READ THE APRIL 8TH POST FIRST AND THEN READ THE TOP ONE, APRIL 9TH.

Well, duh! I just went to view my own blog and realized that the top blog dated April 9th is a continuation of the blog that is dated April 8th. Actually, I finished the April 8th one just now and posted it. Then I added on the box cover so there was a visual of the "INKTENSE." In my mind I view the blog like a book where the most recent comes below what has already been read. It's the opposite with the blog. I just plain forgot. It's another learning experience on the learning curve of blogging.

Yep, starting a new post did the trick. My daughter Emma warned me that this program has a few frustrating oddities.

My conclusion about both the "INKTENSE" pencils and the "NeoColor II" crayons is that I SO WANT TO BUY THE BIGGEST BOX WITH ALL THE COLORS!!! I'll be saving my pennies....well maybe dollars would be more realistic.

I thought people might want to read the inspiration for all this cosmic dance stuff I've been doing. I read at least half of Thomas Merton's books years ago. The cosmic dance vision has literally been dancing in my mind ever sense. His description of the cosmic dance is in his book, "Seeds of Contemplation." Over the years I've collected quotations that relate to that theme. Before I went to the "Letters California Style" conference in February I spent a day pulling them all together. All the quotations are ones I hope to put into a finished book. When that day comes, I'll be sure to report it on my blog.

FROM SEEDS OF CONTEMPLATION BY THOMAS MERTON

"If we could let go of our own obsession with what we think is the meaning of it all, we might be able to hear His call and follow Him in His mysterious, cosmic dance. We do not have to go very far to catch echoes of that game, and of that dancing. When we are alone on a starlit night; when by chance we see the migrating birds in autumn descending on a grove of junipers to rest and eat; when we see children in a moment when they are really children; when we know love in our own hearts; or when, like the Japanese poet Basho we hear an old frog land in a quiet pond with a solitary splash---at such times the awakening, the turning inside out of all values, the "newness," the emptiness and the purity of vision that make themselves evident, provide a glimpse of the cosmic dance."

THE DANCE DONE WITH "INKTENSE-ITY"

I thought I'd have one last go around with the "Cosmic Dance" theme. At least this will be all I intend to post here before I get into some serious art making of a final piece.

The piece above was done with another water soluble product put out by Derwent: "INKTENSE" pencils. They put out exactly what they claim which is intense, vibrant color that looks like and handles like liquid ink. Actually, I've had to learn not to apply really heavy coats of pencil so that the color isn't too dark in places I want it lighter. The color doesn't look that dark when it's applied dry. So, the tendency is to really lay it on thick. I suggest experimenting with these before trying to use them in a finished piece.

I did the above artwork on a piece of Arches cover stock paper. Previously I had only used the pencils on Arches text wove. I did not like the result as well on the cover stock. I think that's because that paper is very soft. It did not take the pencil as well nor did the colors seem as intense when I wet brushed them. It also tended to fuzz up like a wool sweater that pills.

Maybe the Arches text wove worked better because it has a harder surface. It accepted more pencil pigment. Why this happens, I'm not sure. Maybe it's a bit more abrasive because of it's textured, hard surface. The colors seemed to come out brighter also. Again because the paper isn't as absorbent as the cover stock, more pigment stayed on the surface. Just guessing here.

I scanned the top of the "INKTENSE" box so you could have a visual of what it looks like. But, the blogging program won't let me add a picture. I'm just going to end this post and start a new one. Apparently, I need to add the pictures before I start the writing. This is yet another step in my experimenting. I find the computer stuff the most daunting!!