Let It Snow

In November, I had the great pleasure of attending a retreat for Certified Zentangle Teachers in lovely Ogunquit, Maine.  I learned a variety of inspiring new techniques from fellow CZTs and was taken away by their creativity!  I reconnected with my tangling friends and made new ones at the fabulous Beachmere Inn.  It was a rejuvenating weekend for the body, mind, and soul.

One of my favorite new projects included techniques taught by Lynn Mead, CZT.  We explored the idea of creating open space for tangling or shading inside our tangles, convergent shading, and this stunning snowflake design.  I adored Lynn's classes and was thrilled to be able to experience her clear and inspiring teaching style.  By the way, if you'd like a fantastic tangle book for on the go, check out her Tangle Decks!

Here is the original piece that I created in Lynn's class.  It's shimmery and elegant in person; a photo doesn't do it justice.

 

I've been playing with different open snowflake designs to prepare for an upcoming winter class I'm teaching.  It's been fun to try these techniques on Opus and black Zendala tiles along with different pens and inks.  I love how the shading/coloring technique really makes the snowflakes pop.

Yes!

When teaching classes, I love that the answer I can give to most of the questions is YES!

• "May I fill this part if I want to?"
• "Is it okay if I go over the line here?"
• "Can I put this pattern here?"
• "I made up my own tangle for this spot.  Is that okay?"

Yes!

I love that the Zentangle® method allows us to make our own choices as we tangle.  Our border and string can be guides to help build comfort while breaking up a possibly intimidating space.  They can provide places for tangles to sit cozily or a starting point for patterns to blossom and grow safely outside the lines.  

Whether you prefer to color inside the lines, venture outside, or play with a mixture depending on your mood, the Zentangle® method allows for all possibilities.

If you're inspired to follow a particular tangle throughout a piece or morph it into a tangleation, or variation, you're free to explore any way you choose.  This is your art and your process to enjoy.

It's so rare in life to learn something new that doesn't have a lot of limits or rules.  

I was thrilled to pass on these "rules" to two wonderful library classes this week.  Look at the stunning pieces they created:

Zendala tiles created at the Peabody Institute Library 

Tiles created at the Hamilton-Wenham Library

Test Driving Patterns

I recently had a lot of fun teaching a Zendala class to several of my regular tanglers while welcoming a new friend into our group.

I love creating mandala strings from scratch or using the pre-strung Zendala tiles.  I find it fascinating to watch a piece evolve and change shape throughout my practice.

This class was particularly interesting because it encouraged everyone to think differently in a few ways.  Instead of working on a square tile, we played with a round shape.  Rather than using larger sections within a string, we filled in tiny areas.  Then I invited the participants to play with patterns that they already knew in different ways to stretch comfort zones creatively.  

Many of the students were used to the pattern Flux with leaves building upward creating a stem.  To fill our smaller areas and to create some fun interest in contrast to our geometric patterns, I invited everyone to use a randomized version of Flux with the leafy shape strewn about the section without a stem.  This idea posed a little bit of a challenge because it meant tweaking how they had learned the pattern.

The results were fantastic, and this exercise encouraged everyone to think about a pattern in a new way.  Maybe with a little practice, they will feel comfortable playing with this pattern in the traditional and random way and then take it to even new directions that I haven't considered.  

I love how we can take patterns that we know and create regularly and mix them up to see what they can do.

Which patterns do you like to take for a test drive to see how they handle?

The center design featuring Onomato was inspired by Sally Houghton, CZT.  I loved her interpretation on her blog and just had to use it (with her permission).

Good Things Come in Small Packages

I am loving the new addition to the Zentangle® family--Bijou!  In addition to his lovely story, he offers a fun tin of tiny tiles.  They are 2 inch squares of the same paper as the larger tiles, and they are so fun to play with!  They're great for monotangles, creating a smaller reproduction of a larger tile, letters, and more.

