Set 2 of January Abstract Shape Experiments

Okay, so this shape idea came from the A-B exercise I did for the annual “30 Days of Drawing” series of the very popular Drawing newsletter, Draw Together With WendyMac.

Not that I’m keeping up with the exercises, but sometimes, like this one, I get to it. And I really like what happened! I loved the lines and shapes…so I decided to really play with those organic shapes. I love everything about this second set of shapes. I used Copic markers again, which are so lovely to work with, really, on smooth Bristol paper. I love the limited color palette—and so many of the compositions and figures! I’ll definitely have to explore them more in my work.

Set 1 of January Abstract Shape Experiment

This month I’m studying shapes as a focus for my art practice. This is the first set of 16 cards. The self-created assignment is to pick one shape idea and play with it 16 ways on 4X6” Bristol paper—And then see what I learn. This first set I stuck with black rectangle marks using a Copic marker.

Overall, I love the graphic boldness of all these compositions in one set. And I see that marks composed in patterns—or even figures—works better than marks not repeating in any pattern except to make a shape (like cards #2-5) if you count top to bottom, left to right.

I really dislike #15 - white space on all the others is much more soothing! As for my favorite cards, hmmm, I like the movement and change in the marks in cards #8, #10, #11. And I’m surprised that when shapes are made into figures #9 and #16, it really pleases me. Shapes create figures—and texture.

"More vs. Less" meme of the new year

What you want MORE of and what do you want less of in the new year?

A good way to practice simple illustrations to describe what I want more of and what I want less of in 2026. I wonder what if I get what I want—I’ll have to come back to this spread in December.