" All Hallows Eve " - Weekly Challenge #46

This is a very special Happy Halloween wish to Mia, Tehya and Kai!!  I sure do wish Grampa and I could come out tonight and "Trick or Treat" with you.  Have fun... 

And Happy Halloween to everyone!  On this scary day, the Diva has posted her weekly challenge, and the theme is................. you guessed it!  Halloween!  Here is the Diva's challenge:  "Create a tile or a Zentangle Inspired piece that is haunting or spooky, maybe with things that go bump in the night - with such an open ended prompt, there's no end to things you can do with it."

I laughed through the entire process of creating this tile.  Thought a lot about my Halloween adventures as a child, and about our grandchildren who will dress-up in their costumes and go out to Trick or Treat tonight (with their parents in tow...).   What fun.

Zentangle - Tile 3.5" square; Sakura Micron Black # 01 and #1; Prismacolor pencils for eyes; graphite shading.

I can't figure out why this cat's face looks familiar.  Is it the eyes?  Is this really an owl dressed as a cat?   And who is that spider??? 

Thank you for visiting...

... and happy tangling.

" New Tangle Punzel " - Weekly Challenge #45

The Weekly Challenge from  I Am the Diva, Laura Harms, is to use the newly published tangle, Punzel, on a tile using the traditional Zentangle method or in a ZIA.  Maria Thomas revealed this new tangle two weeks ago at the CZT Seminar #7 in Providence, RI.

Oh, this is a doozie.  A formidable challenge.  An arduous task.

After I did a few quick 'test tangles', I wanted to decline and forget about this week's challenge.  But when I finally settled in to tangling-mode, I was back to that wonderful place that Zentangle has lead me to so many times in the past.  My Punzel interpretation needs a lot of tweaking, but the process of Zentangle is so familiar and comfortable and enjoyable and relaxing to me... that I am always anxious to visit my virtual tangling habitat.

Traditional Zentangle 3.5" tile; Sakura Micron Black #01 & #005; graphite shading.  (Punzel and Coil)

Subscribe to the Zentangle Newsletter for a wonderful potpourri of Zentangle information and links..... and a plain ol' happy time.

Thank you for visiting....

... and happy tangling.

  

" Tangled on the Inside " - Weekly Challelnge #44

This challenge has a great theme!  The Diva says:  "A while back Jo in NZ sent me an idea for a challenge... the idea is that you use one tangle as the 'string' and then fill in all the spaces with other tangles.  A tangle within a tangle....So, this week's challenge is to create a tile or ZIA using a tangle or tangle section as your string, then to fill in the 'blanks' with other tangles." 

And besides having a great theme, it was really fun!  When the Diva's challenge is posted on her blog each Monday morning, I read it, digest it, think about it, review my 'tangle bible', scribble a few strings on paper..... and, bottom line:  I procrastinate because ideas just don't easily bounce around in front of me and get lodged in my brain!  Ugh!!!! 

Artist block?  Perhaps.  In the words of one artist:  "In art, there are many tools to be used. But all these tools are rendered useless when you are missing the most important one: inspiration."  by *arriku

And when I read the guidelines for this challenge, I was inspired!! 

Thanks Jo and Laura.

                         "Tangled on the Inside" - 3.5" sq tile; Sakura Micron Black #01, Brown #005, graphite shading.                                     (Ennies within Mooka within Flux).

... and one more...

                           "Tangled on the Inside" - 3.5" sq tile; Sakura Micron Black #01, & #005, graphite shading.                                       (Msst & Vitruvius within Poke Root)

Thank you for visiting....
.....and happy tangling.

" Sunflower Fun " - Weekly Challenge #43

The idea for this week's challenge theme is from Pennyb.  She writes to the Diva:  "In Republic of South Africa, on 12 October we have Bandana Day, which is run by the Sunflower Fund.   This is an organization founded in 1999 in support of the SA Bone Marrow Registry for people suffering from leukemia.  Every year our local retailer (Pick n Pay) sells Sunflower bandanas and the proceeds go towards the Sunflower Fund...everyone wears a Bandana, somehow somewhere on this day!   I wondered if you could incorporate the Sunflower Fund logo somehow as a Challenge during the week 12 Oct??"