I especially love Bijou's reminders to slow down, breathe, and relax.  I've been feeling a little stressed this week, and I really need a kind little snail on my shoulder to remind me about these simple things I can do to improve my life and my art.

For this week's Diva challenge, I created a mini mosaic Zendala with four Bijou tiles.  I lined them up and then loosely drew a Zendala design.  I didn't grab a ruler or stencils.  I breathed and let the shapes form.  It's okay that they don't all line up perfectly.  It was quite freeing to just guess where a line might go and to let it evolve as it did.  I pictured Bijou gliding across my tiles, changing his mind slightly, then wiggling back on his original course when my pen skipped a bit.  Pens, like snails, don't always follow a straight path, right?

I enjoyed filling in my shapes with different tangles and adding some shading.  The process was relaxing and inspiring.  I realized that I never color the tadpole-like blobs in Ennies and thought I'd see how they came out.  I really like the contrast of the bold shapes against the gentle orbs in the center.

Thanks, Bijou, for reminding me to take a little break for myself.  I needed it.

New Toys

I love playing with new tangle goodies like pens, papers, colored pencils, and other tools.  Although it's nice that I don't need a room filled with craft supplies to enjoy my Zentangle® practice, I do like to experiment with different things.  Fortunately, they're still pretty small.

This week I got to play with my new "Zencils" or stencils by Acadia Laser Creations.  This Zendala tile features one of the Celtic knot stencils.  The second I traced the stencil, all I could see was a knot of Zander across the whole tile.   I had a relaxing time filling in all of the areas.  For the smaller sections, I wanted to continue playing with line work and added some Paradox and Betweed.  The shading was just as fun as the tangling!

I'm looking forward to playing with the other stencils soon.

Tanglers of the Round Table, er, Tile

When you try something new, does it sometimes feel like you need to wear armor or have a spear with you just in case?  It can be scary to try new things and to think outside of our regular mode.

Not so for my recent Zendala class.  Look at the great job they did!  The tiles on the left used a pre-strung Zendala tile.  On the right, the tanglers created their own strings.  I bet their filled in pieces look amazing!

I think working with Zendalas can seem a bit daunting because many of the spaces are smaller.  Most patterns can be created on a smaller scale.  You can also take the challenge to find new patterns that fit into tighter areas.  Remember, the string is a guide, and even if trying to keep the sense of balance, you can always ignore some of the lines to make larger areas in which to play.  Like practicing on a Zentangle tile, strings are there as tools, guides, or things to ignore completely as you see fit.

It's fun to think about whether to fill in every space or to leave some gaps in the design too.

Huzzah to the Zendala tanglers!

Christmas in May!

I love when a new box of art supplies comes to my door.  It's like Christmas pretty regularly around here.  Even when it's an order of books or Zentangle supplies to sell in my classes, it's always fun to receive inspiring new items.

The latest box contained goodies just for me!  I ordered a set of the new Tombow Irojiten colored pencils.  They are attractively packaged in little boxes.  Like most new things, ranging from craft supplies to clothes, I typically admire them and don't want to use them.  Sometimes I like the newness to remain, and sometimes I'm a little hesitant to jump in.

Why is that?  Do kids hesitate to rip open a box with a prized new toy inside?  Well, maybe with all of the fasteners used to keep toys permanently attached to packaging, but that's not quite the same.  :-)  Kids would likely devour the packaging if it meant being able to get to the toy goodness inside.  Toddlers, would squeal for the packaging itself!  As an adult, I hesitate.

The good news is it took less than an hour for me to crack open the box, pull out a pencil, and start tangling!  I bolstered up a little creative bravery by posting about my new acquisition with my fellow CZTs.

I've only used ten of the thirty pencils in this set, but so far, I like how they glide across the tile.  I used the fluorescence set (vol. 7).  Upon initial experimentation, I think they color more smoothly than the Prismacolor pencils, but I think the Prismacolors are more saturated and have a better fill.  It will be fun to explore with my new pencils more.

