Diva Challenge #198-Simple

Seasons Greetings, everyone.

Laura has challenged us to create a Tile that is to be kept simple. That is right up my alley. My tile patterns are Pokeroot, Mooka, Poser, and Bijou. The Tile is Tiepolo stock 3.5" sq. I love drawing Bijou. He is so cute.

Thanks to everyone leaving all of those wonderful comments last week. Your awesome.

To see more challenges, and responses to this weeks challenge, visit "IamTheDivaCZT.com"

Diva Challenge #197 - Arukas

New Official Tangle- Arukas by Molly Hollibaugh. Laura is back and she has challenged us to use the new Tangle from Zentangle®.Com.

Tangles used, Arukas, Trentwith. Tile Size: 3.5" sq.

To see more challenges to this and other challenges, visit Laura's "IamTheDivaCZT" Blog site.

Thanks so much to everyone for the comments to last weeks challenge. 

Diva Challenge #196 - "All Dolled up"

This weeks Diva Challenge guest host is Emily Classon. We have been challenged to be Doll inspired in this weeks Tile.

Patterns: Trentwith, Fluke, Maze, Sand Swirl. Tile: 3 1/2 sq.

To see more responses to this and other challenges visit "Laura Harm's IamTheDiva Blog site."

Thanks to everyone who visits my Blog site, and a special Badge of courage and appreciation for those leaving comments. 

Diva Challenge #195- Turning Old into New

Sandy Hunter, CZT®, is this weeks Guest Host for Laura Harms weekly Diva Challenge. She has challenged us to take a Grid pattern and make something out of it, or put a pattern into a grid.. I Took a bit of artistic license and chose to use "Bilt" by Lisa Skeen. It is not really a grid pattern, but it is a bit ridgid in its construct. I liked the "M" shape that is within, "Bilt," and chose to make it an independent object that could be scattered around. It has modest possibilities. I'm very relieved that I was not asked to use my off hand like last weeks challenge.

Thanks Sandy, this was a fun challenge.

To see this and other challenges, please visit Laura's "IamTheDiva" Blog site.

Thanks to everyone who so graciously left comments on last weeks Challenge. You are so appreciated.

Diva Challenge #194-Embracing the Yuck

This weeks Guest Host is: Elisa Murphy, CZT 15. Elisa has us Embrasing the Yuck for this weeks Diva Challenge. We are to show solidarity and support for Laura and  fellow Zentanglers who are forced to face feelings of unsteadyness and powerlessness. Elisa's term for this is, "Embracing the Yuck."

We are to use our non-dominant hand to draw, color and shade this weeks Challenge Tile. Those unlucky souls who use both hands with equal dexterity must hold their pen like it was a microphone and draw their Tile. That sound way more difficult a task. Which ever group you fall into, this is going to prove to be a Challenge. A very unsteady one.

We were not directed to use any particular patterns so here are the patterns I used.
1-Inapod
2-Diva Dance
3-Poke Root
4-ING
5-KnightsBridge
6-Shattuck
7-Tipple

Stats:
Tile Size: 3.5" square - Tiepolo Stock.
Sakura Micron Pigma Pen .01, Black
Color: Dick Blick Studio Colored Pencils

I am very surprised that this challenge turned out as well as it did. My left hand can not be relied on for drawing, or anything else. When I was in the work force, as a mechanic, I would hold a punch in my leftt hand to be hit by a big hammer in my right. On occasion I would actually hit the punch. I had no idea this challenge would turn out at all using my less than happy left mitt. My right hand kept dancing around trying to snatch the pen away from the left. It was interesting watching these strange wobbly and unpredictable lines and forms appear. My left did do surprisingly well drawing the stipples.

It's all fun, and Elisa, as well as the other guest hosts this month, have given us some fabulous challenges.

Thanks for the comments left on last weeks Diva Challenge #193, TriTangle.

To see more responses to this and other challenges visit Laura Harm's "IamTheDiva" Blog site.

Diva Challenge #193-TriTangle

The guest Host for the Diva Challenge this week is Holly Atwater. She has challenged us to use three patterns. Trio (Hanny Waldburger), Huggins, and Xyp (Zentangle). The initials of these Patterns spell out THX. (As in Thanks which is what the ThanksGiving holiday is all about.)

