New Week (June 28) - New Challenges

This week marks the last few days of June, and beginning of July (know as July Fry in these parts) ... so the challenge of beating the heat is upon us ~ a lot of time staying cool is in order, which spending time tangling plays right into that wheelhouse ...

To begin the week (June 28) we have Tangle Me 3 and That's New To Me from Suzy Mosh.
The Tangle Me 3 focus is the pattern, Axlexa.  For some reason I'm thinking "color" this week (Maybe it was finding all those barely used colored pencils last week...)  Since I was tangling original Axlexa plus two variations = 3, and given the date (almost) - red, white, and blue seemed to fit.  I'm not sure the color provided the shading for what I was trying to achieve, and make the areas appear like they were folded or coming up off the page, but I liked learning the pattern!

For That' New to Me, the focus letter is N.  There has been a lot of attention going to Narwal on the blogs and FB groups lately, and I've never tried it, so I decided to.  I added Noodlz to the background (at the top), created by this week's author focus, Neil Burley.  I thought a third pattern would look good at the bottom, Neuron - this one I've only done one other time, a few weeks ago on one of Joey's challenges, so I tried it again,  Narwal I need more practice with; Noodlz was fun, reminds me of "Wired", and I followed the rule for it!

 Joey's Alphabet Monotangle this week is Dugwud.  The inspiration for Dugwud, is the Dogwood blossom.  Growing up on the east coast, Dogwood trees are one of the plants I miss and they are not seen here on the west coast very frequently.  I remember Dogwoods being either white or with a blush of pink - thus the colors on this tile.  If you are thinking two different pens were used you are correct - the center and outside were both done with black, the middle band I used a brown - both Microns.  I like the intensity and shaping of the smaller section of the pattern in the middle.

This looks like the dogwood trees that were my yard growing up, but in searching for a picture I see there are several different pink varieties now ... I might need to see if I can find one that grows in So Cal ... after the water crisis!

Return later this week to see the other challenges ...

Saturday Morning ... Looks Like Rain ...

... And not just a shower, but a thunderstorm - which is practically unheard of here in So Cal.  Lightening is never good when the ground is this dry ... and the humidity right now is about 83% ... So instead of getting ready to go out and run errands, I'm starting my day with a few tangles.

Square One (FB) Focus (6/26-7/2) is Meer - the original is surrounded by a meer "ribbon" (my first attempt at drawing something twisted), and thin, curved meers in the background, Hollibaugh style.  It is "pure" using a 3.5" tile; Micron pens 01, 03, and 005; and graphite for shading.

I finished this personable little guy for my grandson.  More views of him are on the  Beyond Tiles and Paper Gallery page.

An Invitation to Another Challenge

Another tangling fan commented on my work, and invited me to her challenge - spreading the fun!  This one, is a Weekly Alphabet Challenge by Diane and Carolien.  I think it is great that the challenge authors live on opposite sides of the pond - one in the US and one in Denmark.  Thanks ladies, now I have one on Wednesdays - a few more and I'll have one every day of the week!

For this alphabet challenge, three letters are given at a time.  Starting this week (week 12) they are on J-W-O, having already gone through the order A-Z once.  

I find challenges not only fun, but a great way to build up a resource of patterns.  I'm glad I have the time to participate while school is out for the summer...  Here is my interpretation using Jessicup, Ojo, Organza (a little like Frillee), and a bit of Web.  I also used the most recent string - #162 - however once the patterns were laid down the tile looks a little "left" of the original string ...

I an debating adding a touch of color, since yesterday I dug in to an old trunk and found a set of 50 colored pencils, barely used - woo hoo - along with a set of 36 watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons, 4 sets of markers (but they are broad tip), a set of drawing pencils, 2 metal pencil sharpeners in packages, and ... be still my heart ~ a Stadler Mars 700 - .30 - refillable technical pen ... with a good bottle of ink!!  

I know the pen I've had for about 35 years ... I use to draw cross-stitch charts, all by hand, for a designer, in another life.  Yes, it was a little clogged - but after a few soakings in warm water and some delicate cleaning I managed to get it to the stage that when I shake it I hear the little "click" so I'm thinking it is good to go.  I just need to get up the nerve to fill the cartridge and give it a try ... I digress ~ Happy Friday!

2 Challengers - 3 Tiles

My CZT Mentor Was Right ...

Completing these challenges is "stretching" me, and I am learning a lot!  In most cases I am trying patterns that I've never used before ~

I picked TWO more challenges this week from Suzy Mosh.  Suzy posts her challenges every Sunday.  When I came across them this week I wasn't sure I wanted to take on more challenges, but they both stayed on my mind for a few days and I thought I may as well jump in on these too (while I'm on summer break and have time!)  In her That's New To Me Challenge, she gives a random letter (this 25th week it's F) and I needed to use at least one new pattern I've never done that started with F - I used four as I'm new to tangling!  The patterns I chose:  Furr Balls (the name cracked me up and I loved that the designer has four pets and that is how it got its name!); Facets (looks like diamonds); Frillee (which reminds me of eyelet fabric, although there is another pattern by that name); and Framz (because I liked all the embellishments and variations that could be used).  I think the four compliment each other nicely, two are straight and two curvy.  I also like them on black ~

Suzy also posted a new challenge on Sunday - yes, this is its inaugural week!  For this one, Tangle Me 3, she names the focus pattern - this time Cadent.  The idea is the participant uses the original pattern plus two variations of it.  It affords the opportunity to try out the pattern in more than one way on a single tile - a monotangle - and I think will create a great resource for later projects.  Here is my entry ~

Thanks Suzy!  I like both of your challenges and hope to continue participating in them.