Here is my first piece with the Irojitens on a pre-strung black Zendala tile.  I have to play with scanning these darker tiles a bit more because it took a fair amount of editing to get the colors to be remotely close to what I see in person.  The pencil is a bit shimmery in person which is lovely.

Kooky Kuke

I love this week's Diva challenge pattern!  In a UMT (Use My Tangle) challenge, Laura asked us to use a pattern created by a fellow tangler.  This week's choice was Kuke by Katy Abbot, CZT.

I've been hooked on Zentangle's new black Zendala tiles and how cool the metallic Gelly Roll pens look on them.  I took a blank tile, drew a bunch of lines with white Gelly Roll as a string, and started to fill in the sections with Kuke.  I ended up filling the whole thing just with Kuke because I was having so much fun.  :-)  I used white Gelly Roll, silver Slicci, metallic blue Gelly Roll, and stardust Gelly Roll pens to fill in the different sections.  I left my Kukes "seedless" since the Gelly Roll pens have thicker nibs.  This piece is so shimmery and cool in person!

Zendala, or, a Round Tile Walks into a Bar

It's fascinating to create Zentangle® art using round Zendala tiles.  Whether you follow a pre-strung Zendala, make your own string, or just treat the tile like a regular blank canvas, the results are all amazing.  There's something soothing and inspiring about working on the slightly larger, round tile.  I love having a little more room to play while still working on a manageably sized piece.

The latest and greatest black Zendala tiles are fast becoming a new favorite of mine.  Here is a tile I worked on this weekend.  I used a silver pencil to create a light basic string of circles and half-circles with a high-tech tool--one of my daughter's mini Play-Doh containers.  ;-)  Circles are very easy to find and to create.  Grab a glass, a plate, a pill bottle/lid, an old film canister, or any combination of these.

Here is my tile celebrating my mother and all of the wonderful mothers in my life.  I hope you are able to celebrate the moms in your life--near, far, or in fond memory.  Happy Mother's Day!

I had a great time teaching a Zendala class this weekend!  The attendees did an awesome job practicing on a pre-strung tile and trying their hand at their own Zendala strings.  Thanks, ladies!

Which Schway?

This week's Diva challenge was to use the latest official Zentangle pattern, Schway.  It's a very fun pattern to create, and it evolves in an interesting way.  I love this one.

I decided to use a brand new black Zendala tile for my creation.  The tile is pre-strung with a spiral-looking string.  I filled each section with some Schway with different metallic pens.  I love the look of metallics on the black tiles.  Each section of Schway has a different filler, although some are hard to tell with the smaller places.

When you play with the black tiles, remember that the gel pens have a thicker nib and have a very different feel.  I think that patterns that have less detail tend to work better.  Of course, all's fair in love and tangling, so give every pattern a try to see what works for you.  Shading has a different feel too, and it's so fun to see what happens.

I'm not sure this is finished.  I may add some more metallic shading in between each section, but I haven't decided yet.

Experiences

What is more important--seeing something or experiencing it?

Last weekend, I spent an early morning hour out on my deck, wrapped in a blanket, staring up at the stars with the hope of getting a glimpse of the Lyrid meteor shower.  I braced myself for the dark and the cold; it was 30 something degrees.  I enjoyed the darkness and the quiet.  I was surprised by all of the random noises I heard--neighbors coming home, people laughing indoors, and scurrying critters that I hoped weren't skunks.  Ultimately, I stared up appreciating the calm and quiet.  I enjoyed watching stars popping through the clouds and thinking of my daughter singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

I didn't see any meteor showers, but I enjoyed the experience of being bundled up staring at the sky and wondering-wondering what was up there, wondering how many other people were looking at the same sky.  It was peaceful to get lost in the vastness especially after the horrible violence in my state earlier in the week.  It was nice to think about bonding with others over this quiet experience rather than over being glued to news reports of bombings, pain, and tragedy.

