Challenge #257 - Guest Post - Oooh Shiny!

Tangled tin can lid, Printemps, Crescent Moon,
Hollibaugh with Mooka / Pod tendrils and
lot's of sparkle and shine (I hope)

The Diva's challenge this week has a guest poster filling in, Amy Broady, CZT from Knoxville, Tennessee. She is celebrating Leap Day (a day that  happens only once every 4 years). So, to celebrate she asks us to make our tangle work Shine! Or gleam. Or glint. Add a special touch. She challenges us to include a METALLIC feature in the tangled art for this week.

I chose to embrace the challenge full tilt, go ALL the way. I tangled a tin can lid using my Staedler permanent pens for the black, and Sakura white and metallic gel pens for the embellishments.

Fun times. For this piece I wanted to make my tangled lid become part of my ZIA. I chose Hollibaugh with Pod extensions, Crescent Moon and lot's of Mooka-like tendrils. Add auras and lots of layers and it is complete.!

I find it difficult to represent the metallic quality with a camera, so I added a closeup detail to show the sparkly quality of this piece. It's done on and 8.5 x 11 sheet.

Close up of detail

Challenge #248 - Give the Gift of Zentangle

Christmas Card Design
Zenplosion Folds, some Printemps. a little Betweed star action,
Auras, and Tipples

Challenge #182 - Stripes

Version 1 - ING variations, Knightsbridge, Flux, Crescent Moon,
Hollibaugh, Tipple, with lots of shading and auras

The Diva's challenge this week #182 asks us to do Stripes, a great way of layering tangles next to each other. No straight lines for me but letting each tangle "spoon" with the next. I used several variations of ING, Printemps, Crescent Moon, Knightbridge, Flux, Hollibaugh, and Tipple. I tried to play each tangle off the next. I feel the beauty of the tangling process is allowing the tangles to "dance together". I'm pleased with this busy little ZIA.

For my second attempt I used my bar coaster circle tiles. I kept it pretty simple, a few hollibaugh-ribbons overlapping, kept the top simple since underneath my focus was emulating the feel of Army stripes. One of my best friends, Suzy, has a son in the Army, so this is an ode to Justin and his army life. I just wanted to focus on the feel of those Army stripes. Scanning the tile on the camouflage background seemed appropriate.

Version 2 - A couple of Hollibaugh ribbon stripes,
with the Army Stripes inspiration shapes

Check out all the wonderful submissions for this weeks Diva challenge.

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 #179 - Be like Bijou

4-in-one
Care for a slice?
Mooka, Printemps, Flux, Starburst tangleattion,
Dex variation with lot's of shading, rounding, and auras

The Diva's Challenge for week #179 asks us to be like Bijou. Bijou is a fascinating tiny little  artist that joined the Zentangle family straight from France. He works with smaller 2" tiles so now Zentangle offers these wonderful little two inch tile beauties. His work is amazing and thoughtful, he embodies the one stroke at a time meditative process of Zentangle. Rick and Maria talk about him and their new partnership on their porch in the current Zentangle newsletter. Laura also interviewed him and features on this week's challenge, check it out.

I love the smaller format and decided to veer off a bit but keep within the "letter" of this weeks challenge. I just received some 4" round beer coasters that I ordered to test with my micron pens for tangling. They aren't as nice as the Beautiful Zendala tiles I order from Zentangle, but they are fun to play with. My microns bleed a bit because they are so porous and the paper is pretty "toothy", but one stroke at a time, relaxing, and breathing made the process work.
 

Severed pieces - violent no?

Anywho... that is what spurned the direction for my Zentangle inspired pieces for last two weeks of challenges. I divided the circle in fours (free form) so measurements are not exact, but I think it worked for this challenge. I took each section and made it a separate little work area, tiles within a tile? Divided my circle and went to town.  The outside is 2" so I thought I was playing fairly, right? It's a great way to focus on one tangle at a time. What fun. I may use this size format when I show examples of various tangles in my classes once I demonstrate them. Thanks Laura and Bijou! Check out Bijou-isms, a very talented snail!