Today, I completed It's A String Thing #98 and learned Cruffle, Curl, and Mel Mel, and I like them all!  Cruffle has the opportunity for many variations (I used two).  It can be used to fill in a section, in an organized grid, or as a straight (or curved) line and looks a bit like a bead.  Curl is quick, easy, and fills in nicely.  Mel Mel is a pattern created by the String Thing Challenger, Adele Bruno CZT.  For me, I still need a little practice with this one, but know I will use it again.  I found it comfortable to do large, but think it would look equally good smaller.  It has a lot of embellishing possibilities, several I incorporated here.

Surprisingly, I also managed to open, find, remove, and destroy three hard drives for old computer equipment today, that we have been needing to recycle!  I think ZENtangling is making me more productive ... 

Two Challenges With One Tile ...

Joey's Alphabet Monotangle & Diva's Weekly Challenge #223

(or Two Birds With One Stone...)

This week (6/22-28/15)  Joey's Challenge was to use the pattern, Cornerz.  The Diva's Challenge was to use Umble ... so Cornerz, Umble Style ...  This one gave me room to practice shading, which on this tile I'm counting as "1/3 dark".  I kind of like the open, airy look on this one~

Cornerz starts out with a grid, and forms a random curved pattern.  
As I was laying out the pattern above, I kept thinking that it could look like a maze of sorts if I connected the corners more (as on the traditional pattern) ... The pattern started looking like a trellis to me ... a maze on a trellis needed to be in a garden ... I applied that idea to an organic garden theme and "A Bug's Playground" was born!  Can you find the five critters?

Monotangle Challenge

Found Another One!

Joey's Alphabet Monotangle offers the opportunity to work through the alphabet learning a new tangle each week.  I didn't find this one until this week (week two). I took the liberty of combing A and B in one tile (even though Mono means one!) just this time.  (I might go back and do a separate tile of each to play with variations, but wanted to get this submitted "in time".

Akuras (I learned was Sakura - the manufacturer of the Micropen - spelled backwards!) -was a great one to practice straight lines and auras!  There can be many variations on it too ~ at first glance I didn't like the pattern so much, but now I do!

Bunzo is a bolder pattern - also good for practicing auras.  Mine are a little small, but done larger is very striking.  I can see several ways to add variety to it as well...

I had fun shading this one - expanding my skills there too ...

This reminds me of the sun, with shells on the beach - or a ceiling fan ... must be the time of year!

I completed just an Akuras (variation) tile, so it is truly a monotangle ...
and photographed with Marble App (because it's fun!)

 

And I completed just a Bunzo, and decided it needed color.
The Marble App is still fun ...

It's a String Thing #97

This one WAS a challenge ... and not sure I like it yet ...

I keep telling myself, "There are no mistakes, there are no mistakes..."

I started this one over three times ... Not sure if it was the colors I chose, or the fact that I tried to emphasize the "string" with pattern, or the number of spaces the string created ... but it feels too linear to me - not the soft flow that I usually get ...  It was to honor Dads, so I wanted a more masculine look - even though two of the patterns were very scrollie (is that a word?), so I chose tan paper, and black and brown Micropens.  I have seen several pieces with the string line emphasized, so I wanted to try out  that look.  I took some liberties with the enhancements and made up a few of my own variations.  Then it looked dark, so I decided to give it a "glow" with white charcoal pencil ... maybe a little out there ... The colors photographed well I think.

The patterns on this one are:  Double Ds, All about Vs, Diamonds and Squares, and Umble.  It was fun learning these four.

FB Group Challenge

Square One

This is a challenge through FB:  Square One:  Purely Zentangle - designed to go back to the beginning, focusing on one pattern, within a string, to create a 3.5" square art piece.
No color - pen and pencil only.

June 12 - 18, 2015  Flux

Another perspective of this tile ...

I discovered a new app and was playing ... you can do the same!  The app: on Apple - Marblecam and Marble Magick; for Android I think it is just MarbleMagick.  Have fun!!

(PS - It's as addicting as tangling!)

To Shade or Not to Shade ...

10 X 10 Canvas...

Decided to go big, and learned a few things working on canvas.  First, it is rough, so I don't use your "best" pens.  Secondly, the larger the pattern the better - it is hard to try and do too much small detail.  You can, however, still shade and get depth on the piece.  To shade, I used a regular #2 rather than the softer graphite pencil, and an older "snubber" as the canvas sort of ate the point.  

Unshaded

H enlarged

I carried the patterns around the edges as I was not planning to frame this.