Sometimes things can make us feel like we're part of a community--like we're part of the victims, like we're part of the heroes, like we're part of the universe.

The next morning, my dad emailed me questioning why I was up with the vampires when I could just look at web sites the next day for pictures.  Sure, the librarian in me knows I would research the shower after the fact, but there's something that web site couldn't give me--the experience.

What's more important--finding the quick answer or taking some quiet time for myself, lying down on my deck, and taking the chance that I might see something I've never seen before in person?

Do you prefer:

• to view a piece of artwork in a museum to see the brush strokes, the texture, and the size in comparison to other pieces around it, or to look at a dimensionless photo of the same work online?
• to do a yoga DVD in your living room with the phone and laundry looming in the background, or to visit a studio with a trained instructor who can answer your questions, peaceful music, and other people sharing the experience?
• to walk down the aisle of silk flowers at a craft store, or, allergies aside, stroll through a rose garden taking in the scents, colors, textures, and pretty visiting pollinators?

Each option is valid and has its merits just like with learning the Zentangle method.  Many of us enjoy finding patterns and being inspired by books, web sites, and other sources, but a web site can't show you everything.  Do you prefer to learn in a creative environment with other tanglers, with a certified teacher (CZT) who can help you over a tangling block, and a relaxing and safe space to try new things?  

Which is more important finding the answer or the experience of getting there?  Again, both ways are valid at times, but I fear that there will be many tanglers who miss the true point of the Zentangle method.  It's not about amassing patterns rather the experience of achieving focus, being centered, and meditating through the process of creating beautiful artwork.  As children teach us, it's about the process not the product.

My week was yet again lost to the universe of an insane schedule, but it gave me more time to think about how important this topic is to me.

Thank you to the Diva for our Earth Day 115 challenge this week.  I used a pre-strung Zendala tile that reminded me of the earth.  I started with some Distress Ink in brown, green, and blue for earth tones.  To break myself out of my usual box, I decided to randomly tangle the Zendala.  Instead of using the symmetry provided by the string, I tangled each area with a different pattern using colors one might see looking at the Earth from space.  I used brown, green, and blue microns, and left white space for the land, sea, and clouds.  It took a long time to create this piece, and while it still feels a bit weird to me because it isn't a traditional Zendala, I enjoyed creating it.  It was fun to think about all the patterns to fill in each space and to play with the colors.  Maybe if you look at it from a far enough distance, while squinting, you might see the Earth.  Then again, does it really matter what it looks like if I enjoyed the process and tried something new?

Starry Night

This week's Diva challenge was a throwback to one of her early ones featuring stars.  We could use stars in any way that inspired us.

I considered drawing a star, working on a Zendala, or using stars as white space in a design.  Then I realized I was thinking about it too much which wasn't too meditative.

I remembered that I had a pre-cut star shape that might work.  I did a quick coat with Distress Ink then tangled in blue pen.  It was fun and quick to do.  I will probably mount it on some fun starry scrapbook paper and put it in my daughter's room.  She saw it and said it was her star.  I think she's onto something.  :-)

Here's this week's challenge:

Better Late Than Never

In my time-lapsed few weeks, I didn't get two a couple of The Bright Owl Zendala Dares.  I had started to work on #47, but it took me a long time to finish it, and I don't know why.

The challenge was fine and wasn't a barrier to creating.  I transferred the template immediately and did my border tangle (Geisel, a new favorite by Debra Castaldi).

Then I stopped and lost time.

Per the challenge I "removed" some of the second set of ovals for a wider area of Huggins.  I had just taught this pattern and had it on the brain.  I love how it looks!

Then I stopped and lost time and focus.

I added some 'Nzeppel.

Then I stopped and completely forgot about finishing my piece.