So, the challenge this week is to create a Zentangle or ZIA inspired by the sunflower.

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

A few Sunflower facts:
~ There are 82 species of sunflowers (genus Helianthus), all native to North America. Of these, 38 are perennials, and 44 are annuals..
~ The sunflower is the state flower of the US state of Kansas, and one of the city flowers of Kitakyūshū, Japan.
~ It is the subject of Van Gogh's most famous still life, Sunflowers.
~ It is the national flower of Peru, Russia, and Ukraine.
~ A Sunflower head consists of 1,000-2,000 individual flowers joined together by a base.
~Sunflowers most commonly grow to heights between 5–12 ft. (1.5-3.5m).
~A common misconception is that sunflowers track the sun.  In fact, mature flowerheads typically face east and do not move.
~A miniature representation of the pattern of  florets in the head of a sunflower was proposed by H. Vogel in 1979.  In the model, he noted a relationship between the angle at which the florets grow to the golden ratio where 55 and 144 are Fibonacci numbers).

Illustration of Vogel's model- Sunflower head/growth pattern of florets

 ~ Seeds of the Sunflower contain kernels... which are harvested and eaten as snacks and used in recipes.  These harvested kernels are sometimes referred to as 'sunflower seeds'. Oil is also extracted from the seeds/kernels for use in cooking.

Sunflower 'seeds'.

Sunflower kernels..... to enjoy for snacking.

Okay..... are you bored yet??  Then let's just enjoy the visuals of a sunflower's beauty.....

Field of Sunflowers blooming in Dakotas, USA

Field of Sunflowers as sunset.

Thank you for visiting.....
... and happy tangling!!

Sunflower information found at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunflower.

Flames of " Hope " - Weekly Challenge #42

"Hope" is the theme of this week's challenge.  The Diva says:  "This week the challenge is to create a tile or ZIA inspired by hope.... however this applies to your life."  Read Laura's complete text on her website here.

                                                  

As October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, I am inspired to create 'Bottles of Hope' for people who are afflicted with cancer, with special memories of my mother and my grandmother.  The Bottles of Hope program was started by a very special person (and my friend), Diane in 1999.  Read more about BOH here and here. 

                                              
In my world of Zentangle, I see 'hope' as flames.  ( see Flames of Hope: A Celebration of Life.)  

ZIA - Bristol 5" square - Sakura Micron Sepia #01, Brown #005, Black #01; Prismacolor Pencils

I hope the Flames of Hope will help to keep our wonderful cancer researchers and medical personnel feverishly searching to find a cure for breast cancer....... until breast cancer is eradicated from our planet.

Thank you for visiting...

... and happy tangling.

For the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. website, Click Here

" Opus & Jonqal Duo Tangle" - Weekly Challenge #41

Once a week, I post the Weekly Challenge by The Diva... and this week she says:  "So, this week's challenge is to do a tile or Zentangle inspired art piece (ZIA) that uses only these two tangles - Jonqal and Opus.  Both of these patterns are official Zentangle® Tangles....  

"Limiting yourself to only two tangles is such a simple and elegant way of pushing your own envelope!  Exercises like this often leave people saying: 'It's not very good'.  So, before you start this week's challenge i want you all to take a deep breath and repeat after me:  'It's about the PROCESS, not the PRODUCT'."  

Since I seldom use either of these tangle patterns in my Zentangle® art, (no special reason why... just a creature of habit, I guess...)  I was anxious to start drawing.  This week has been super busy for me, and I got a late start, so my submission is just 'under the wire'!  But I did love this challenge.  Using Opus as a string was "working out of the box" for me... but, as suggested,  I enjoyed the process and will add this 'new' technique to my bag of tricks.

ZIA - Opus & Jonqal

Thank you for visiting...
...and  happy tangling!

" PinWheels for Peace " - Weekly Challenge #40

Peace.

Peace is a challenge.

Peace is the theme for this week's challenge from the Diva.  She says:  "Following closely on last week's Love challenge, this week's challenge was suggested by Amy Broady, a CZT in TN (hi!!) - who reminded me that September 21 is the  International Day of Peace .  