Thanks Holly for stepping up as the Guest Host this week.

Tile size: 3.5" square. Pens Sukura Micron Pigma .01, Black, Red.

To see more responses to this and other challenges, visit Laura Harms "IamTheDiva" Blog site. 

Thanks to everyone leaving Comments on last weeks challenge, "Use My Tangle". 

Diva Challenge #192-UMT (Use My Tangle)

This week we have a guest Host for the IamTheDiva Challenge. Cris Letourneau. The challenge is to user Cris's Tangle, "Seton." Cris and Daughter worked on creating a Step-Out of a pattern in the Window of her Church, Seton Parish.

In practicing this Pattern, I started to work with the design a bit and came up with a tanglation of the original pattern. It was a very fun pattern to work with and it presents a lot of potential for a wide range of design experimentation. Thanks Cris. I just bought your book, "Pattern Play" two days ago, and it was great seeing your step-out for Seton on page 62. A fortuitous and timely purchase.

Stats:
1- Tile 3.5 " square, Tiepolo stock.
2- Pens: Sakura Micron Pigma.01, Black, Red.
3- Colored Pencils- Blick Studio, 72 colors (222063-0729)

This weeks Challenge was a fun one.

To see more response's to this and other challenges visit Laura Harm's "IamTheDiva" Blog site.

Thanks for all of the wonderful comments left on last weeks two responses to the "Betweed" challenge. That was a fun one, too.

Diva Challenge #191-Monotangle "Betweed" Part 2

Laura's challange for this week is to create a Monotangle, using just one Pattern. I'm a bit fuzzy on what constitutes a pattern. It seems that Orbs is not a pattern, but an embellishment. So I created a second Tile with a different design approach from the  first Tile, and used color and Orbs to spice things up a bit. This challenge is drawn on a Tiepolo Tile, just like the first. I'm really liking this stock. The coloring is water color pencils, and this stock loved it. I'm also finding that graphite shading works very well also.

Patterns used:
1- Betweed-Zentangle
  + orbs embellishment.

Size: 3.5 x 3.5 inches.

Thanks to all the fabulous folks that have been leaving comments on my Challenges. They are very much appreciated.

To see the challenges of other Tanglers, please visit Laura's Harm "IamTheDiva" Blog site.

Diva Challenge #191-Monotangle Betweed

This week Laura has given us the challenge to create a monotangle using only the Zentangle pattern "Betweed." So I went basic and clean. No frills and no color. This tile isn't fancy, but it was fun to draw. Betweed is one cool pattern, and is one of my favorites, as it is of many Tanglers.

This weeks challenge marks a milestone, of sorts, for me. This is the first challenge created on a Tile made from the Fabrino Tiepolo stock. Until now my Sketchbook was the home for my challenge tangles. It's taken me 21 challenges to get to this point. The Tiepolo stock is awesome, and this challenge tangle looks way better on the original tile than after scanning and uploading to this page.

I have not looked at what other artists have done with this challenge yet. It is always a wondrous exploration to see what delightful creations are drawn by the contributors to these Challenges. Thanks Laura.

Thanks for the many wonderful comments on last weeks Challenge #190-Tribute to Breast Cancer awareness. 

To vist the challenge sites of other contributors please visit Laura's IamTheDiva Blog."

Diva Challange #190- Pink for Ardath.

This week's challange is in tribute to Laura's Grandmother, Ardath, who passed away from Breast Cancer. To honor her, and October as Breast Cancer month, we are going Pink.

Patterns used:
1-Pozer-Beth Snoderly
2-Punzel-Zentangle
3-Mooka-Zentangle
4-Fescu-Zentangle

Tile Size: 3.5 x 3.5 inches.

Thanks to everyone who left comments last week. They mean a lot to me.

To see what other artists are doing with this challange, visit  Laura's IamTheDiva.Blog.

Diva Challenge #189 - UMT Yuma

This week is the UMT (Use My Tangle) Challenge. This is Laura's 189th Challenge. The Pattern is YUMA by Tina Akua Hunziker (CZT). Tina has given us a wonderful, interesting, and fun to draw Pattern.  I chose to use one of her Variations of Yuma. It took a while to draw as the weighted lines required patience and close attention to detail. I really liked the final result.

The coloring was colored pencil and a touch of Red Pigma Micron.