Like with any activity or hobby that a person loves, the greatest benefit comes from regular practice.  I allowed my chaotic life to take over for a while, and I feel like I lost myself.

I finished my Zendala, worked on another challenge, and got back on track!  I love that I can tangle myself back to a more grounded place.  In the past, I could get derailed for a while during diets or exercise plans.  I'm human, and it's ok to get off track a bit.  I'm just thankful to have a way to snap myself back into myself immediately.

Interestingly, this is the first time in my life that I've successfully lost weight, exercised, felt better, and felt more relaxed and centered.  The Zentangle method is a big part of that (along with my wonderful nutritionists at NWHS).  It's all falling into place.  :-)

So here is my better-late-than-never Zendala Dare:

It's Not Easy Being Green

Oops!  I picked up a green Micron instead of a black one for this week's Bright Owl Zendala Dare (#46).  Well, when life hands you lemons... make a green Zendala!

I started with the Striping and Crescent Moon in the outer bulbs.  I liked the inner bulbs but thought I wanted to do a single pattern in the center.  Phicops to the rescue!  I love how they come out.  Some Fescu filled in the inner and outer areas.

I needed some shading, but I've learned that I don't really like regular pencil shading with colored pens. I used my Prismacolor colored pencils to add some color and shading.  I'm not sure I'm using these correctly, but it was fun to do.  That's all that matters, right?

Here is this week's Zendala Dare:

Sharing Zentangle

I've had the most wonderful weekend filled with tangling!  

Yesterday I gave a private lesson to a dear friend who has had a stressful year.  It was lovely to sit and tangle with her.  Here are the tiles we created:

I also taught a Zendala class in North Chelmsford.  It was awesome to see how people used the tangle patterns in different shapes.  I hope everyone will share their finished Zendalas with me when they're done!

Daring Zendalas

This week's Bright Owl Zendala Dare #45 reminded me of a wreath at first, so I think I intentionally picked tangles that weren't leafy to start.  I ended up with some flowers on the outer edge though.

I was flipping through the Joy of Zentangle book and decided to try a few patterns that were new to me.  I ended up filling the entire tile with patterns from this fun book.  I used Soup Bowls, Floating Discs, Twilight Zone, Flora, and variations of King's Crown and Bubbles.

 

It's Hip to be Square

This week's Bright Owl Zendala Dare template had a variety of squares and some guitar pick shapes.  I decided to try using the template on a regular Zentangle® tile to keep with the squares.

Most likely from fatigue, I wasn't feeling particularly creative when I picked up my tile, but I hoped that tangling would inspire me.  The squares encouraged me to use some Paradox in a different way.  I tried picking up my pen around the petal/guitar pick shapes, continuing my line on the other side.  I quickly learned that this idea was better in my mind than on the tile as the fun spirals created within Paradox were all hidden!  Oh well, just keep on tangling.

I had thought of doing something roundish in the other shapes, and I knew I wanted to use a red pen.  Valentine's Day might be creeping into my mind this week.  :-)  My pen just connected the lines, so I went with it.

Next up, shading!  I had a lot of fun shading around the boxes and within Paradox.  I love how the boxes look raised or stacked on top of each other with some simple shading.  I wasn't expecting to like that look at all, but I'm glad I was wrong.  My funky Paradox trick didn't work right, but the shading was an unexpected bonus.

If something doesn't turn out like you pictured it in your mind, is that really a bad thing?  Maybe it's just time to think about it in a new way.

Some Sun for a Snowy Day

As I look outside at the 2+ feet of snow, I think it's a good day for some sunshine.

I haven't been able to post for a few days while my daughter had her surgery.  Despite a few bumps in the road, she did great.  We're so happy to be home while she recovers, and we're especially glad we got out of the hospital before the storm hit.  We would have been snowed in!  Thank you to everyone for the kind comments and support during this stressful time.

