NINETY-NINE.... ONE HUNDRED... Dancing Divas!

This week we celebrate the 100th weekly "I am the Diva" Zentangle Challenge with a special new tangle.  Introduced and offered by Zentangle founders, Rick and Maria, the Diva Dance is pure fun.  Check it out yourself here.   I used the tile I started for last week's challenge with the looped string.  I ran out of time to complete it for last week, so I decided to combine efforts on this go-round.  Sort of like multitasking I guess. 

So today, December 20, the Diva Challenge is two years old, and guess what?  So is our wonderful chocolate lab, Mocha.We got Mocha as a little puppy in Feb 2011 on the day my mother-in-law passed away.  He turned out to be the best therapy in the world for our family and the sweetest darn doggie around. Here is his picture.

Happy Birthday Mocha!

Finally, let me take this moment to wish everyone peace and love and the comfort of family and friends during this holiday season and, as always, happy tangling everyone!

Challenge ~ Keenees!

If you would like to smile, just start tangling Keenees:)  I use it often and have included it in my classes too. I like the way it looks and appreciate the fact it doesn't require much concentration.  So, I was really happy to see this tangle was chosen for the Diva's weekly challenge.  If you haven't seen this weekly event yet, check it out right here.  A big thank you to Diva, and also to CZT, Donna Hornsby, for Keenees.  Here is the blog post where Donna introduces Keenees.

 
For a second item to share, here is  a pair of boots I tangled, and Keenees found its way to this Zentangle- inspired fun as well!  (Left picture, left boot) These boots were on their way to the consignment store when I decided to give them new life instead.



Happy tangling everyone!

Challenge ~ SOCC

This week is "Use My Tangle" week at the Diva's Zentangle Challenge.  And the random winner is CZT, Erin Olson and her delightful tangle SOCC.  I highly recommend reading the great story of this tangle, here on her blog if you haven't seen it yet. It speaks to some of my favorite qualities in the Zentangle community.

This is the first time I tried SOCC and I really like it for the contrast and dimension of the tangle.  SOCC is a keeper, for sure. Since we had our first snow this week, I decided to prop the tile on the piano for a different background/frame, just for fun.

Thanks Erin and Diva.  It is a pleasure to hop back into the weekly challenge.  Keep tangling everyone!

Art Teachers Embrace Zentangle!

OK, I admit it.  I took the summer off.  Went to the beach many times, and enjoyed family, friends, and the spectacular weather here in Little Rhody, the Ocean State.  I was so relaxed, I didn't even keep up with the weekly Diva Challenge.  But summer always flies by and this one did too.  Back to reality and fall routines.  And, for many, back to school!

This past week I was able to share Zentangle in a workshop for 8 AWESOME art teachers in Barrington.  Let's just say they took to Zentangle like ducks to water!  We  talked about the relaxed focus that is achieved by tangling, and quickly got right into the Zentangle zone by learning several tangle patterns and creating 2 tiles.  This was a wonderfully creative, enthusiastic, and open-minded group of teachers who clearly have so much to offer their students.  They really seemed to relish the opportunity to take a pause and relax and create and learn a new art form.  

The following mosaics are from this workshop and show what they did.  If you look carefully you may notice that the second mosaic has an extra tile included "just to even things out".  It was such a pleasure teaching this group.

Challenge ~ Home

Home is where the heart is.  Or, sometimes, home is where the luna moth is!  The Diva's challenge inspires us to use the "home" prompt this week and I decided to create a piece of Zentangle inspired art (ZIA) by tangling on a photo image of this spectacular luna moth that has just taken up residence in our garage!  We feel so honored to have him as a guest.  It was tricky to work on the glossy photo paper with the pen, but what the heck.  The simple tangled background is merely there as a platform to highlight this natural beauty.  If you'd like to learn more about luna moths go here.  Enjoy!

Challenge ~ String Theory v. X: Eccentric Circles

N'Zeppel (random) Pendrills, Pepper, Knightsbridge, Huggins, Crescent Moon (variation)

What fun! This week's Diva challenge is all about creating a Zentangle using a string made up of eccentric circles.  You can check out the specifics here.  I admit, I am always instantly attracted to a challenge that allows the chance to choose whichever tangles you like.  Although I neglected to shoot an image of the tile with just the string, it's easy to see the two sets of eccentric circles that made up the string.  Have a great week, tanglers!

Challenge ~ Bridgen

I had a great time with this Diva Challenge, following my string with Bridgen, and then just going on and on with Bridgen until I was "done".  Then it felt right to fill in alternating sections ala Knightsbridge.  And, finally, I decided to try color in the sections.  My first attempt with this method, and I used the technique described by a fantastic tangler, LeeAnn, also known as Ledenzer, and described here.  The whole process was really fun.  Have a great week everybody.

Challenge ~ Crescent Moon

Crescent Moon is one of my favorite tangles.  It was probably the first tangle I learned when I took a Zentangle class and very often a tangle I teach in my introductory Zentangle classes.  It doesn't require lots of concentration and has a great playful look to it.  It is the Diva's theme for her weekly challenge and my two entries are below.  As I was copying the link to the challenge I just realized that it was supposed to be a monotangle.  Oh well, I am posting anyway because Crescent Moon and tangleations of it are featured prominently in both tiles!

