" Pea-Nuckle " - Challenge #71

This week's Zentangle challenge from the Diva is to use Molly Hollibaugh's new tangle, Pea-Nuckle, in a ZIA or Zentangle tile.

At first, as is my experience with many new tangle patterns, it was difficult to understand the flow of this tangle.  So I avoided it.  But my right brain finally conceded to the fact that ANY pattern is more easily accomplished as the strokes are repeated.  Repetition.  Repetition.  Repetition.

And I got so tangled-up in this concept of repetition, that some of my stroke directions went north instead of south!  I almost threw the tile into the circular file, but decided to just accept what was appearing before me and finish it ! 

Feeling of accomplishment.  Grateful for inviting patience.  Persistant.  Zentangle.

Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01 & Sepia #01; graphite shading

Thanks for the challenge, Laura. 

Happy tangling...
...and thanks for visiting.

PS:  Happy Birthday David and Tehya!!  Love you lots and lots.....

" Color Me Sepia " - Weekly Challenge #70

As our balmy breezes blow and we prepare for a bit of rain on this Monday morning, we are surrounded by the color gray.  The Diva's Challenge theme also calls for a color variance within our tangles.  Very nice change of direction.  No stress.  Just use the traditional black ink - and add sepia ink at any point in your ZIA or Zentangle design.  Little changes can sometimes make a bold statement.  See Laura's expanded comments and instructions here.

 My contribution to this challenge is part of a ZIA that I started a few days ago.  It's a collage-type design, somewhat similar to Zentangle's 'Ensembles'.  I randomly cut apart (sorta like puzzle pieces) an 8.5" x 11" piece of heavy off-white card stock... and will treat each piece as an individually designed tile/piece, with no special intention to have the 'strings' flow from one piece to another.  When each puzzle piece is finished, my plan is to reassemble the puzzle (on a colored piece of paper), leaving a space between each piece. 

This first piece, done with sepia and black inks, is the right-lower design segment of the collage.

ZIA - approx. 5.75"h x 3.5"w; Sakura Micron #01's black and sepia; graphite shading

Happy tangling...
..... and thank you for visiting!

PS:  Happy Birthday, Ero!  Love you lots.....

" Groovy " - Weekly Challenge #69

This is UMT week on the Diva's Weekly Challenge scene.  The tangle is called "Groovy" - created by Eden Hunt from Cut'n It Up.   We are challenged to use this new tangle in a traditional ZentangleR or a ZIA.

"Groovy" is a beautiful and flowing pattern of gracefully curved strokes.  I have always liked this pattern, but shyed away from it because it was too difficult challenging for me to understand it's ebb and flow.  Now I understand it a little better..... and will add it to my 'favorites' list of tangles.

Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading

ZIA - 3.5" sq.; Sakura Micron Black #01; ColorBox Stamp Petals; Prismacolor Premiere Pencils; graphite shading

Thank you, Eden, for creating and sharing this beautiful tangle.  And, as always, thank you to our amazing Diva, Laura!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy tangling....
.....and thank you for visiting.

" Hybrid & Strircles " - Challenge #68

The Zentangle challenge this week is a Duo-Tangle.  Create a tile or ZIA using only two tangles, 'Hybrid' and 'Strircles'.  (These are two official Zentangle patterns.)  The Diva says:  "This is another one of those instances of finding the elegance of limitation."  I love these duo-tangles.

I think I had too much fun with this challenge.....

Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading

...and this one was done at 3am during a brief attack of insomnia!

Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #'s 01, 005; graphite shading

Happy tangling...

... and thank you for visiting.

   

ps:  Happy Birthday, Tina!  luv you...

" Earth Day " - Weekly Challenge #67

April 22 was World Earth Day, so, as you may have guessed, the Diva has suggested this week's theme to be...... Earth Day.  Please see Laura's commentary here. 

Wouldn't it be nice if we, each individual human person living on planet Earth, would honor our planet every day by being more conscoius of recycling, water preservation, air purity, trees, plants, rivers, streams, oceans, etc etc etc........... 

Here is my challenge/contribution to thoughts of Earth Day.....
  