Here is my final installation in the sun series for my daughter.  Having my Zentangle® art is a lifesaver for me, and this week, it really was!  Even though we knew everything would be fine, it's still hard to see such a cute little one so upset and scared.  I'm glad that I gave myself this sun project to keep up my spirits and to help keep me focused.  I love how the Zentangle method takes the pressure off by not having to know the end result of a piece.  We can just take it "one stroke at a time."®  I gave myself a theme for the week to help take a little more pressure off and to help motivate me with some color and purpose.  It really helped.

This is a pre-strung Zendala tile with narrow sections.  I wasn't sure what to do with this one, so I challenged myself to figure it out.  I've been hooked on my Splendor inks this week.  I inked the tile in sunny colors and then tangled over the top.  I'm thinking that a very juicy pen over the ink may have contributed to a bit of bleeding, but it worked out in the long run.  I actually prefer pens that aren't as juicy because they're a bit more forgiving.  I've been known to use my Microns until the color/number on the end of the lid are long faded away.  These pens really last!

This string was a bit tricky to figure out, so I picked the inner section and started with some Diva Dance.  It was interesting to do it in a narrow section, and I was pleased with how it came out.  I loved the contrast with the "white" space in the adjacent coil, so I knew I'd leave that empty and let the sunshine be free.  I moved on to the long streamer areas with some Purk, Zander, Flux, and Bunzo.  There's some modified XYP in the outer border.  It can be a challenge for me to come up with ideas for border areas, but I love a challenge!  This tile was a lot of fun to shade.  Many of my patterns were detailed, and in the tiny spaces, they look even more detailed.  I think the shading helps to define the different swirls and areas.  What do you think?

Man! I Feel Like an Artist

Erin gave us a wonderful Zendala challenge at Bright Owl this week and a thoughtful post about how Zentangle® makes us feel like true artists.  After reading her post, I can't stop hearing Shania Twain's song, Man, I Feel Like a Woman so here's my rendition Zentangle style:

Man! I Feel Like an Artist by Emily Classon, CZT 9

Parody of Man! I feel Like a Woman by Shania Twain

I’m gonna tangle now-Knowin’ I know how

Gonna get my Micron out

Wanna make some art—really use my heart

Yeah, I can create no doubt

No inhibitions-make no conditions

Start with a little line

I ain’t gonna worry about the end result

I only wanna have a Zen time

The best thing about being an artist

Is the prerogative to have a little fun

Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget the eraser

Printemps—Cadent

Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, drawin’ with style

Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel relaxation

Color my tile-do what I dare

Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to draw the way I feel

Man!  I feel like an artist!

It’s just a small tile-no worries for a mile

The chance to draw, color, and play

We don’t need much time-we don’t need much space

We’re gonna tangle worries away

The best thing about being an artist

Is the prerogative to have a little fun

Oh, oh, oh, thanks Rick and Maria-I have lots of ideas

Betweed-Ennies

Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, tanglin’ my tile

Oh, oh, oh, with border and string-I can draw anything

Stay in the lines—though not confined

Oh, oh, oh, tangle with me-yeah, to feel the way I feel

Man! I feel like an artist!

The best thing about being an artist

Is the prerogative to have a little fun (fun, fun)

Oh, oh, oh, go totally crazy-forget the eraser

Printemps—Cadent

Oh, oh, oh, really go wild-yeah, drawin’ with style

Oh, oh, oh, get in the action-feel relaxation

Color my tile-do what I dare

Oh, oh, oh, I wanna be free-yeah, to draw the way I feel

Man!  I feel like an artist!

I owe such a debt of gratitude to Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas.  Learning the Zentangle® method and becoming a CZT have been life-changing for me.  I've always felt crafty, but now, thanks to them, I truly feel like an artist--so much so that I'm submitting my original art for consideration for different publications and creating public art displays like this one at the Tewksbury Public Library:

In addition, I'm more relaxed, I'm more focused, and I have a calmer approach to everything I do.  Friends, family, and coworkers have commented that I am different thanks to my Zentangle practice.  I'm even losing weight because I'd rather pick up a Micron than a snack to relax.  I don't think there's a single aspect of my life that hasn't been touched by Zentangle.  Thank you, Rick and Maria!

