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!

Tangle at Home

I love offering Zentangle® home parties.  People love relaxing with wine, friends, and the wonderful Zentangle Method.  Although we might not get through as many patterns or as much detail as in a full two-hour class, the fun experience, the bonding, and for those who are imbibing, the wine, make it all worth it!

The other night, I taught Zentangle Basics to four enthusiastic tanglers--two first timers and two who have tangled with me previously.  I love when friends and family members share their passions with each other!  After the class, people have a new interest to do together.

We worked on one tile with several different patterns.  It's amusing to see what people think of different patterns or the shapes that they see.  If you liked (or still do!) looking for shapes in the clouds, it's impossible to see tangle patterns without seeing intended and unintended shapes.

My favorite comment of the night was that the pattern 'Nzeppel reminded one tangler of patio stones.  She enthusiastically told us of her plans to create a massive artistic patio filled with 'Nzeppel stones.  :-)  I don't think I'll ever forget this comparison, or the fun personality behind the comment.  I know I will now refer to this pattern as looking like "patio stones" and will smile remembering the fun experience we had tangling together.

Students hopefully learn from their teachers, but it's even better when the teacher learns from the student.  Whether it's a new idea, a way to improve my instruction, or something entertaining, I love when I learn something while teaching.  It's a good thing I learn something new each time!

Here are the fabulous tiles this group created.  I hope I'll get to tangle with them again soon.  Didn't they do an awesome job?

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.

May and June Classes Added

Want to know what to do with your Zentangle® practice after you've taken a basic class?  Join me for two wonderful advanced classes this May and June.

Zendala - Where Zentangle and Mandala meet.  Tangle in the round.

My Tangled Garden - Grow a magical garden with flowy, organic tangles

Read more about these classes on my workshops page.

Come This Schway!

I love love love the new official Zentangle® pattern, Schway.  These tiles show my "folded tile technique" all done with shading.  This pattern is a blast to do.  I love the variety of different ways I can enhance each little arrow shape.  Aura, lines, orbs, full coloring, fill with a small pattern, and more!  Try your hand at Schway, and let me know what your favorite fillers are!

Do. Or Do Not. There is No Try.

It may be a bit extreme for me to be quoting Yoda, but there it is.  One thing I've learned throughout my Zentangle® journey is to not be afraid of doing new things.  I love how freeing this method is and how it allows me to practice a wide variety of things--all while keeping me sane!

Back in February, I created a piece to submit for a quote/art book by Lesley Riley.  I just learned that my piece did not make the cut for the print edition but may be included in an online collection of artwork.  I'm a little disappointed, but I'm more pleased with myself for doing something new.  This was my first major art submission, and I'm proud of myself for submitting!  I didn't just think about it.  I didn't just talk about it.  I did it.  I created a piece that I think is really cool, and I sent it in without any expectation.  Congratulations to all of the artists who were selected!  I can't wait to see the submissions.

The quote from which I found my inspiration is from my favorite author:

If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence. George Eliot

I interpreted this quote as meaning we cannot handle all of the chaos of life and that we live in our own shelters just to survive.  I immediately thought of rose-colored glasses.  The tangles represent the noise or chaos, and we use the glasses to protect ourselves.  I can't believe I drew glasses!  I put my glasses on my knee, and sketched them.  Not bad for someone who can't draw a thing.

I love this piece even if it didn't get selected for the book.  As a reformed perfectionist, I think it's very important to do things even if they may not work out.  All that matters is I'm pleased with my artwork and proud of myself for trying.  I'm not discouraged, and I'll keep trying!