Diva Challenge #300 - Moebius Awareness Day

Moebius Syndrome Awarness - version1
Dancers, Smiles, Hearts, Mooka, Tipple, and Printemps

Moebius Syndrome Awarness - version 2
Moebius Awareness logo with Tripoli, some Hearts and Purple!

The Diva Reached her 300th Challenge this week, congratulations to her. For this week's challenge we revisit the Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day. Her son Artoo has this syndrome and through her blog we have seen his progress and amazing development.

This is the fifth Moebius Syndrome Awareness Challenge I've had the honor to participated in: Challenge #55, #103, #151, #251.  I chose to use a 3Z tile size and shape. The slogan "Smile With Your Heart" is a wonderful uplifting message so I used that as my inspiration.

Check out the other wonderful tiles for this week's 300th Diva Challenge.

 

 

 

   

 

 Challenge #299 - Drawings and Triangle Exploration

Combined Triangle Tiles, Common String, with touches of blue

triangle tiles 1-5

triangle tiles 6-8

Last week I decided to try my hand at triangle tiles. Mine are not equilateral (only 2 sides are 3.5") since I cut them out of a divided circle. but it gave me the basic feel. I created a template and I cutout my in the "fashion of" the official Zentangle® 3Z triangle tiles.This was more of an exploration in sections. I used the Zentangle blog Twelve Days of 3Zs Christmas Challenge as inspiration. Things got way out of hand and I couldn't stop myself. I finished up my pieces Sunday night.

Lot's of tangles and techniques for these pieces:

1. Shattuck, Cresent Moon, Drawings, Tripoli,
2. Lolliwhop, Knightsbridge, Mac-Ra-Me, Gourdeous
3. ICanThis, Poke Berry, Knightsbridge,
4. Drawings, Tipple,
5. Marasu, Poke Leaf, Molygons, Printemps, with Bijou's cousin
6. Tripoli, Crescent Moon, Moowa,     Knightsbridge, Purk beadz
7. Tripoli, Hollibaugh, Tipple
8. Drawings, Diva Dance

This is over the top for me but what the heck!

Challenge #260 - Monotangle: Shattuck, Zendala breakout!

Shattuck breaking out of the box / Zendala

The Diva's Challenge #260 asks us to create a Monotangle using the tangle Shattuck.   A Monotangle is a term the Diva, Laura Harms, coined on her blog for a tile or piece created using only ONE tangle and it's variations.

I chose to go simple and let the little Shattucks curve off the Zendala, breaking free, extending the Shattuck with little Mooka tendrils and a few purk-like embellishments. This piece is not perfect, but I do like the general vibe.

Happy Bunny Day to you.

Challenge #253 - New Tangle: Molygon

Molygon, Tripoli, Mooka, Shattuck with ribbons
and Baublz in the Renaissance Tile fashion

This weeks Diva's Challenge #253 asks us to use the new tangle Molygon. This tangle was introduced last week in the Zentangle newsletter, sign up here.

This tangle is a wonderful addition to Zentangle . It does have so much variety and works well on it's own or nestled in other tangles. It works much like Tripoli with the spacing and ability to grow and morph.

There is a lot going on with my tile for this week's challenge. I really wanted to work on a renaissance color tile version for my attempt this week. I love the qualities sepia pens, white pencil, and white gel pens lend to the Renaissance tile coloration. I think I brought everything AND the kitchen sink to this one. Got a little carried a way with my patterning but I am okay with the final results.

The two striped Mollygon's in the center took on a caterpillar feel to me, so, of course, I added some antenni. Maybe these are Bijou's cousins, no?

I was trying to connect and pull the interior tangles through this piece, connectivity was my goal. I incorporated so much movement that I think it is distracting but it was fun to play with this new addition to the tangle family. I also wanted to work with the reflective quality the Renaissance tile allows with the white highlights

Molygon, Purk beads, Mooka tendrils,
Crescent Moon, Tipple, and Stripings

I did play with Mollygon last week so I'm reposting that version. I took my leads on this black and white version from the variations shown in the current Zentangle newsletter.

Check out all the wonderful solutions for the Diva's challenge this week.

Challenge #180 - "UMT" MacDee by Anneke Van Dam

Fracus, MacDee, Pressed Wood, Float Fest, Tipple, Beadz, Mooka,
Betweed, Printemps, Shattuck, lot's of Auras, embellishing, and shading.
Used white chalk pencil, and white gel pens for highlights and
brown and black Sakura micron pens on a great tan card stock.

This weeks Diva challenge #180, is a UMT (Use My Tangle) challenge and features MacDee by Anneke Van Dam. It's a straight forward tangle that makes great textures and backgrounds. I can't see this as a "featured" tangle but it is very versatile and can be applied in many different applications and creates a good backdrop.

I played with MacDee and created 4 separate Quadrants using one string that encompassed all four sections. It's a Bijou sort of solution but all four 2" x 2" quadrants are kept together. The main tile area is aprox 4x4". I don't like using a straight edge so I free formed the division, drew a string on top and started tangling. This is a very busy little ZIA but it was fun to play off each section. I think it needed the open area in the center to give it some breathing space. I don't know if it's totally successful, but as always, I enjoyed the process.