Patterns used:

1-Yuma - Tina Akura Hunziker
2-Hitched - Heidi Sue W.
3-HulaBerry - Julie Evans.
4-Luv-A - Sharon Caforio
5-In-a-pod - Zentangle®

Tile Size: 3.5 x3.5 inches.

Thanks to all the folks who took the time to leave a comment on last weeks challenge. You are all awesome and I appreciate each of you.

To see other artist challenge responses please visit "IamTheDiva Blog". Check out Laura's site, and see what we are up to. It's all great stuff.  

Diva Challange - 188 -NCOD-

This was a fun Tile to draw. I made a list of 27 Patterns for this challenge, and picked 5.

The first four patterns were selected for their first letter being LGBT.

Patterns used:

1- Linq- Laura Williams.
2-GirLande- Simone Bischoff.
3-Bilt- Lisa Skeen
4-This and That- Mary Kissel
5-Mooka- Zentangle.
6- Misc scrolls, and bits.

Tile Size: 3.5 x 3.5 inches.

Thanks to everyone who left comments on the last challenge. I enjoy your thoughts and comments.

To see what other folks are doing with this challenge, please visit "IamTheDiva" weekly Challenge.

Diva Challenge- 187 Blind String

IamTheDiva has challenged us to create a Tangle using a Blind String. That means, we draw a string on a tile with our eyes shut.

This was a fun challenge. We could use any patterns we wished. Here are Mine:

1-Fracas-Zentangle
2-Fescu-Zentangle
3-Fohbraid-Sandra Strait
4-Star Map-Suzanne McNeil
5-Flux-Zentangle

Tile Size: 3.5 x 3.5 inches.

This is the first time I have used patterns numbered 1,3, and 4. They are great patterns. Star Map is a wonderful background fill. It doesn't clutter up the Tile, yet it is a very interesting pattern. I'll be working with these in the future.

 This is my Blind String with which to base my challenge Tile.

This is my finished Tile.

A special thanks to everyone leaving Comments on my Leaf String challenge, last week. I very much appreciate the helpful input.

View a lot of wonderful responses on the "IamTheDive Blog."

Challenge #186- Leaf String

What a fun challenge this was. I choose an Ash leaf to base my string on for this challenge.
It is a real free form design on a standard 3.5 x 3.5 inch Tile. Other than auras I'm unaware of a single pattern in this Tile. (Are the pearls considered an embellishment, a fill element, or a pattern?)

Visit the IamTheDiva Blog, to see what other folks are doing with this challenges.

Thanks a bushel and a peck for all the wonderful Comments on last weeks Challenge.

Challenge #185-Duo Tangle

This weeks "IamTheDiva" Challenge is to create a Duo Tangle using only two patterns.

1-Diva Dance by Zentangle and
2-Phi-Cops by B-Rad.

This challenge was a challenge for me. This one took more time than privious challenges. It was a fun challenge and I finally finished it, by which I mean I stopped before I started making it worse.

My Tile size: 3.5 x 3.5 inches.

Thanks to everyone who so graciously left comments on last weeks Challenge. 

Visit "IamTheDiva" and enjoy others have done with this Challenge.

Challenge #184- ING

This weeks Challenge is to use a new Pattern from ZenTangle, by Molly Hollibaugh. It is called, "ING." A lot can be done with this pattern and it is a lot of fun to draw. It is easy to use, and the results can look very complex.

My Patterns for this Challenge that I can name are:

1- ING, Zentangle.
2-Xplode, Margaret McKerhan.

Tile Size: 3.5 x 4 inches.

I was going to make another Black and White Tile this week, but when I got to that decision point, the ING pattern looked just like the visual disturbance that I see in my eyes just before a Migraine Headache. It's a pre-warning for me and I head for the meds. It has saved me many times. What I see though, is not in black and white, but rather in color, and it shimmers and grows. So I colored it with the colors I see in my pre-warning. This part of my tile looks just like what I see in my eyes. I'd be interested to know if any of you who have been plagued with Migraines have seen anything like this.

To see what other artists are doing with this challenge, visit "IamTheDiva Blog site."

Challenge #183-UMT- X-Did by Annette Carlo.