"Pinwheels for Peace originally started as an art installation organized by two high school teachers in Florida.  They used the project as a way to teach kids how to express their feelings about the world and what's going on in it.  Since then, it's grown from 500,000 pinwheels the first year to 3.5 million last year!!

"So, this week's challenge is to create your own pinwheel for peace."

ZIA - 4" square Bristol, Sakura Micron #'s 01, 005; graphite for shading

I anticipated that trying to transfer the image of a 3-dimensional pinwheel onto a flat surface of Bristol Vellum would be a no-can-do challenge for me.  [Drawing an outline is easy, but how do I make it look like a spinning object?] So, when I sat down to address my dilemma, I expected to meet-up with the ol' creative block.  But it never happened!  I started to pen the strokes, and before I realized it, the tile was finished!  Surprise, surprise!  (Sorta like when you're driving down the highway...... silently......peacefully..... alone... ..   Then you emerge from your trance and wonder to yourself, "Oh - where the heck am I supposed to be going?") 

 It just happened.  


Now, wouldn't it be nice if the world could acquire peace like that?  Wake-up tomorrow to a peaceful world..... and all because ...... 'it just happened'.

Whirled peace!


Thank you for visiting... 
Peace.
Love.
..... and happy tangling.
(I think I feel like a "hippie" again.  Anybody got a smoke???)  
 

" All You Need is Love " - Weekly Challenge #39

I love the name of this week's challenge from the Diva.  In her 'challenge' post, the Diva so eloquently memorialized the 10th anniversary of  the 9/11 tragedy in the United States.  Thank you, Laura, for your beautiful words of love.  You can read Laura's full post here.  

ZIA - 5" x 7" Bristol; Sakura Micron #'s 01, 005; graphite shading; chalk pastels.

In my ZIA, the sphere surrounded by blue represents the world.  The peace sign carries Flux and Ennies (tangelation).   And the fractured heart is detailed with Mooka and Fern.  The living patterns (the fauna) represent us... people... humans.  The two groups are opposing, with some of them reaching out to each other.

And in the shadows, God is watching.
 
All we need is love.
Kindness.
Patience.
Sharing.
Tolerance.
Peace.

Thank you for visiting...
... and happy tangling!

" Better than a Pair of Ducks" - Weekly Challenge #38

The Diva's Weekly Challenge has been posted..... and we have been invited to create a monotangle using the mysteriously charming "Paradox".  According to dictionary.com, one definition of a paradox is:  a person or thing exhibiting apparently contradictory characteristics. In this case, straight lines = a curvaceous design.  (For a wonderful "in-depth" tutorial of Paradox, click here)  

Before the challenge was announced, I had already decided that my string (for this week's challenge) would be symbolic of a star.  We have 50 of them proudly displayed on Old Glory.  This week, I'm feeling a bit more patriotic than usual - as the 10th anniversary of America's 9/11 tragedy is commemorated.

ZIA 4.5" Bristol; Sakura Micron Black #'s 01, 005; graphite shading

Thank you for visiting.....

... and happy tangling! 

 

" Kiss My Grids " - Weekly Challenge #37

For this week's challenge, the Diva says:  "... the challenge is to use all Grid based tangles in your tile or Zentangle Inspired Art.  And there's a whole bunch of 'em.  To do mine, I drew my string and then with my Micron i drew a grid across the entire tile - and chose two different grid based tangles to fill in the gaps.  And there you have it. Grids!  Have fun."

Oh, good.  An easy challenge.  With the hurricane still blowing around in my mind, I don't want to hurt my brain and be challenged to think too hard!  So, borrowing the weather icon from NOAH**, I drew my string.... then drew the grid and tangled on! 

Thanks, Laura!

Traditional Zentangle - 3.5" sq tile; Sakura Micron black #'s 01 & 05; graphite for shading.

Some parts of our state were hit pretty hard by the hurricane... but on the whole, as it was downgraded to a 'tropical storm' by the time it reached us, the damage (for many) was somewhat bearable.  Wind damage was big, and flooding was anticipated.  Thousands of people are still without electric power. 

And today the sun shines radiantly!  The bright blue sky goes on forever over the gentle breezes of summer.  Life is good.

Thank you for visiting...

... and happy tangling!                   
                                

**NOAH-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration