" Keenees " - Challenge #98

The Diva's 98th Challenge is a UMT pattern, Keenees, by Donna Hornsby, CZT.  I often forget about this great orb tangelation, and feel grateful for Laura's tangle 'reminders'.

ZIA -  4.5" square on red cardstock; Sakura Gelly Roll, white/medium; white chalk shading; graphite shading.

Thanks to Donna and Laura!

 

Happy tangling.

 

~

 

" No Strings Attached " - Challenge #97

The Diva dug deep into her bag of tricks to find a  fabulous theme for this challenge!  Many tangles can be penned without a string.  Conversely, many patterns need some sort of string-type-linear-chaperone in order to keep the pen on the right track!   

I usually start in a corner when doing a stringless tangle on a traditional tile.  But for this shape and size, my pen wanted to start in the big empty space in the middle.  And so it did!

I had so much fun with the first one - black on white.  Would white on black be as much fun???  You betcha!



ZIAs- White Bristol & Black Cardstock -(approx. 3" x 8")  Sakura Micron Black #01; Sakura Gelly Roll White Med.; graphite shading

Thanks, Laura!

Happy Tangling.

 

~

 

" Zinger " - Weekly Challenge #96

This week's challenge theme (from the Diva) is "Zinger".... a delightful design that Maria * has been penning for years in her lovely art creations.  It has since become an official tangle from Zentangle® Central. 

Deciding on a design for this challenge was difficult.  I see "Zinger" as an embellishment to a design, not as the focus of a composition.  And with this tunnel-vision interpretation of how to use Zinger, I found it difficult to come up with a plan. 

..... then it hit me.  This is Thanksgiving week.  And my turkey has Zinger-type feathers!  (I just love it when a plan comes together.....).

~  Happy Thanksgiving  ~

ZIA - Bristol 5" square - Sakura Microns Black #'s 005, 01 and Red #01; graphite shading.
 

"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant,

to enact gratitude is generous and noble,

but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. " 

J.A. Gaertner

 

*Maria Thomas - co-founder of Zentangle®

 

 

Happy tangling...

... I am grateful for your visit.

 

 

ps:   ♥  Happy Birthday, Hon!!! ♥  I love you! ♥ 

 

~

" Bunzo " - Weekly Challenge #93

Zentangle® Central has announced a new fun tangle - "Bunzo" ... and Diva Laura has challenged us to use it in this week's Zentangle or ZIA.  This pattern is so fun!

Although this has been an unusually busy week, I did steal some time to give this new pattern a try.  Being intrigued by the snail-like Bunzo design that Maria created on her tile, I made an attempt to draw a Bunzo variation in a spiral string.  Sheez... it was not easy!!! (for me).  As soon as I understand how to move the Bunzo lines around so that their relationship (to one another) gives the illusion of movement, I will feel more confident.  Drawing this tangle is like dancing... and tapping your toe to the beat of the music.  Cha-cha-cha!

ZIA Bookmark - Bristol 1.5"x6", Sakura Micron Black 01 & 05; graphite shading

Thanks Laura and Maria. 

Happy tangling...

... and thank you for visiting.

~

 

" Stripes " String Theory - Challenge #92

This is a repeat of a challenge we did in May 2011 - and Diva Laura says, "...the challenge is to create a tile or Zentangle® inspired art using Stripes as your string."  The "Stripes" theme has no particular significance - just a fun way to try to squish different tangle designs into a long, narrow string.  Now, there's the fun!! 

I had all good intentions of penning something..... unusual...... with this challenge.  But, alas, a ho-hum ZIA was birthed.  And, as the Zentangle® folks say, 'it is the process that is important'.  This was definitely a good theme for 'process'.

The piece perked-up a bit after adding color.  (Sorta like a push-up bra perks-up a drab, low cut, ho-hum dress!)

ZIA - Bristol 5"x5" - Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading; chalk pastels

 

Happy tangling....

... and thank you for visiting.

~

 

" Beads of Courage " - Challenge #91

This is a lovely challenge!  Diva Laura has challenge instructions, photos and a short story about the Beads of Courage on her website.  Beads of Courage Program website is http://www.beadsofcourage.org/pages/beadsofcourage.htm.