IamTheDiva Challenge #183 is the "Use My Tangle" challenge. Annette Carlo has designed the Pattern we are using this week. She has a terrific tangle design that is fun to tangle and can be modified without limit. Beautiful job Annette, I love this pattern.

Patterns names I know:

1-X-Did, Annette Carlo.
2-DivaDance, ZenTangle.
3-InAPod-Carole Ohl.

Tile Size: 3.5 x 3.5 inches.

Thanks to everyone who left comments on last weeks challenge. You give me hope.

To see other responses to this challenge visit, "IamTheDiva Blog."

Challenge #182- "Stripes"

This weeks IamTheDiva Challenge is "Stripes".

Patterns used:
1-Shard-Carole Ohl
2-Shattuck-Zentangle
3-Slalom-Sandra Strait
4-Sonnenband-Simone Bischoff
5-Snugs-Terri Brown
6-Spaanders-Mariet
7-Spinners-Suzanne McNeill
8-Sugar Cane-Suzanne McNeill

Tile Size: 3.5 x 3.5 inches.

Color: Colored Pencils, Pigma Micron.

The design for this weeks challenge seemed like a good idea at the time it was started, but it ended up kind of cluttered. In an attempt to make it a bit more coherent, I attempted to color it. Now there is more color that I normally like to use.

Thanks for your Comments on last weeks Challenge. They are very much appreciated.

To see other responses to this Challenge visit "IamTheDiva's Blog."

Diva Challenge #181-Water

This weeks "I am the Diva Challenge #181," is "Water."

Patterns I used that I know the names for are:
1-Waves, Rain, and Droplets, Susanne, McNeill.
2-PrinTemps, and Diva Dance-ZenTangle.

Tile Size: 3.5 x3.5 "

Last weeks "Mouse" caper has been resolved. There is a new mouse in town. The old mouse did receive it's much deserved Lobotomy and is resting comfortably at an undisclosed rest home in a small town that is yet to be hooked up to the modern day power grid.

Thanks to everyone who commented on my Challenge #180 last week.

To see what other artists are doing with these challenges, visit the "I am the Diva Blog Site."

Diva Challenge #180- Use My Tangle (UMT Challenge), MacDee by Anneke Van Dam

This weeks challenge is to use the Pattern, "MacDee" created by Anneke Van Dam. Thanks Anneke, your pattern is a great background, fill pattern.

Apologies for the double entry on the Diva"s Mr Linkey. My mouse is dying, and the single-click button is double firing and I'm getting all kinds of unwanted results. While attempting to get the link to this weeks challenge, when I clicked on the link entry of Mr Linky, the unwanted stutter click of my mouse fired off and sent the entry from last week's challenge which was already in that entry before I could paste the new entry in. This is too embarrassing. I don't know why the old stuff from last week is in Mr. Linky. I wish it was blank instead. Sorry. My mouse needs a lobotomy
.
Patterns used:
1-MacDee-Anneke Van Dam.
2-Waverly-Cindy Angtel
3-Yagi-Lizzie Mayne

Tile Size: 3.5" x 3.5".
Note: Patterns 2 and 3 are combined.

Visit "I am the Diva" to see what other artists are doing with this challenge.

Diva Challange #179- Bijou

"I am the Diva" challenges us to Tangle on a Bijou size Tile. A Bijou Tile is 2" x 2". This was a fun challenge, and I got carried away. The small Tile size is pretty small, and drawing at that scale is tricky. Not impossible, but ones design approach is limited. However you can draw them up pretty fast, so I did five of them. Bijou can take his pick, then send the other four home to his family in Paris.

I drew a full size (3.5 x 3.5 inch) Tile of Bijou. It has be posted to my Sketchbook #2 page, if you are interested in viewing this cute little guy, check there.

The specs are:
Tile Size: 2" x 2"
Pens: Pigma Micron, .01, Black, Red, Yellow, Tiara.
Patterns used are captioned with each Tile.

BTW, take special note of the Patterns used on the second Tile. Ooples is a very new pattern by Annette Carlo, one of our own very active Diva Challenge participants. The Oople Pattern step out is right here.

"RiverStones", Lori Howe

"Ooples," Annette Carlo,

"LavaJuice," Carol Ohl

"AFog," Kathy Redmond.

"PiggyBack Feathers," LuAnn Kessi.