ZIA - 5" x 7" sketch book; Sakura Micron Black #01; Prismacolor Pencils; graphite shading.

Happy tangling...
..... and thank you for visiting.

ps:  Happy Birthday, Mary!  luv you lots
 

" Auras " - Weekly Challenge #66

This week, the challenge theme is to draw a Zentangle or ZIA and add an 'aura' to the tangles.


I love echo quilting.... and echo drawing.  And auras add a unique dimension to a tangle.  They can be numerous, or 'just a few'.  For this challenge, I was feeling that I wanted this tile to be soft - and 'quiet' - as my mind needed to be clear and uncluttered, so I chose a simple and limited succession of echos/auras around my tangles. 


The results.... made me feel good.  (My typical Zentangle response.......)

Traditional Zentangle - 3.5" sq tile; Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading.

Thank you, Laura.


Happy tangling...
..... and thank you for visiting.

" Huggy Bear " - Weekly Challenge #65

This is UMT week, which features a versatile tangle created by JJ LaBarbera.  Her tangle instructions are here.  The Diva has challenged us to learn "Huggy Bear" and use it in a Zentangle or ZIA.

Huggy Bear can be taken to so many levels and in so many directions.   Before I view the other entries of any Weekly Challenge, I complete mine.  After my tile is finished, I check-out everyone's little work of art, and I'm always amazed at the different expressions of creativity!  The variations of Huggy Bear are just fabulous.

This is my first attempt at drawing Huggy Bear, and I'm adding it to my little book of FDP  (frequently drawn patterns).  Another fun challenge.

Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading; Prismacolor Premier pencils; chalks

Thank you, JJ and Laura.

Happy tangling...

..... and thanks for visiting.

P.S.  Happy Birthday, Kai!  Love you lots...

" Fortune Teller " - Challenge #64

This week, the Diva is using her 'string theory' as the basis for our tangled design - which means we are all using a common string.  After drawing the four outside string/lines (dot-to-dot/corner to corner), that string is then divided into eight fairly equal triangles.  And as the tangles cozy-up next to each other, they are forming a symbiotic relationship.  Nice.

The resulting 'string design' sorta resembles a folded-paper game we played in elementary school, called a 'Fortune Teller'.

See the Diva's award winning blog and detailed instructions here.               

There are so many possible design zen-binations for this challenge!  What fun.             

Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading.

Thanks, Laura.

Happy tangling, everyone.....
... and thank you for visiting.

" Fengle " - Weekly Challelnge #63

This new tangle from Rick and Maria is called "Fengle" (pronounced fangle).  

Laura Harms, The Diva, says:  "You may have noticed lately, that a new tangle has been popping up in mine and the work of my fellow CZTs.  It's called "Fengle" - and the story goes that it was named after a Sushi restaurant called "Fengs", which is pronounced 'fangs'.   So, Fengle should, in theory, rhyme with Tangle?  Now it's your turn to get all Fengled up! "

Here is my interpretation of this swirling, spinning, twirling, twisting tangle pattern.  I'm still a little afraid of it, so my design is plain and simple (but swirling).

Zentangle - 3.5" sq; Sakura Micron Black #01; Prismacolor Premier; graphite shading

             

Happy tangling...

... and thank you for visiting.

PS:  Happy 105th Birthday to Merci!!  Love you........

" Spiral vs Paradox " - Weekly Challenge #62

Tangle 'Paradox' within a 'Spiral' string.  This week's theme has been suggested by Marizaan van Beek, CZT.  The Diva says:   "The challenge is to use spiral together with paradox.  Your basic string should be a spiral and tangled with paradox. More than one spiral string can be used.  LUCKILY FOR ME (and for you!) this week's challenge will be brought to you by Certified Zentangle Teacher, Marizaan van Beek, all the way from South Africa!" 

 It took a bit of planning for me to figure out how to tangle Paradox within the Spiral string, while, at the same time, leaving each Paradox pattern to stand on its own.  Final results were a surprise to me.  Each step seemed to lead me in a different direction.  Sorta like the path of life.  And in the end, there is something to share.

Traditional Zentangle - Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading.

Happy tangling.....
... and thank you for visiting.