A to Z Blog Challenge: Y is for...

 Yes!

Okay, I am a bit boring, because I couldn't think of a Y-word for this prompt. The internet hadn't provided any inspiration either. Who thought that could happen? 😏

But with the end of the A-to-Z challenge in sight, I thought you might like another challenge to learn about mixed media art - it's only two weeks and from past experience I can recommend it to anyone who might like to try.

It is called Mastering Mixed Media hosted by Tamara Laporte. I have been taking part in this (free) event since 2023 (maybe earlier 🤔) and have learned at least one new technique every year. Tamara's sessions are the best, but there are other artists too whose sessions are worth watching.

For me it will also provide inspiration for the 100 day project and the 100 tiny treasures quest.

Here are two projects that I painted from one of the past sessions.

(portraits are not my strong point, but I keep trying different styles to work on my confidence and skills...maybe one day 🤣)

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A to Z Blog Challenge: W is for...

 Watercolour Month (July)

With day 100 of the 100 day project on June 1st, I will take the month off, so that I can do the watercolour month challenge in July.

The book is now out for pre-sale, and I can focus on art for the remainder of the 100 day project. This challenge was becoming tiring (today is day 65), but with the book now off my schedule, I have a bit more control over my schedule and can also pay attention to the tiny treasures project.

For watercolour month I usually paint larger pieces and am looking forward to tackling the list of watercolour projects I want to paint.

Here are two of my favourites of the challenge in 2025.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A to Z Blog Challenge: U is for...

 Ultramarine and other blues

 Blue comes in a variety of pigments, including ultramarine, cobalt, and turquoise. My favourite blue is turquoise, but I use all of them in paintings and drawings.

Blue is considered to be the favourite colour of most people...I am not one of them. 😏

But here are a few blues from watercolour paints, pens, and markers in my art and craft material stash.

What is your favourite colour?

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A to Z Blog Challenge: T is for...

 Tags

 Tags are a fun creative project. Typically used in junk journaling, they are easy, and versatile.

You can decorate the one side and use the other write on, or just leave it blank. We have three monthly creative projects in our art group: lifebook, an art project, and a tag.

Here are a few of my recent tags (they are all 16x8cm).

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A to Z Blog Challenge: Q is for...

 Quader

An old Scots word literally meaning “to make something square,” but which can also be used figuratively to mean “to agree with or get along with someone.” (mentalfloss.com)

While I don't think I will be using this word in my writing any time soon, I do find the blog challenge always a good time to learn a new word or two. Q is a letter that definitely lends itself to such a learning opportunity.

Here is a watercolour background and ink doodle drawing I did for #the100dayproject - all square at 11x11cm. 😏🤣

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A to Z Blog Challenge: H is for...

The 100 day project

and 100 Tiny Treasures

The 2026 edition of #the100dayproject started on 22 February. Today is the 47th day since the start of the challenge, and by some miracle I have been keeping up a daily creative practice.

Last year I spent more of the time writing, but so far I have only used two days to write, and not draw or paint. This does not mean that I haven't written during the other days, I have. I do have a book to finish, so writing (and editing) is necessary so I won't miss the new publication deadline in May.

And then I decided to do #100tinytreasures. These are tiny paintings and the perfect solution for days where I have to focus on the book. The tiny treasures is not a challenge but a quest (alias the inventor, Leslie Stroz) to make 100 tiny paintings in a year. So not everyday, but often enough to keep the creative interest, and a perfect solution for the 100 day project too.

And just so you know: I don't count the A to Z challenge blog posts towards the 100 day project. And on that note here are a few of those tiny paintings.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A to Z Blog Challenge: G is for...

Graphite

The most basic of all art mediums, the humble drawing pencil remains a favourite.

A friend asked me last night which graphite pencils I like to draw with, and I had to think for a moment. While I usually reach for my trusty 2H first, I have been drawing with a 5H pencil as well. And this choice is the result of the paper I am drawing on.

The 5H pencil just seemed be the best choice for drawing on Canson Sandgrain paper. We have an oil based material project for April, and I chose oil pastels. The harder pencils don't smudge easily, so the oil pastel won't get dirty because I smudge the first layer of the painting with my fingers. I love Sandgrain paper, although I know many artists don't because of its abrasive surface.

But here is another oil pastel I did on Sandgrain paper - it is based on an acrylic painting tutorial by Michelle the Painter on YouTube.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A to Z Blog Challenge: E is for...

Experiment

Staying creative is not always easy, and experimenting is often a good idea to keep the creative juices flowing. But not all experiments are successful, as many scientists will attest.

But when it comes to making art, who doesn't love making a mess? So I did. And while the outcome is not a masterpiece, I did like the process: I combined two ideas from two different ladies on YouTube.

I am sharing both my attempts, and will definitely try it again. The crayons for the background didn't work so well, but I will try with artist grade crayons or paint next time.

Until tomorrow!

💜🇿🇦 Linzé

  

A to Z Blog Challenge: D is for...

Drawing

Drawing or sketching? I like both, but drawing is a more time intensive activity. Sketching can be done while waiting for your coffee at your favourite coffee shop. Ofter called urban sketching it can be a quick record of a time or place, whereas a drawing usually requires more time, more attention, and can be a work of art when it is done.

`White ink drawing

Both are fun, and serve to satisfy the urge to create something. So, when I have a bit of time, I like to do a drawing with lots of details and might even add colour with watercolours or coloured pens or pencils.

Sketching on the go? Why not? It is excellent practice to capture a moment (or moments) and takes almost no time on a busy day...just long enough to get a cup of your favourite brew.

There is no post tomorrow, so I will see you again on Monday!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A to Z Blog Challenge: C is for...

Challenge

Today's post is closer to the theme I chose for the Blog Challenge this month. I have written posts about this before, but this year, I am taking it to a higher level. I am talking about taking part in multiple creative challenges.

This month I am taking part in the following challenges...at the same time! I am worried about not keeping up, but I have to say, it is not as difficult as I thought, once I decided on a plan.

1. The A to Z blog challenge

2. The 100day Project - it started on 22 February

3. Inktober52 - a weekly challenge for the whole year

And I have a novel to edit before it can be published. Not an online challenge like the others, but this book is late, so it needs to get done to get my writing back on schedule for 2026.

Since my weekdays have pretty much the same schedule everyday, I don't sit down to plan time to do this or create that. but multiple challenges made it necessary to plan - at least a bit.

You would think that I don't have to do everything, and you would be right, but I love all of these, so I am pretty much committed. 😏 

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A to Z Blog Challenge: B is for...

Sketchbook 😉

Sketchbook practice is one of my favourite activities. There is no pressure to produce anything and there are no limits on what you can do or try.

I have several sketchbooks going, but now try to finish one, before starting a new one. With the ones I have currently going, I try to stick to a single (or a primary) medium per sketchbook.

When I do a mixed media page, one medium will dominate the exercise.

There are two exceptions: an A5 landscape sketchbook that I use to plan paintings, and an A4 landscape sketchbook for the challenges of an online art group that I belong to.

A few of my current sketchbooks: water-based marker, gouache, ink and watercolour,
and collage.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé

A to Z Blog Challenge: A is for...

Acrylic markers

A favourite medium that recently came on the art scene. I like them because they aer easy to use, and work well acrylic paints, or on paper with water colours.

Versatile and a quick option that doesn't require any preparation to use - aside from shaking the brush pen, depending on the brand you are using.

Acrylic brush marker on an acrylic painted background - a tiny canvas painting made for the 100DayProject.

Until tomorrow!

🇿🇦💜 Linzé