"Pop't," Sadelle Wiltshire, CZT.

Thanks so much to all those who commented on my last weeks challenge. Each one of you are awesome.

Visit "I am the Diva" to see what other Artists are doing with this challenge, and read all about the adventures of Bijou.

Diva Challenge #178 - DuoTangle

This weeks "I am the Diva Challenge" is number 178. Is that not remarkable. Laura is back, and this week she has challenged us to use two patterns which begin with our initials.

My initials being, DH, according to the rules of the challenge, allowed me to use the Patterns, Drupe, and Hollibaugh. I love Hollibaugh, and Drupe is new to me. Throw in one layer of Aura.

The size of my Tile is 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches.

This weeks Tile is all Zen with the exception of the size. Official Patterns by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, and using only black ink, and grey shading.

A special thanks to all of the Artists who commented on my Tile for last weeks challenge. I very much appreciated it.

Visit "I am the Diva Weekly Challenges" and see what other Tangle Artists are doing.

Diva Challenge #177- Truffle

This weeks Challenge is called, Truffle. It is guest hosted by the youngest CZT, Caroline Broady, and her delightful pattern, "Truffle." I used the D-Vine pattern and some patterns I don't know the name of. The original size was about 4" x 4 1/2".

I am submitting two images this week, firstly the challenge piece, which was fun to do. Secondly I created a piece as a tribute to Laura Harms son, Artoo. I used two Patterns, Artoo, and a tangleation of Huggins. It's a Hug for Artoo.

Truffle

A Hug for Artoo.

Visit, "I am the Diva," and see what other Artist are doing with this Challenge.

Diva Challenge #176. B.Y.O.B.

Amy Broady is this weeks Guest Host.

The theme is Bring Your Own Beverage. My Coke and Coffee tile attempts failed miserably, so I went a bit off the grid and tried using the juice from a jar of Maraschino Cherries. It looked cool enough on the blank tile. A nice curving arc that invited an organic approach.

Well things went well enough until the scanning portion of the process arrived. That was a nightmare. The scanner that I have been using for my blog was not up to the task. It could not pick up the Maraschino coloration. I had to switch over to my industrial grade Epson flatbed scanner, and that system fought me tooth and nail before it cooperated. It was able to reach the elusive pinkness of the Maraschino, but also picked up every other blemish and smudge as well. For a simple looking Tile, this was one tough ordeal to undertake. I'll remember this one.

Due to the scanning issues with this Tile, the scan of just the stain was a total loss, just a white tile. Thus I only have the finish tile to upload.

Tile Information

Size: 3.5 x 3.5 inches.
Tools: Micron pens .01, black, red, sepia. Graphic shading.
Pattern: Flux.

Visit "I am the Diva," to see what other Artists are doing with this challenge.

Diva Challenge #175, UMT-Crux, by Henrike Bratz.

This weeks Challenge, #175, is "Use My Tangle", and the tangle pattern is "Crux" by Henrike Bratz.

Patterns in my Tile are:
1- Crux, Henrike Bratz.
2- Nzeppel- Zentangle.

Tile size: 3.5" x 3.5"

Visit "I am the Diva" and see what other Artists are doing with this Challenge.

Diva Challenge #174, Superimposing Strings.

The guest host for today's Challenge is Aimee Belair, CZT. The Challenge, to superimpose two strings on one Tile. Laura Harms is back from her trip to Providence, RI, where she was the Key Note Speaker. Congratulations Laura, and welcome back. Your presence at Providence made a big impression on all the attendees I'm sure. We are looking forward to your Blog Reports of your adventures.

The two strings that I have incorporated in my Challenge piece today are: String #070, by Dicher Gervy, and #012, by Barbra Finwell.

Patterns used are:
1-Drip-Drop, by Debbie Perdue CTZ-5
2-Si Weed, Sadelle Wittshire.
3-Well-Rick Roberts.
4-Emingle-ZEN...

Tile Size: 3.5" x 5".



Visit "I am the Diva" and see what other Artists are doing with this Challenge.

Bye.

Evolution Thing-a-ma-gig.

This TIA evolved in a random fashion over the last several days. No String was used, or harmed in the production of this Tangle. What else can I say, it is weird.