I couldn't decide if I wanted to shade or not ... once I made the decision, there would be no turning back on canvas.  You can erase on canvas, bit not very cleanly ... I like the depth you can achieve with shading, so ...

This shows the difference shading can make on one pattern

Finished product

The Rules of Tangling ...

There are no rules ... period.  

The Zentangle motto, "Anything is possible... one stroke at a time," sort of emulates this ... In searching, joining several groups on FB, scanning and "pinning" on Pinterest, and looking at other's work I've had an epiphany (several actually):

• Basic tiles are 3.5" or 4.5" white/ecru squares (and sometimes black or renaissance/tan) - but it's OK to do something on 5X7 (or another size)
• There are also a variety of other sized "official" tiles - Bijou, Zendalas, Opus
• Tiles are a specific type of paper - but it's OK to use a good quality watercolor or cardstock paper - in other colors - (not to mention a large variety of 3D items in wood, ceramic ...)
• A "string" usually leaves a little space from the edge before starting the patterns - but it is OK to take your work all the way to the edge 
• The string is done with a pencil, freehand, doesn't need to be perfect and doesn't get erased - but is is OK to erase if needed, and if you want a really straight line ... use a ruler
• The string line can be inked in or left "invisible" - but it is OK to also enhance it with an aura or pattern
• Most sections of a string are completely filled in - but it is OK to leave open space(s)
• The basic black pen is a Sakura Micron 01 - but it's OK to use other brands, colors, types, and sizes for certain effects
• Patterns:  There are the "official" patterns created by the originators, there are patterns that have been submitted by the many CZTs ... there are patterns that have been inspired by other patterns (maybe sometimes by making a mistake) ... there are combined patterns - called "trangulations"
• Shading - optional (but it can really add depth and texture)
• Color - optional
• Oh, and there are no mistakes either.  As Scott Adams has pointed out, "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."

Feel free to add your thoughts / epiphanies about tangling in the comment section ~

Diva Weekly Challenges

#222 - Colors of the Rainbow

The Diva's Weekly Challenge is just that - posted on Monday with a theme, usually based on one of the creator's activities.  I have been lurking for a few weeks - this week (June 15, 2015) seemed like a good place to start...

The Diva's inspiration for this challenge is the beginning of summer activities with her family.  Since today is the first official day of my two month summer break from school - this is an appropriate one for my first submission to the Diva!  The title, "Colors of the Rainbow" told me first, I wanted to work in a curve - a round piece.  I've been all about the organic garden lately (maybe because that is the most recent class I took), so I created a garden scene, and where I would usually shade or highlight, I used the colors of the rainbow - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.  Here is the result:

4.5" Zendala tile

Micron pen 01 and watercolor pencil

Thank you mentor - who pointed out I forgot the stippling on the dragonair - beginner's mistake ... Also mentioned that about 1/3 should be "dark" ... I knew that!  

In my rush to get the challenge posted, I overlooked several important factors!  I went back to the piece and added ... to get a little darker and add depth, I enhanced a few areas and added graphite shading - what a difference a little shading can make!

Take 2

On-Line Challenges

String Thing #96 (6/9/15)

My Zentangle® mentor, Janet Masey (CZT), recommended I try some of the weekly 'challenges' that are available online ... "They will stretch you," she said ...

There are two that I've started watching: The Diva's Weekly Challenge  and Tickled to Tangle - It's a String Thing.

Tickled to Tangle - It's a String Thing - posted on Tuesday and due by Saturday evening.  This challenge offers a "string" to copy and a requirement of specific patterns to use.

I decided to jump in and this is my first.  It is using the patterns Nipa (left), Nuwave (top and bottom), Nvelope (center), and Neuron (right).  I like the sharp, dramatic look of white on black.  The patterns make this look "space-like"...

UPDATE 6/20:

These "challenges" are cropping up all over - another is Square One on FB.  For this you use only 3.5 tiles and black pen - back to the originals.  It focuses on one pattern at a time, although you can add others to enhance the tile ...

Another is Joey's Weekly Alphabet Monotangle - one tangle, in ABC order.

Check out my Challenges Gallery Page to see all challenge submissions together ...

Beyond Basics

"Organic Garden" class June 3, 2015

Once again Janet Masey (CZT) has stretched my artistic endeavors with another challenging class!  For this ZIA we were introduced to 16 patterns and 2 embellishments, along with 3 shades of 5" X 7" paper (I chose tan tone), gray pen, white charcoal pencil, and the standard Micron pen, graphite pencil, and "snubber".  

Once we were familiar with the patterns Janet said, "OK, Get started."  

Starting in the "front" and along the "bottom" of the paper I briefly put down a "string" to help locate a few items - like the wall - then picked up my pen and began ... this is the result ...

I'm pleased with this first one.  I didn't use all of the patterns as I wanted to leave a little bit of negative space, and didn't want my garden to look too overgrown and wild!  Can you find the two bijous (snails)??

Everyones turned out differently which was cool!  This is one I will do again, and it will look different each time ... Wonder what it would look like on another color paper?  This would make a nice set of "cards" (Ah ha!  Gift idea!!)  Stay tuned ...

I decided to try it on dark gray three days later ... but photo doesn't really show difference in background ~