Several years ago, the polymer clay guild I belonged to created beads for this program.  It was one of the most rewarding polymer clay projects I have participated in.  (The other polymer clay program that has captured my muse is Bottles of Hope.)  I must admit that my polymer clay has collected lots of dust on the shelf since I found Zentangle®.

ZIA - 6"x6" Bristol - Sakura Micron Black #01; PrismaColor Pencils; graphite shading

Mooka and Dust Bunnies support most of the various tangled beads.

Happy tangling...
and thank you for visiting.

~

 

" String Theory v.8 " - Challenge # 90

Using a string to guide in the placement of tangles (within a Zentangle®) is one of the most unique and clever aspects of the Zentangle® Method of Art.  Dots, lines, string, breathe, focus, pen line, repeat pen line...... and so on.  Diva Laura explains this week's challenge and offers her beautiful Zentangle®  as an example of String Theory v.8.

There is truly no BPS (blank page syndrome) when your string is already created on a pre-strung tile - or when someone else has accomplished the task of string-drawing for you!  Really did love the theme of this Challenge.  Totally zenned-out.

ZIA - Bristol 6"x6" - Sakure Micron Black #01; graphite shading; Prismacolor Pencils

 

 

.....and here is the string, which I rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise before adding tangles.

This string pattern and other strings and tangles are found on Linda Farmer's fabulous Tangle Patterns site. 
Hope you'll visit.



Happy Tangling....

... and thank you for visiting.

~

 

 

" Sankegg " - UMT - Weekly Challenge #89

This week's Challenge is a UMT created by Maria Vennekens, CZT, from the Netherlands.  The Diva's challenge and Maria's breakout instructions of Sankegg are here.

This was the most difficult/challenging tangle for me to draw (of all the Diva's 89 weekly challenges).  I am still struggling with the concept of drawing Sankegg.  Drawing a single row of the tangle was as far as I could go before my work turned into..... alien pen lines!  And today is Saturday... so my options were:  either post it now or forfeit!  So, here it is. 

I don't usually give a title to my Weekly Challenges, but after I finished the tangle and did the shading, I held it at arms length for a final review and appreciation.   That is when I started to laugh so hard that I cried.... and decided to name this piece of art "Gabrielle" ***

My final ZIA design was truly a surprise.  I don't know WHAT I was thinking!!




ZIA - "Gabrielle" - Bristol 6" square;  Sakura Micron Black #'s 01, 08; graphite shading

Thank you Maria and Laura.

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

 ***Italian anatomist Gabriello Fallopio, 1523-1562, noted for his studies of the human reproductive system. The Fallopian tubes are named for him.

~

" IX " - Weekly Challenge #88

This summer, at the 9th CZT Seminar in Providence, RI, Rick and Maria released a new official Zentangle® tangle.  As they have done with other official tangles, they were cleverly cognizant of the "here and now" when it was time to give the new tangle a name.   Read more about "IX" and see step-out/instructions here.

This was a hard one for me to sink my teeth into.... but the 'process' (of drawing it) made it all worth while.  (It always does!)  Breathe, relax, enjoy.



ZIA - Bristol 6"x6" - Sakura Micron Black #'s 01, 05; graphite shading

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

"Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower."

                                                                             ...Albert Camus

" Pinwheels for Peace" - String Theory Challenge #87

September 21 is Peace Day.......the International Day of Peace.   The Diva's information about this year's Pinwheels for Peace is found here.

My ZIA is very plain and simple. Almost looks bare.... like maybe I forgot to finish tangling.  But it IS completed.... and hopefully reflects my sentiments.... and thoughts for someday being wittness to "world peace".... (which reminds me of the movie Miss Congeniality with Sandra Bullock. Remember the Miss Rhode Island contestant? All she wanted was "world peace", too.)

Plain and simple:  Peace

ZIA - Bristol Vellum 5"x5" - Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading

Happy tangling.....
... and thank you for visiting and sharing your comments.

Explore the Peace Wheel.