Skip to main content

Challenge #186 and STEPS pattern

I have so many scribbled on pieces of paper scattered across my desk right now - pattern ideas, drawing ideas.......things that have just popped into my head. Yep, it's a mess!

I haven't had time to get up to my room and draw, because, you know........it IS Spring and there's gardening to be done, a lamb who thinks I'm his mother and does not want to be weaned (though I do have him down to one feed a day), running my daughter around, catching up with my other kids......oh.....and having coffee with the first CZT I have met in real life! Exciting! Yesterday I met up with the lovely Jenny Farrell for a coffee at beautiful Karunga Native Nursery (well worth a visit if you're in Melbourne and love Australian native plants).

So, onto this week's diva challenge..........I wanted to go with the colour option and for some reason I was determined to do a string themed thing and it just wasn't working out.......after 2 aborted attempts, I scrabbled through some of the papers on my desk for some inspiration - here's the result:
I don't usually include a whole lot of colour in my drawings, so it was a challenge........and some of the blending could have been better, but, I think if you stand far enough back from the screen.......it's o.k. :) and, I like the way it works with the transitioning colours.

This pattern is a similar concept to this idea using dots that I posted a couple of months ago, but I use lines for the base framework instead of dots.

It makes me think of a spiral staircase, so I'm just dubbing it "steps".
I've got a few variations on the theme that I'll try to get up over the next few days. Have a great weekend! Mine is going to be a full on gardening-fest!

hx

Comments

Absolutely gorgeous! I like your rainbow steps! Thank you for the instruction.
Unknown said…
Stunning...love the steps through the rainbow! Such a joyful piece.
Mariët said…
So lovely, It looks like folded origami paper.
Thanks for sharing this nice pattern.
Is "Steps" the name of this pattern or are these the steps?
Helen said…
Thanks, Mariet :) Steps is the name as they look like spiral steps to me :) Confusing, I know!
Laura26 said…
Awesome as usual! I missed thepast two weeks completely! Love looking at your pictures!
Anonymous said…
So so pretty Helen.
jeanchaneyaz said…
I love this pattern. It is really simple yet has stunning results. Yours done rainbow style is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Nice piece. I like the color transitions. Your pattern starts out a lot like ING and then goes in a different direction. I am sure that your meeting with Jenny was quite an event. I was in the same CZT seminar with her. Some time soon hope to get back to posting things again.
Anonymous said…
I really like the way you transitioned the colors and the steps to steps are wonderful! Thank you, I'll be trying steps soon!
David Hunter said…
Wonderful Tile, Helen. Your new pattern makes a bold graphic statement. Love it. Beautiful Color blending.
Unknown said…
Helen, as usual, this is fabulous. You are so good at curly, swerving lines and now you've done this, completely outside your comfort zone. Good job. Thanks for including the picture of you and Jenny. It must have been a wonderful day.
Alice said…
so glad you got to meet jenny! i'd love to meet her, too :) your steps looks fun - will try it out this afternoon :) enjoy your spring! we are heading into fall here in sunny florida, it's only going to be the in the low 90's F today!
Nata said…
Nice tile and new pattern. I'm eager to try it out. Beautiful colouring!
I LOVE your Steps, thanks for sharing!!!
Helen said…
Helen, your work never ceases to amaze and delight me. I think you are darling and a wonderfully talented artist. Thank you so much for sharing all that you share with us.
Krafty Kathryn said…
I couldn't wait to try the Steps pattern Love it!
Astrid said…
Vielen Dank! Das Bild schaut soooo schön aus - danke auch für das Muster!
Kia said…
nice pattern and I love your shading and transitions of colour - your work, as always, is stunning and inspirational
Sylvia said…
I love this pattern and have tried it already. I think mine is smaller than the one you did so could not try the wonderful colors you used. It looks like a color wheel. I just used some gel pens in a few colors since I think to use water color I have to make mine larger. Will there be a name for this? Gorgeous work. Thank you.
Helen said…
Thanks, Donald :) Some weeks (months..years), it's really hard to fit everything in. I've stopped stressing over it now - if I have time to draw and post......fantastic......if not, just the way it goes :)

I really enjoyed the pendrills/verdigoh tile on your blog :)
Helen said…
Hi Sylvia. Glad you had fun with the pattern - I'm sure it looks lovely with gel pens, too! I know it's confusing but I've actually named it "Steps", as it reminded me of spiral stairs.
Tracy said…
Hi Helen, have you got any more examples to put up for steps? I would love to see them :)
Helen said…
Hi Tracy, you can find some variations here: http://alittlelime.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/steps-pattern-variations.html - shows the curved options, you could also click below "Newer Post". Hope this helps.
bwright35 said…
Helen, I love this pattern. I also love the variation pattern with the dots. I think however that it deserves its own name. Might I suggest 'Tumbleweed'. What do you think? You are happily heading into spring as we in Ontario face another winter. I am hoping it won't bring the cold and snow storms we experienced last winter. It was a 'doozy'! Best wishes from Ontario.
Joyce said…
Helen: Don't know what I can say that others haven't already. This series on "steps" is just amazing. I'm in awe! I love this type of tangle pattern. Thanks for the wonderful presentation you shared with us all.
Helen said…
Love the name, Tumbleweed! Perfect :) Here's hoping your winter is mild and my summer not too hot! hx
Lee Darter said…
My 5th grade class based our color wheel assignment on your work.
http://www.artroomblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/5th-grade-color-wheel.html
They loved it!
Lee
Helen said…
Fantatic, Lee! What a brilliant job they've done :) Helen
Ruth said…
Love your rainbow steps Helen - Steps is my current favorite go-to to play or relax - what did you use to color with - just yummy!
Unknown said…
I am revisiting this tangle thanks to the Square one group on Facebook. I am delighted with the flair that it brings as well ass a dynamic quality. Think I'm going to do a monotangle. Thank you for such smooth delight.
CLT said…
This is the first time I've looked through these patterns and all of your patters are so beautiful. I don't even know how to describe the quality I see in them that is so alluring. Steps is the one I have the most trouble with and I don't even know why I can't do it so that it comes out looking right but I will keep trying. Cheryl Tarkington
Helen said…
Thank you Cheryl ☺ Have you checked out the video on Steps? That might help out a bit. You can watch it on the video page here on the blog or on my YouTube channel. h