The main Patterns used are:
1-Pais
2-Blooming Butter
3-Mooka
4-Betweed
5-Nzeppel
6-Ahh
7-ZipLine (This is my first designed pattern. It was inspired by a printing press part. (Brake Disk Lining in Main Drive Motor of HD 102 6-color 40" sheetfed press.) It can be found on the left edge of the Tangle. It looks like a narrow notched band with regularly spaced holes in it.

Plus several other patterns whose names are temporarily on vacation and won't be back until my memory is repaired.

I'm including both the Ink only, and the Shaded/Colored versions.

You'll notice that the Nzeppel and Ahh are only in the shaded/colored version. This is typical as the evolution thing is a strong force, and can break out at any time there is drawing activity on the piece. 

That's it, Bye.

Diva Challenge #173 Revisit, Reduex, Remix Comfort Tangle

This weeks challenge is by Sharla R. Hicks, who is guest hosting while Laura Harms is in Providence. How cool is that. Welcome to Sharla and thanks for a very comprehensive challenge.

As I'm so new to Tangling, I do not have the history to take full advantage of this challenge's many attributes. I did change sizes from the standard tile size used in my previous Challenge Responses, to 3.5" x 5" tile. I liked working with this new size.

For patterns I used: Horse Chestnut by Lizzie Mayne, and Nzeppel by Maria and Rick. A little of this and that were thrown in to fill things out.

Colored with regular colored pencils. Ink by Sigma Micron 01, 03. The back ground grid was colored pencil only. That was an experiment. I'm still debating if I like it or not.

This was a very fun, relaxing Tile. For the most part, I am happier with this challenge than I have been in the past. These challenges are so interesting and fun it is impossible to not welcome Mondays with a big smile and rolled up sleeves, ready for another, always wonderful, Challenge. Thanks Laura and Sharla.

Visit "I am the Diva" and see what other Artists are doing with this Challenge.

Sunday Night Tangle Party.

Evening Tangling session. Invited some friends to participate. Mooka, Diva Dance, and Ahh by Maria Thomas, JaLousie by Stephani Kukla, Aquafleur Poppy by Helen Williams. Tile Size: 3.5 x 3.5.

This is another one of those designs that occurs with very minimum, to no, planning. Enough said. I hope my meds kick in soon.

Practice Pages for Mookas and AuraKnot Patterns.

So I just had to make reference to the fact that my reference pages were more interesting and better than my submission for the Diva #172 Challenge. Well, it's put up time or head to the "Time out Room."

It's true that I have not worked with either of these really cool patterns before. I carefully watched both of Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts videos on these two patterns. Then I proceeded to practice on a few pages, then went to work on the Challenge. The AuraKnot turned out descent but routine, and the poor little Mookas well, good thing these guys were musically inclined, because they sure took second fiddle to the AuraKnots.

Here are the pages I practiced on. I am now a firm fan of both of these two super Patterns, and want to work with them until I get some really interactive Tangles. I sure understand many tanglers struggle with these two guys, they are demanding, but there are a lot of rewards.

 The last image is from my 6-year old Grandaughter. She liked the Mookas, and drew faces on them.Then she showed her appreciation to Mookas every where, by making a galactic issued Valentine, one of her favorite forms of communication.

Well there you have it. You can decide if the practice or the Final tangles are best. I'm leaning toward the practice stuff, still. (Of course they would have to be redrawn.)

I appreciate everyone who visits my sad little blog. You're all awesome.

Bye.

Diva Challenge #172- DuoTangle, AuraKnot vs Mooka

The Diva has given us a very interesting Challenge this week. We are to only use two patterns, AuraKnot and Mooka. Both of these patterns are by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts. Who are co-indecently hosting their CZT training siminar in Providence, RI. The Diva provided us with two videos by Maria and Rick instructing us how to draw AuraKnot and Mooka. How neat is that. I have not worked with either of these two patterns before, so the two videos were very appropriate and helpful. I seem to have given AuraKnot center stage on this one. Mooka is peeking around the edges. Both of these patterns are very nice, and can be tangleated so easily into a some wonderful Tangles. I was impressed with my first efforts when beginning to practice these patterns. Maria and Rick did such a wonderful job on the videos that learning these two great patterns was a snap. My practice sheets turned out amazing, surprisingly enough. That speaks well of Maria and Rick's ability to design and instruct how to draw their terrific patterns. (My practiced sheets were more interesting than my submission piece.)