When I was a kid I had a pet slug (it's just a snail without a shell). My mother thought it was a little weird but I really enjoyed carrying him around on my blue plastic school loose leaf. I found him fascinating and loved the shiny little trail he left on my book (it was a short lived relationship). He returned to the grass in the yard after a day of bonding. I don't believe he was from any exotic country. Mine was a boy, no name, just "slimy".  Here's a picture of me and my cousin Warren with a frog, I was quite the nature gal. Slimy came a little later... 

Challenge #178 - Duotangle by the Letter!
Was a little scattered last week so I didn't get these posted. So here are my catch-ups! Again, keeping to the basic essence of the challenge. Since my Zentangle "chop" /signature is DOB, I used that as my string and went from there. Used the 4" coasters for this one also. A round for everyone!!!!

4" Circle Intials - DOB as a string
First (left) Pole, Tipple, Dex tangleation,
Second (right) Dex tangleation, and OLF tangleations, with some shading, Tipple, and Auras

Bunzo Exploration

Bunzo with variations on tan, a few tendrils,
some Auras, and some Printemps embellishments

One of tangles I've been asked to work on in my Beyond Basics Class is Bunzo. It's not a tangle I often use, so it was fun to explore some of the many possibilities of this undulating little beauty.

Working on Tan paper added another fun dimension to the entire process, the tan adds an additional color to my tangling repertoire. A little white gel pen and it's complete.

Challenge #154 - Valentangle

The Diva's challenge for week #154 and she's all about Valentines Day. She asks us to create a Valentangle", great term, no? I chose to embrace hearts and of course red. My heart is a play on Maria's new tangle Aquafleur with some Knightsbridge stripes, lot's of hearts, and some Printemps with lot's of Auraknot texture. I used my wonderful Derwent Inktense pencils to add a touch of red and yummy texture with my white gel pen. I'm so pleased that my Printemp spirals magically turned into wonderful little rose bouquets when I added a wash of red to the centers.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all. Hope it's sweet and full of wonderful loving thoughts, hugs, and Zentangles!

Check out all the other wonderful work for this week's challenge at the Diva's site.

Challenge #133 - Tipple, I LOVE It!

It's so nice to be back into the Diva's challenge and using one of my favorite tangles, Tipple. I have definitely have a love relationship with this wonderful little orb full of goodness and curves. It makes me feel happy and centered like I'm getting back into the flow.

I began with a simple string and, of course, Tipple, added some Printemps, Auras, Betweed, Hollibaugh, and swirls. I relaxed, smiled, and breathed. Lovely, soothing, mind-relaxing tangling.

Last night it became dark early and the upcoming change of season loomed in the horizon. I decided to add a little green to my tile to enhance and encourage the lengthening of Summer and stave off the impending winter gloom. Water, flow and green things were my focus.

So Happy to be back in the nurturing fold of the Zentangle community and the Diva's challenge! Sitting here with my pens and pencils, ahhh....

Dex with Tipple, Hollibaugh, and line work

Trying to do a little catch-up and get back in the Groooove. Combined Tipple with a little Dex for Challenge #131, it's not a monotangle but a great opportunity to play with Dex. I don't usually use structured tangles, much more of an organic gal, so this was a great opportunity.

Tipple is so versatile, makes a great background fill/texture, especially when I keep it light and sketchy.

Two very different feels. In the first tile Tipple is the "star", the second, it works as a great supporting player. What a great little tangle!

Challenge #115 - Amanda Day or Earth Day

Earth/Amanda Day Celebration!
Printemps, Waves, Auras galore
and lots of color

The Diva's challenge this week #115 is to interpret Mother Earth for Earth Day. Laura Harm's son Chewy named the Earth Amanda so that's what this challenge is being called. Great to have the kids point of view here! Lot's of wonderful variations for this challenge, check it out.

My interpretation of Earth/Amanda Day began with researching recycle, earth logos. I really enjoy the recycle arrows and the hands cupping the Earth globe. We are meant to protect the Earth for the future. That's what I went with.

I tried to represent Earth, Water (using a Japanese wave interpretation as a reference), and Sky with stars, of course. I thought it would be a peaceful, gentle representation but it is more active and effervescent than I first thought it would be. Hopefully it looks uplifting and supportive of the Earth.

I pulled out the Inktense pencils that I got a while ago, I've admired them, just haven't actually taken them out of the container. So color and wash were my focus. Fun, crazy, and colorful. It's more of a celebration of the Earth/ Amanda and all it's elements and sparkle.