I used tan paper with white gel pen and white charcoal pencil accents. The brown micron really works beautifully on this paper and seemed to go with the plaid background. Each section contains a hint of MacDee or at least elements of MacDee, morphed and varied, of course. I initially created this tile with Fracus on the bottom left corner, but after I scanned it upside down, I realized it worked better rotated 90 degrees clockwise. Isn't that always the way works when I surrender to the Zentangle process. No preconceived ideas or outcomes, I let the tangles talk to me. After all, I am a Zentangle Zealot! (term coined at our 2011 CZT Training #6)

Frame featuring Betweed, Paradox, Mooka, Printemps, Hollibaugh,
Tipple, MacDee, and some Fracas just for fun!

This frame inspired by Maria Thomas' work features the group of fabulous women who took my class last week. We concentrated on Paradox (fans and twists), Betweed, Mooka, threw in a little Printemps, and Hollibaugh. I tangled the heck out a frame to showcase all the tangles we were practicing.
It was a crazy night (we had to move our class location), but they were all troopers. We found the "Zen" within the chaos. Thanks ladies, it was a fabulous class and now they are officially Zentangle Zealots!

My Zentangle Zealots class logo

Even though it was
a hectic evening I had a wonderful time visiting with old friends and meeting new. Great group. I want to thank the Saline Library for their help.

Check out all the great entries at the Diva's site this week. 

Challenge #156 - Curvy Gridlock and #155 - A Little White Space

Grid-based, Knightsbridge, Copada, MI2
Scrolls, Beadz and strings, and
Molding

The Diva's Challenge for week #156 asks us to create a Curvy Grid-based work. I don't usually use many grid-based structured tangles but I'm always up for a challenge.  I used MI2, Florz, Copada, Knightsbridge, some beadz and baubles, curves and rolls. Then I added lots of shading and volume play. I'm not a grid gal, but adding the curves made it much more palatable for me.

I wasn't able to make comments this week because of my computer. This piece took me many days to complete but I'm happy with the results. I used a simple string and then penciled in a grid for reference. I began tangling my little centered egg shape, then worked on the right side with beginning with MI2. The molding tangles developed from the grid, I just divided, auraed and repeated. Not sure if it's an official tangle.

This piece was much more involved than my usual process. It is grid-based but not very "structured". Organic is always my end result but I used a confined organic to keep to the letter of for this challenge.

My second piece is from last week's #155 - "A Little White Space" open-space challenge. My computer has been wonky so I didn't get it posted last week. I am very comfortable with open spaces in my work. I think it gives my pieces breathing room. I love to let the viewers mind/eye complete the spaces, not filling every nook and cranny is my preference. I get involved in so much of the detail when I work. I love the textures, shading and levels we can create with the Zentangle process and our beautiful tangles so leaving open space, for me, is very important. Check out the Diva's site for more wonderful work and join in one of the Diva's challenges yourself.

Hollibaugh, Knightsbridge border, Beadz, Tipple
Lot's of contrast and shading

Challenge #114 - "You with the Stars in your Eyes" - Stars Version 2

Third final scan version with shading and highlights...
It eeze complete!

The Diva's challenge this week revisits Stars. Laura said she was inspired this time by Rosemary Clooney's "Hey There You With the Stars in Your Eyes" video on Youtube.

I'm teaching a Beyond Basic's course on Thursday night, so this was the perfect opportunity to scan my work process and demonstrate the power of shading, contrast, and line work to enhance Zentangle inspired work. I scanned each phase: basic tangle outlines, added blacks for contrast, and then the final piece with shading, line work and highlights. I tend to bounce a round a bit when I'm working; I lay down my structure (string) then tangle part, shade a little, go to next, come back, turn, view, add more contrast, highlights, line work, this was a little different. I had to keep myself from going onto the next "phase", challenging, but interesting to have a different focus.

I chose to "enhance" the star string by using it as a separator for my sections, There is a lot going on and the white helps to give some breathing space so each tangle can speak.  I used Mooka as a background texture and then filled the inner spaces with Shattuck, Fengle, Web, Printemps, Betweed as the center "medallion, and a teeny, tiny Paradox. A few Auras and highlights, and it's done. Very fun, thanks Laura!

I did go back and look at my past challenge solutions for the first star challenge, #4, which was in January of 2011, check it out. My style has changed, which is a good thing. It's nice to know we're always growing, learning, and changing and  focus varies as the years pass. I had just begun tangling that previous summer, my how time flies!

First scan with just the basic string
and tangle outlines

Second scan with "blacks" added
for initial contrast

Challenge #110 - Get rid of the box - Tin Can Art

Top version done with Staedtler
black permanent pens and
grey marker for shading.
Bottom version adding color and
wire for my Float Fest effect.

