" 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.

 

" Break Free " - Weekly Challenge #86

The Diva has challenged us to "Break Free" this week! 

What a liberating idea.......

ZIA - 4"x6" Bristol Vellum; Sakura Microns Black 01, Sepia 01; chalk pastels; graphite shading.

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

 

" Copada "-UMT - Weekly Challenge #85

The first Monday of the month is reserved for a "home made tangle"** from a randomly chosen Zentangle  aficionado.  This week we are working with a tangle called "Copada", created by Margaret Bremmer, CZT.

Margaret was in my CZT Class (class #3), and I so regret that I did not get to meet her at that time.  Margaret is a fabulous artist.   Hope you will visit her website. 

Here is my version of  a ZIA using "Copada".


ZIA - Bristol 6"x8"; Sakura Micron Black #01; graphite shading.

Thank you for another interesting challenge, Laura!

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"home made tangle"**
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ps:  Congratulations, Susan, for completing your 2nd Closer to Free Ride today for the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven in CT, USA.  We are so very proud of you.  Love you, Mom & Dad.
 

" String Theory-Blind Sighted " - Challenge # 84

Close your eyes - draw a string - now tangle within.  The Diva explains her rationale here. 

I love this kind of challenge.   Used some new tangles from TanglePatterns.com, and a couple of not-so-new tangles.  Thanks for a delightful challenge.

Pencil string drawn with eyes closed!    

ZIA - Bristol 4" x 5"; Sakura Micron Black #01, #005; PrismaColor Premier Pencils; graphite shading
 



Tangle patterns:  Tripoli, Scroll Feather, Angel Fish, Zixts variation.

 

Happy tangling....

..... and thank you for visiting.

 

" Mooka - Assunta Duo" - Weekly Challenge #83

Love these duo-tangle-challenges!  This week, Mooka and Assunta are front and center, dancing around tiles and ZIA's. 

Mooka needs practice (practice, practice) - but once your brain remembers how to swoosh the lines up/around/and back, it's really quite fun.  Assunta, on the other hand, requires a bit of concentration when plotting the grid.... then, connecting the grid-path is mesmerizing.
 

Art Journal page 5"x7" - Sakura Microns: Black #01, Sepia #01; Prismacolor pencils; pastel chalks; graphite shading

Great selection of tangles for this Duo-Tangle Challenge from the Diva.

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