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 #109 - Zentangle Quest

Dansk, Printemps, Flying Geese, and a background
of Hibred in sepia tones

Zinger/Lupine, Tripoli, Mooka,
Crescent Moon, Pearlz, Zander

This week's Diva Challenge for week #109, is taken from Maria Thomas'  Zentangle blog post. She presents a  new technique which she describes and illustrates beautifully. The technique uses random parallel lines as a string; the lines indicate inner and outer folds or curves, then add banding and tangle away! It creates a fun 3-D effect, check out all the fabulous offerings on the Diva's site.

For version 1 - I fashioned alternating cone shapes embedded in a Hibrid background. I "wiggled" and broke up the lines a bit to soften the Hibrid background. I used Printemps, Flying Geese, Dansk and some ribbons fastened with little buttons to set the stage. I continued the cone's draft "lines" beyond the perimeter, it gives it a neat which I like! I used brown/sepia and black micron pen, I used graphite and a sepia pencils for shading.

My second version is black and white with lot's of grey, I worked with black and white gel pen. It looks to me like Tripoli is spinning into the cosmos wheeee! I used a Zander parallel line to create my 3-D bands, Crescent Moon, then added Mooka, Zinger and some Pearlz.

Challenge #104 - UMT with tangle WHYZ

Version 1 - Hi-C, Dansk, Inapod, Printemps,
Rain, WHYZ, and Zedbra

Version 2 - WHYZ, Quabog, Voga, Buttons and thread
with some Mooka curves

The Diva's challenge this week is a UMT challenge and features Janee MacKugler, CZT's tangle WHYZ.  Check out her blog instructions. I was so excited to see her featured on this week's Diva challenge. She was one of my fellow classmates at the CZT #6 training in May of 2010. I had corresponded with and "met" her online via the Diva's challenge before I went to the training in Whitinsville, it was so great to meet her in person. We all bonded and had such a wonderful time with Rick and Maria at the last training held in Oakhurst in Whitinsville. We laughed and shared such wonderful creative energy at that training. It was a once in a lifetime experience!

I found WHYZ a little challenging. I'm not very good with structured tangles but this one lends itself beautifully to tangelations. I just let it flow and kept reminding myself that there are no mistakes in the Zentangle process, and let the process guide me. 

My first version of WHYZ I kept all my "twists" going in the same direction and tried to "pop" the triangles with black and highlights. A little dark but I like the overall effect. I used Hi-C, Rainz, Inapod, Printemps, Tipple, WHYZ, and Zedbra. I enjoy the openess and the ruffle edging created by Inapod.

On my second version I concentrated on Janee's triangles and using the "Y's" to create diamond patterns. I love this concept and it was fun to see what happened. WHYZ is such a structured elegant pattern so I tried to offset it with the more organic tangles and make it all flow together. Not totally successful, but it was a fun exercise. I used buttons, thread, Voga, some Mookaisms, Quabog, and some Zingers. I hope Janee doesn't mind my divergences on her pattern. It was so much fun to play with!

Weekly Challenge #23: "String Theory"

This weeks Diva's challenge gives us all the same string and tells us to go for it! I'm going to try this a couple more of these. I love the fact that we're all starting from the same place or string and then going in our own directions. The variety and creativity that ensues is AMAZING. I really enjoy seeing the variety developed from one string by all you amazingly creative sources. What fun the weekly challenge is!

I'm still influenced by the Whitinsville seminar so I'm working on some tangles we looked at with Rick and Maria and just playing with new tangles. Printemps, Knightsbridge, Quabog, Vega, some Tipple, and my tangle Cross View.

This ZIA has more of a drawing quality to it... I love playing with the variety of line qualities (thick and  thin) and working with the shading on the organic shapes that are created. The challenge for me with shading is the not to muddy the image and to make sure there is enough contrast between the darks and lights.

One of the things Maria kept telling us was to pick up our tiles and look at them from a distance and turn them. The Zentangle process does make it easy to immerse ourselves and not see the big picture. It's sort of the point of a meditative process but we all need to look at the big picture to see the full impact in our Zentangles or our lives.

My second version has Purk, Betweed, Diamond Panes, Hybrid, Keeko, a Printempish tangle and other "stuff". Technical, huh?