking, this is better than the computer shop printer in our nearby place, lol. by the way, what a talented hand you possess buddy.

      good job suiendote desde venezuela

      Great work

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      By using your Steemit rewards you are showing how the platform works. A creative artistry you again present. Thanks @reddust

      wow this one looks amazing!!!! Great job @reddust

      excellent post ..loving to your blog.thanks for sharing..

      I've always admired your arts from afar, they're like something from outer space, it's delicate and beautiful to the mental mind.

      Looking amazing
      i try my best to do this

      Looks like many hours of tedious work, but boy it looks so cool!!

      Your magical hands made great art 👌👍

      Hi. @reddust
      This is a deep meaning. Here I notice a great sense of creativity
      Do not worry Madam and pray, great work takes some time

      My blood is sparkling

      So far this Kelpie looks amazing! Looking forward to seeing the finished page with the swirly waves filled in. Do you have any Selkie's in your coloring book?

      do you draw dragon or sea horse? your picture is very detailed, I like, what if the picture of fish under the tail of your dragon give the golden yellow color, because I often see yellow goldfish, ha ha ha ,,
      but honestly, your picture @reddust is very very beautiful

      a friend of mine once said, to know the mind of a person look at the work of his hands, if the results of his work detail and beautiful means his nature is very detailed and neat, and I see it now there on you,
      I am proud to have friends like you @reddust

      Oh, this art is really awesome and unique in nature, and it's literally reflecting as an flying dragon with butterfly shaped tale and i think it's throwing the greatest levels of imagination and it's nothing easy, need the experience and efforts and enthusiasm. Thanks for sharing this artistic work with us and wishing you an great day. Stay blessed. 🙂

      So nice work

      Good thing you did not have a migraine today, it makes me very happy and how good you could finish this wonderful drawing you are so talented. thank for resteem....

      Awsome drawing ....

        ·  7 years ago Reveal Comment

      Please Stop - @rasel.khan69690

      You just said "follow you","your post","excellent art","thanks for sharing" and in your your last 100 comments you used 64 phrases considered to be spam and you made this exact same comment 1 times. You've received 0 flags and you may see more on comments like these. These comments are the reason why your Steem Sincerity API classification scores are Spam: 50.10% and Bot: 2.40%

      Please stop making comments like this and read the ways to avoid @pleasestop and earn the support of the community.

      Beautiful drawing really use the pen wonderfully
      I wish you all the best
      You are a distinguished artist