" Zentangle is for Everyone" - Weekly Challenge # 32

Carol Ohl, CZT, is this week's guest challenger.  She is a creative and talented artist who says:  (On a 3.5" square tile)..... "Use any string you like with these four tangles:  Pais (by Mikee Huber),  Zedbra (by Laura Harms and Margaret Bremner),  Keenees (by Donna Hornsby), and  Baton (by moi Carol Ohl) to create a response to this challenge."

Traditional Zentangle - 3.5" square tile - Sakura Micron #'s 01 & 005; graphite for shading

Happy tangling!
ps:  and Happy Birthday to Chuckie, my favorite little brother!  Love you lots.

" FairyLand " - Weekly Challenge #31

This week's delightful challenge by guest challenger, Carol Bailey Floyd CZT, is "FairyLand".  Carol says: "My challenge to you is to create a Zentangle environment where fairies would feel at home.  There are lots of tangles that have full fairy approval and affection!  Have fun!"

Traditional Zentangle - 3.5" square tile; Sakura Micron black #'s 01 & 005;  Zig Writer 0.5mm Platinum; graphite for shading

A 'fairyland environment' has been growing here this summer, at our new home.  It's a fun little kit called "Wee Enchanted Garden"  that was purchased at JoAnn's Fabric & Crafts.  Children (and Grandmas) love to plant the seeds and paint the little mushrooms and rocks.... and watch the little garden come alive.

Fairy Land Garden on a budget.  (Looks like the struggling real estate market is evident everywhere! )

Happy tangling!

Learning New Tangles

During the past few months, I have been introduced to a plethora of new and varied tangles via the internet.  And when someone posts a new tutorial, proudly illustrating the deconstruction/reconstruction steps of a new pattern that he/she has created, my right brain becomes giddy with anticipation of recreating those lines….. one stroke at a time.

Sometimes my pattern re-creations are a good representation of the original tangle - and sometimes I manage to morph them into….. well, something entirely…… different.

Thank you to all the tangle-originators, past – present – and future. 

Some of the newest/most recent tangles that I’ve found are illustrated here…

ZIA Collage 8"x 10" of new/recently posted tangles - [Spooled; Tripoli; Beadlines; Ixoris variation; Berweed; Flux; Lily Pads; Pods; Floo variation; Bunyip; Fish; Jash]

If a specific tangle is not identified (above) and you know the tangle name, please let me know.  

Happy tangling!

ps:  Happy 6th Anniversary Ero & Chuckie ~ Love you.

Same String Experiment

As I practice my Zentangle art, it has become apparent to me that the "string" is (the most)? a challenging step in the process.  But as a lady in one of my May classes said, "But it only takes a few seconds to randomly draw a string with a pencil.  I don't understand what the big deal is."

And I don't understand, either.  It often stops me in my tracks when I select a blank tile and prepare to tangle - but do I need to draw a string first?  Sometimes I am in a hurry and I want to draw a 'tangleation' that I've been thinking about - and I just want to start anywhere on the blank tile (without drawing a string).  Or I just found a new tangle on the internet and I want to sit and draw it.  But do I have to draw a string first?

In my humble opinion, the answer (for me) is "yes".  That string is an itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny step that makes tangling a much more relaxing process.


About 8 months ago, as I was contemplating the pros and cons of drawing strings, I wondered how practical it would be to draw tangles using the same string on 5 different tiles.  So I experimented.

Using the traditional Zentangle method of art, I drew a pencil string on one tile - then I drew the same string on 4 additional tiles.  Over the next few days, I tangled on each of the tiles without looking back at what I had previously done.  Wow!  I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome.  One thought that crossed my mind was, "Are these really the same strings?"  ((Oh, yes, they are.))

Here is my "Same String Experiment" of November 2010...

Same String #1 of 5

Same String - #2 of 5

Same String - #3 of 5

Same String - #4 of 5

Same String - #5 of 5

Happy tangling!
Tricia

" String Theory - Initialize " - Weekly Challenge #30

This week's challenge is from guest challenger Christine Vandervlist, CZT.  She says..."for the challenge this week I am going to ask you to bring a little of yourself into the artwork! Draw your first and last initials, overlapping, and use this as the string for your tangles. Either block letters or cursive, both work well, so use your favourite".

I had to think about this for quite some time.  I couldn't imagine how my 'stick man' initials would make for an appealing tangle.  Straight lines... no curves.  Bo-ring.  My initials, TF, had me stuck in the mud.


So, I decided to use my other initials.... "PF".  At least I now have the advantage of a curve!


And when I penciled the initials onto the paper, two tangles immediately exploded off the page:  Vergigogh tangelation and Sanibelle.  So I went with them.  Quick and easy - down and dirty - relaxed and happy.  This was a fun challenge.  Thank you, Christina!


OH, one more thing....


In order to view my ZIA in it's proper orientation, you will need to do one of two things:  either lift your computer screen and rotate it 90 degrees right, OR lay on your desk/floor.

zia on 5"x 6" bristol board; Sakura Micron #'s 005 & 01; Zig platinum for shading inside tangles; graphite shading on tangle perimeter.

 

String for Challenge #30.

Happy tangling!

Tricia (aka Patricia)

" String Theory-Creative Genesis " - Weekly Challenge #29

This week, Sue Jacobs, CZT, is the guest "challenger".  Sue's challenge is to draw a string using a piece of string (or yarn, rope, wire etc.).  Hold your piece of string/yarn above your tile and slowly drop the string onto the tile until it falls into a pleasing pattern.  Then, using a pencil, lightly trace the pattern of the string onto your tile.  Voila!!  You're ready to tangle.

For my string, I used this multi-colored cord that I received from Lois Stokes, CZT.  Lois gave a string to all the students in CZT Seminar #3 in May 2010.  (Thank you, Lois!)

String was slowly dropped onto this 3.5" square tile.  Pattern then lightly traced with a pencil.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And here is my Creative Genesis contribution to this week's unique challenge.  This was fun.

Traditional Zentangle 3.5" square tile; Sakure Micron sizes 01 & 005; graphite for shading.

Great imagination, Sue!   What else do you have cookin' in your studio?

Happy tangling!