The Diva's Challenge this week asks us to think "Out of the Box" and work out of our comfort zone. When I was at CZT training #6 we got to visit Rick and Maria's beautiful old Victorian home in Whitinsville, MA. There was wonderful artwork everywhere. Maria took a crack in the plaster and turned that imperfection into a beautiful "jewel", a touch of her tangling, and it's magically transformed! Check out her blog feature Fabulous tangled solution to a problem in her studio, it's Amazing (of course!). So, the Diva challenge for week #110 asks us to jump, take the leap, and try something new on our tangling adventure!

I've been very interested in tangling on different surfaces, I'm especially interested in tangling on cloth and have created some lovely hangings I use in my classes. I've also have gotten into tangling on recycled tiles, which I love. So what now?

I was making some chicken soup this week and chose to use the top and bottoms of the can my diced tomatoes were contained in. The inside of the can is coated white, so it is the perfect surface for my tangling. I tried using the my micron pens, but the surface was too slick and the microns beaded up. So I reached for a Staedtler permanent marker pen; black for the first version and color added to the second. I used a light grey marker for the shading and the result was pleasing. The surface is a little slick and challenging to work with, but perseverance and patience won out over the can! I sanded the sharp edges and cut my finger in the process, oh the pains we suffer for our art!

Version one contains tangles based on grids (out of my comfort zone, I'm a free flowing tangler). Took a deep breath and jumped in with Bales, Cubine, Knightsbridge, and then added Betweed, Golven, and Shattuck. So I kept to the grid tangles for almost half!

My second version features my ornate letter "S" for Spring (hope, hope, hope). I added Daisies, Swirls, some Betweed, BTL Jooz, Perfs and Auras and color. I then punched holes around the edge using my trusty hammer and nails, wove in some wire to create my Float Fest strings and my ode to "S" (Spring) is complete. I punched hanging holes on each so they can be hung and displayed. The purple is a little much, but I wanted the lids to stand out.

A View of the Can's Lid from the Back Side,
Pretty huh?

Challenge #107 - New Official Tangle: Quandary and Tangleations Play

ZIA - Quandary Version 2 - Let it flow!
Quandary and tangleations, Shattuck, Float Fest
with Quabogs, and some Tipple

Rick and Maria released a new tangle in their newsletter this week. The tangle is called Quandary and Maria it's based on "6's and uses rice shaped sections. Check out all the wonderful tangleations of this new addition on Laura's Diva challenge. It's really a fun and versatile tangle. The CZT's at the training #10 got the first look at this tangle. I was at CZT training #6 and we got to learn Tripoli from Maria and Rick even before it was officially announced, how fun to be part of the "in" crowd!

My first version (below) shows a monotangle with a few variations and morphing added. My rice shapes seem to become more leaf like (to me). The pointed edges seem to be my rice shape, I added a swirly background and let the stamens flow!

Quandary, free form play with larger micron pen

I then played with a little more free form version of Quandary I've included my three variations and tangleations. Quandary still works using more free form shapes. I used a larger micron pen to give more of a free form brush stroke look. The bottom version has a Japanese calligraphy feel to it, I auraed the Quandary shapes and these wonderful triangles emerged. I enjoy the grey stroke using a soft lead HB pencil and adding some graduated shading to the top left version. The little fishies just emerged.

After playing with free form versions and rereading Maria's description, I did another tile. I had missed the forming triangles part in her description originally. Concentrating on forming triangle shapes and building on that, made my second version of Quandary flow much more easily. I really like my version #2. Oh what fun to play with Quandary!

Quandary Version 1 -
Monotangle morphed

Challenge #87 - String Theory XII - Pinwheels for Peace II

“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one.” 
― John Lennon

Laura's challenge #87 was spurned again by Amy Broady, CZT in TN. She reminded Laura that September 21 is the International Day of Peace. What a wonderful idea for a challenge. We all need Peace in our lives and world. John Lennon said it best.

I love the peace sign (being a child of the 70's) it resonates for me. I think it's great that the 70's are "kool" again to the current generation. Seeing them wear peace signs and wearing the "vintage" garb from my era. Who knew?

My pinwheel incorporates a spinning swirl for movement, Shattuck, some Auras and, of course, Peace signs and a Peace Dove! This took me many renditions and quite a few days to complete but the result works for me. Peace and Love man! A wonderful message that we can all appreciate and, hopefully, try to live on a daily basis.

Linda Farmer's String #15

Linda Farmer of tanglepatterns.com presents a weekly string for tangling. This weeks string #15. This one is shared by Courtney Frantz, CZT from Texas.

Courtney states, “I drew this string using a photo of an abandoned church as inspiration. I find photographs to be a great source of inspiration when I am stumped for a string. Of course, I don’t draw or outline the entire photo … just take a few basic lines as a starter.”

I tried using some of the tangles from Linda's Tangle Refresher: Tuftid, Warble Eggs, then some Paradox, Tipple, Knightsbridge, and Shattuck.

Check out tanglepatterns.com for more strings and tangles!