Visit "I am the Diva" and see what other artists are doing with this challenge.

Diva Challenge #171-Beads of Courage.

This weeks challenge really hit home with our family. We lost our Eldest son to Cancer in February of this year. A more tragic event, than to see a beloved member of your family, lose his life to a relentless, methodical killer, is hard to imagine. Our hearts go out to all those experiencing their loved ones afflicted with life threatening diseases.

I was unaware of the Beads of Courage program. Anything that can help children face the medical procedures that are ahead of them, is a wonderful thing. I applaud those who created the program, and the facilities that are implementing it.

Our son was a musician and played his many guitars, and keyboards regularly. So to honor him, I have included a Guitar, along with a lot of Beads of Courage. The sound hole is represented by the Tangle Pattern Dekore created by Kari Schultz. The other three patterns have the same initials as our son. His name was David Lee Hunter, so I used Diamond Drops, Leaflet, and Huggins. (Created by Janice Sherlock, Helen Williams, and Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas.)

It's is hard not to feel the emotions behind a drawing based on a close family tragedy. I like how it turned out. Much better than my first idea. It was actually a good idea, but my execution of that concept was wonky, and rather than spend time on it, I just went with another idea.

Other than the emotional component to this weeks Challenge, it was a fun one.

Visit "I Am the Diva" and see what other Tanglers are doing with this Challenge.

Research is good, Practice must follow.

I've been spending a lot of time enjoying every ones responses to The Diva's challenges. I love seeing what is being created. Such imaginative designs and wonderful Pattern evolutions. I thank all the artists for sharing their efforts. You're all so awesome. In addition to participating in the challenges, many are maintaining Blogs. They make available a vast body of information, how-to's, and examples of their creations, and expand our exposure to the vast activity in this unique world. Sherlock Holmes would say, "The game is afoot." If you have a pen in your hand, and one pattern on your mind, you foot is in the "Game."

Well. I am guilty of enjoying this galactic array of resources to the neglect of the job at hand. Namely, learning how to participate intelligently and creatively in this art. Research is necessary to get the learning curve jump started but sooner-or-later there better be Pen and Sketchbook in front of me. One thing that I have been doing is to sketch bits, that I would like to remember, into my Sketchbook. Like taking notes in class, these sketches are invaluable "memory joggers," and so fun to look back on later. (Hey, Joggers for Bloggers.)

Here is a recent page from my Sketchbook. This is real free form and can, and occasionally does, spontaneously start the amalgamation of patterns into a coherent something or other.

The Lil' Nut reference in the upper left corner is to my Sister. She and I have been sharing the drawings we have been working on via email. That is a lot of fun and a great learning experience. That is putting practice and learning patterns in a more active light, and keeps us moving along.

So, I thought, inspired by my research marathon, I would like to try a format a little larger than the 3 1/2 inch square size of the standard Tile. I used an area one tile wide and two tiles high. Horizontal or vertical format, hard choice, each one calls out to be selected.  Tangling, by its nature, does not have an end goal at the beginning of creation. Which format to use can be made by a coin toss. I feel that one strong format decision maker is the directional flow you feel would be appropriate for the patterns you'd like to use. Sometime you feel like taking off, other times you just want to spread out. The Diva's challenges often give strong hints or indications as to a format choice to begin with. If it works out--, great--, if not, you're in for more fun and can try a different format.

Here is the piece that I finished this morning. I picked the Vertical format.

Patterns used: PokeRoot (modified), Bunzo, Nzeppel and Ahh (Maria Thomas), Ditto (Sue Jacobs), and SiWeed (Sadelle Wittshire). This was good practice, and there are some humdinger flaws in it.I liked working in the larger space.

I didn't know the name of the little smiling faced leaf head guys. I searched through the TanglePatterns.com database, and found the PokeRoot pattern, which is pretty darn close to these Leaf Head characters. That is one draw back to using a pattern that you find in a finished piece of artwork. If it is one you are not familiar with already and know the original pattern by name, you have no clue as to it's origins. It is nice to be able to refer to a pattern by name when discussing it with other artists. 

In conclusion I am just an innocent bystander in the creation of this thing and any strangeness generated by this piece is free of charge.

That's it, folks, I'm off to draw.