I'd also like to extend my appreciation to a few other special people who have helped me along my artistic journey to date:

• My dear friend and CZT Toni Henneman (Artist in Wonderland) for introducing me to the world of Zentangle art.
• CZT Susan Smith for inspiring me with her classes 
• CZT Cris Letourneau for allowing me to contribute to and help with her amazing new book, Made in the Shade: A Zentangle Workbook.  This book has awakened my passion for shading!
• My fellow tanglers and CZT IX for the wonderful training and bonding experience.
• CZT Laura Harms, aka I am the Diva, for her weekly Zentangle challenges.  I have learned many new patterns while stretching my creativity each week.
• CZT Erin Olson at The Bright Owl for her creative weekly Zendala challenges.
• All of the CZTs and fellow tanglers I've "met" online.  The ideas, inspiration, tips, and support have been wonderful.
• My students for teaching me something new each time and for allowing me to share my passion.
• My loving husband, my darling daughter, and my mother for their unending support, babysitting during my CZT training, and my constant discussion about tangling.  :-)  
• Thank you to everyone for your support and comments throughout my creative and blogging adventure.  I'm pleased that my words have been beneficial to someone else.

If you're still reading this epic post, here's my Bright Owl Zendala Dare for the week.  I LOVE this template and had an amazing time with it.  I started with Flukes on the outside.  At first I thought the lines were too close together, but I like the small, detailed look it had.  Erin challenged us to use patterns that make us feel like artists.  For me, lately, that's been Flux and Paradox.  I was stunned by how flowery and pretty Flux came out in the center.  It was so delicate that I didn't want to surround it with anything.  Erin's beautiful Zendala was an homage to Zinger, so I threw a few of those in for a pop of dimension and color.  I wrapped it up with some Paradox and shading for what has to be one of my favorite pieces ever.

Since I'm still working on the suns for my daughter, I added a little pop of sunshine into the Zinger "flowers" so this is sun # 4.

Enough is Enough

How do you know when enough is enough?

• When you run out of time?
• When you get bored?
• When the world tells you so?
• When you don't have the energy?

What if you got to decide when enough was enough?

Although I find the Zentangle® method of creating artwork relaxing and enjoyable, I have learned that I cannot work on a project before bed.  Here I am at 2am having just finished two projects that inspired me, and I am wide awake.  I was too excited to share my creations with you.

Erin at The Bright Owl challenged Zendala lovers with a new template this week.  Instead of working on a Zendala tile, I opted to use my brand new Strathmore Toned Tan paper.  I traced my template, and went at it.  This paper arrived the same day as Erin's new challenge, so it seemed meant to be!

I had an amazing time watching the tangles come to life when I shaded with my new Prismacolor pencils.  The white highlights in Purk are much more impressive in person.

I completed the entire center and was in love with my work.  Was it enough?  Was it finished?  Was I satisfied?  Enough wasn't enough.

Sometimes I worry that in wanting to do more, I may go overboard and not like the end result.  Even as a CZT, I have to remind myself that the Zentangle method isn't really about the end result--it's about the journey.

I stepped back, put the piece down for a few hours, and looked at it again.  It wasn't enough.  I wasn't done playing with this piece yet.  I drew the circle around the inner Zendala thinking I'd fill in the full circle.  That wasn't enough.  I was so in love with this new paper that I wanted to do something different.  I thought about doing a background tangle to make the Zendala pop in the center.  I considered N'Zeppel but ended up with Ibex.  It's not a pattern I use often, but I had a blast doing it (hence being up at 2am).  I shaded Ibex, added some shading around the inner circle, and voila!

Hmm, maybe one more post before bed....