Tangling fun at MHL!

I taught a Zentangle Basics class at Andover's Memorial Hall Library this week.  It was my largest class yet--26 people!  A few had experience Zentangle® before, but for most, it was the first time.  Everyone did great!

I enjoyed trying out my presenter setup with an iPad and projector so more people could watch while I demonstrated the tangle patterns.  I think it worked out well.

Every class I teach is different, and each is amazing!  Different questions, energy, and ideas come up every single time.  I thought more about shading this time after hearing a few people comment that they didn't want to shade their tiles.  I've taken classes that didn't include shading, and I like to give people the option.

I told the class that I hated shading when I first started tangling.  I didn't like feeling like I'd mess up my tile.  I was really missing out though.  Now, I LOVE to shade!  It's impressive to watch patterns rise or recede with a little pencil.  Shading gives the design new texture, light, and shadow.  Some patterns pop with dimension when shaded.

The best comment I heard when everyone looked at the tile mosaic was, "I can't even find mine!"  People who weren't sure that they liked their first tile were pleased to see all of the creations together.  :-)

Check out the awesome tiles they created:

Diva challenge 97: no strings!

Wow, I'm late with this week's Diva challenge.  It's been a busy week with work, family, and an awesome Zentangle® class!

I often tangle without strings and just let the patterns evolve on their own.  Sometimes this works for me, and sometimes I get stuck.  I love how a string can help take some of the pressure off by dividing up the space and giving us an easier starting point.  To string or not to string?  It all depends on my mood that day and how inspired I feel to dive in.

For this week's challenge, I tried the Diva's approach of starting in a corner and working until the tangles mesh.  I've been into some of the botanical patterns lately and thought it would be fun to combine them into a tile together.  I think it looks like bees coming at the flower.  :-)

I couldn't decide if I liked the tile like this or if I wanted to add some color.  I'm always so inspired by LeeAnn's amazing artwork and use of color, so I tried my hand at a little watercolor.  I wanted a subtle look and only used a little of my Inktense pencils.  The green in the leaves reads as yellow here unfortunately, but it's really a pretty pale lime green.  The colors are much nicer in person.  Here's the colored in version:

Patterns patterns everywhere!

The funny thing about regular practice with the Zentangle® method, is people usually start to see tangle patterns constantly.  I can no longer look at a building, a flower, or fabric without seeing the patterns first then the whole of the item.  It's an interesting new way of looking at the world.

I also find myself drawn to black and white patterned items.  I have many shirts that look tangled, and I even splurged on some Sally Hansen nail strips that look like mini tangles.  I had to pop these on for my next class.  :-)

A tangled tree

The Andover Historical Society hosts an annual tree exhibit featuring trees decorated by community groups and businesses.  Each tree is inspired by an item from the Society's collection.  Along with my coworkers at Memorial Hall Library, I've helped decorate trees including an a Alice in Wonderland tree inspired by a tea set.  This year, I wanted to branch out (no pun intended) and try my own tree, Zentangle style.

The inspiration piece is a crazy quilt from the Society's collection. It has amazing patterns, colors, and fabrics.  My Tangled Tree features reproductions of my Zentangle art.

A Tangled Tree

Created by Emily Classon, Certified Zentangle Teacher

Life is composed of patterns.

From the delicate veins of a leaf to the glistening angles of a snowflake, nature provides perfect examples of true artistry.  Used in art and architecture, patterns repeat with familiar and beautiful precision.  

This tangled tree is inspired by the intricate handmade patterns created in a crazy quilt. A patchwork of fabric, a quilt stitches together color, patterns, family, and history preserving the domestic and artistic culture of an era.  

Instead of needle and thread, these ornaments are sewn with pen and paper using the Zentangle® method of creating art through structured patterns.  Within each piece lies the traditions and patterns of art and craft throughout history.

If you can, I highly recommend visiting the Andover Historical Society to see this year's trees.  There are a lot of creative and talented people in Andover.  It's always exciting to see what people come up with to accompany an artifact from the collection.

Holiday card class

Do you ever learn a new craft and then wonder what else you can do with it?  I've always had a rule that if I pick up a new craft that it has to use some of the same materials as my other crafts or be able to be used in conjunction so I have a better chance of using up my stash of supplies.  I've been a scrapbooker for many years so when I became interested in making greeting cards, it was a logical extension.  I could use my papers, rubber stamps, and other supplies to make cards.

Zentangle® is different to me than just a craft--it's a philosophy, a way of life, and a life-saver!  I would have been drawn to Zentangle even if I needed a lot of fancy supplies.  A great thing about Zentangle is there aren't a lot of necessary supplies--the right pen, the right paper, a pencil, and you're ready to create and relax.

While I've been tangling on my Zentangle tiles and on watercolor paper, I've been exploring other materials and ways to use this method.  I've tangled on a variety of surfaces and have used tangles in my scrapbooking.  I started to go through a bunch of my scrapbooking supplies and found lots of great items that I could use with my tangling.  I found a variety of markers, chipboard, cute metal tins, ornaments, and much more.  My scrapbooking supplies that had been collecting dust now found a new purpose in life--to be tangled!  I was surprised that I had inadvertently found another craft that could use supplies that I already had.  Yeah me!

For the December holiday card class, we'll be tangling some seasonal cards.  I created various shapes, with my Cricut die-cutting machine, to use as stencils on the cards.  Here are a few examples including a tree, snowman, and mug of hot cocoa (with or without spirits).

Sign up today to learn how to do more with your Zentangle practice.  Use your tangle patterns in new ways to make great gift ideas!  We'll still follow the same relaxing practice using the Zentangle method using some seasonal shapes to guide us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whether you're celebrating with turkey, Tofurky, or something else, there's always something for which to be thankful.  This season, I'm thankful for my wonderful family, my adorable daughter, and my amazing husband.  I am also thankful for creativity, Zentangle®, and the many new friends I've made on my artistic journey.

Give thanks for all that is dear to you today!

Happy Thanksgiving.

This tangled turkey was created with a sepia Micron with a few black accents.  I created the turkey shape with a die cut from my Cricut machine.

Tangle Folk!

One of the many things I love about Zentangle® is that I can use it for relaxation and to help cope during stressful times.  In October, I had my gallbladder removed, and I was probably a little nervous even if I didn't let on about it.  I just realized that I never posted my creative practice for the day.  While I was in the hospital in my oh so attractive johnny, I tangled to take my mind off of what would come next.  I wish I could have tangled longer, but at least I got some in before my IV came.  At that point, I couldn't hold my pen well enough.

I had just watched a video from the CZT Zentangle Marketing Retreat featuring "Tangle Folk" by Billie Lauder. I thought they looked like a lot of fun so I learned the basics before going to the hospital.  I tried my hand at three tangled folk while I waited.  I thought they were a blast to create!  Certain tangles just scream out as hair, to me, including Mooka.  I think I'll try leaving the faces blank next time though.

Unshaded "tangle folk" 10.12

If you're having a rough day or are in need of a relaxing break, try some tangle practice!  If you would like to learn how, sign up for a class or club session with me today!