Bye 



The Diva's Weekly Challenge #170: Bugles

This was a fun challenge this week.

Well, you can always tell the Tanglers who are trying to get their feet wet. I just piled so much stuff on my challenge today. I haven't worked with any of these patterns in a Tangle before, so Today is their Day. Besides Joyce Evans's Bugles, I used two of Michele Beauchamp's patterns, Blooming Butter and Brayd, and Maria Thomas's, Jetties,

One looks back at a Tangle one has done, and there is more that could still be done. Why didn't I add this line here, or that spot of shadow or cross-hatching there. But that is the Beauty of this art. Those seasoned practitioners who really understand ZenTangling and its sub-set derivations, and truly get it, and "Know when to put the pen down." If the piece needs stuff to be there, by all means pile 'er on. But there should be some intelligence behind the steering wheel of that delivery van. I think I am going to get me some fresh air on my next Challenge. At least I will start out with that in mind. I love what I see the CZT's and other artists create. Their work is so delightful, and clean, you just delight in what you see.

This is why I am so excited about this art. Every day the Circus comes to town. Pick your venue and dig right in there. Anybody can do this. Can't draw. "Think, Not?" You Will surprise your self. Seek out a CZT and it will be a done deal. (A CZT is a Certified ZenTangle Teacher.)

Bye.


Visit "I Am the Diva" and see what other Tanglers are doing with this Challenge.

Why sleep when you can Create...

I had one of those evenings last night, where bed time snuck up on me, and I went through the motions one would routinely do. But, no sleep for me. Good, back onto the internet, and hunt for more patterns. While waiting for the Sandman to quit fooling around and do his job, my sketchbook magically opened to a blank page and the challenge was on.

I like to draw practice sketches. Like most Tangle Projects, no objective or goal was in mind. The idea of just letting things flow is, to me, one of the mysteries and major attractions of the ZenTangle art. I can only imagine how unbelievable it will be once I have developed a stocked toolbox of practiced Tangle Patterns.

Here are the two strange pieces that appeared, certainly influenced by the time frame of their creation.

I can't wait to see what drawings are yet to come. It's a curious course we follow, with pen in hand, as we carefully slip open the door to the creative time. 

(The Sandman did finally do his job. If he keeps messing up, I'm changing agencies.)

Bye.

Diva's Weekly Challenge #169: Circle Strings

Weekly Challenge #169: Circles.

This was a fun challenge. Thanks to the Diva. Your challenges are looked forward to every week, Laura. This is my first response, and as a newbee, I found it a unique experience.

This Challenge was a lot of fun to draw.

Thanks for all the Comments. They are much appreciated.

Visit "I am the Diva's" web site to see what other Tanglers are doing with this Challenge.

Bye.

Patterns Explored: JaJazz and D-Vine.

Two very nice Tangle Patterns were the objects of my explorations today.

1- Nancy Newlin's JaJazz, and
2- Debbie Perdue's D-Vine.

Both of these patterns have a very nice, smooth flow to them, and are easy to draw. If you are unfamiliar with these two patterns, check them out. They are great additions to my Sketch Book and have been added to my EverNotes program. Currently over 200 patterns have been collected in my EverNotes. This is a program to be checked out. It does a lot, but for me, its ability to index my patterns is enough. A Little Lime's Helen Williams, recommends this program, and that was good enough for me. It was apparent that it would be a wonderful tool to help organize all of the Tangle Patterns that are available. Thanks Helen, you are awesome.

JaJazz.

I chose to concentrate on JaJazz's "Off the Grid" approach. The eloquent simplicity of JaJazz quickly morphed into more complex expressions.

 Both of these images show a step-out for one possibility of creating Tanglations of JaJazz. Unlimited possibilities are open to a wide range of artistic interpretation. Go for it.

D-Vine

D-Vine is a wonderful pattern. It can be used as a fill or a boarder, or random spotting. It lays down on your Tile smoothly and looks exceptional. It is a new favorite of mine. My sister is going to love this one. She loves the floral component in her pattern selections.

Here is my version of a step out for D-Vine. This is the grid version.

(Click here for Debbie's version.)

Below is my Tile using D-Vine.

Let these patterns speak for themselves, and if you hear what they are saying, have fun drawing them. 

Bye.