Challenge ~ Pea-nuckle

Howdy all!  Diva challenged us this week to have a whirl at Molly Hollibaugh's brandy new tangle "Pea-nuckle".(Directions here) Molly is Zentangle Product Manager and a supremely creative tangler as well. She taught one of my favorite sessions at CZT training. I purposely left myself lots of space for the new tangle so I could get into the swing of it as best I could.  Once I was done with my (wonky) variation of Pea-nuckle and was mentally ticking off which tangle I wanted to use to complete the tile, the answer suddenly came to me:  Hollibaugh! So here's to Molly and her wonderful day-in, day-out contributions to Zentangle!

Just for fun I am also sharing my first attempt at a Zendala.  It is unshaded and it may stay that way.  Also, sharing an offbeat tile I just tangled that was just so enjoyable to make.

CHALLENGE ~ Sepia

This week the Diva challenged us to use sepia or brown in some fashion within the Zentangle tile or ZIA.  I love using color once in a while and then I love going back to black and white!  I created this Zentangle sitting outside enjoying the beautiful weather.  I made a stab at Molly's new tangle Pea-Nuckle, but I had just glanced at the instructions and, well, I should have printed them and brought the instructions with me as I really did not "get" it.  However, with Zentangle and the Diva challenge and life's usual time constraints, I embrace the idea of moving forward no matter what!  Once I posted this, I spotted a cartoon-like smile--- do you see it?  Have a great week everyone!

Challenge ~ Groovy!

So, this week's Diva challenge is to use the tangle Groovy from Eden Hunt. You might notice that this tile also includes the two tangles from last week's challenge ~ Strircles and Hybrid.  I figured that since I didn't have a chance to participate last week, I would include them this time around.  I like Groovy and need more practice for sure, but I am posting this tile even though I have reservations about it....rising to the challenge and all that great stuff!

Challenge ~ Earth

Hello!  A flexible challenge was offered up this week by the Diva.  The theme is to use the EARTH prompt and I decided to rest my tile on a bed of moss I'll be attempting to transplant between the cracks of my stone patio.  I think moss is an example of mother nature at her finest~ soft and yielding, low maintenance and beautiful.  This time of year is a lovely reminder of the natural beauty around us.  Something to be relished, for sure.

Challenge ~ UMT Use My Tangle v.III

CZT, JJ LaBarbera's tangle "Huggy Bear" was chosen for this month's UMT or "use my tangle" challenge.  If you would like to read more about how this tangle came about and see the steps to create it, they are here.  This was a busy week for me, so there was not much time to tangle.  Thank goodness for the Diva Challenge which is a reminder to MAKE TIME TO TANGLE! I always feel better when I do.  How about you?

Challenge ~ String Theory v. VIII "Fortuneteller"

Here is my submission for this week's Diva Challenge.  The idea for this week was for everyone to use the same string by making a cross and an "X" on the tile creating 8 triangular sections for tangling.  I confess this was my second attempt.  My first effort just looked dark and gloomy and uninspired so last night when I was quite tired, and completely relaxed, I took up my trusty red Gelly Roll pen that is so fun to work with and created this simple, but pleasing (to me, anyway!) version.  Tangle on!

CHALLENGE ~ Fengle!

OK, so Fengle is tangle recently introduced and the focus of this week's Diva Challenge. It requires PRACTICE to get the swing of it and I need some more practice, for sure.  Fengle really does lend itself to lots of possibilities and its a tangle I want to know better.

This week I've also been busy tangling a chair for a community project where the chairs created by local artists will be featured at a silent auction with proceeds going toward the Chariho Art Scholarship Program.  I am almost done with my chair.  An attempt at a color Zentangle featuring Fengle sits on the chair just for fun. I'll take some better photos and share as I complete it.  Thanks to Zentangle, I can actually participate in this project, something I never dreamed I could do!

CHALLENGE: Spiral Vs. Paradox

I missed the last couple challenges because I took a wonderful trip with my mother to St. Maarten.  We had a great time, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, taking in a butterfly farm, the beautiful beaches and some fabulous restaurants on the French side and the Dutch side.
On coming back to reality I looked forward to jumping back into the Diva Weekly Challenge.  It is always a chance to stretch and do a Zentangle following the Diva's direction.  This week I wasn't sure I was up for it once I read that we were to use a spiral string and use paradox to tangle within the spiral!  But, thankfully, Margaret Bremner's paradox tutorial boosted my confidence, and I finally sat down and tangled my entry.  It might not win any prizes, but here it is!

Thank you to Certified Zentangle Teacher, Marizaan van Beek, all the way from South Africa for the challenge suggestion.  The submissions are quite amazing.

Challenge~ Mardi Gras!

The theme for this week's Diva Challenge is Mardi Gras or, in other words, time to roll out the fun! For my first tile, I used Sakura gelly roll pens in the Mardi Gras colors and, in Zentangle fashion, just let the tangles unfold without any intention or expectation.  I don't know if I like it or not.  It is very different and I wish I didn't use any black.


While I had the color pens out, I used the purple for the second tile and there is something about this one that I do like. And, for the fun of it, I am also including a couple other tiles I tangled made this week.

Thanks, once again Diva and Zentangle community for the opportunity to enjoy this delicious relaxing art form!

Diamonds Challenge

So this week's Diva challenge to use Four Diamonds as a string  was one that I was happy to take on. Anything with a  grid seems to be a grounding starting point for me when I am stymied as to how to begin a Zentangle tile.  I decided to fill in the background with black, inspired by how Maria described doing so as a meditation in itself.  What with all the various rumblings in my head, some meditation seemed like a great idea!  The diamond string offers so much versatility it will be an idea to use again and again.  So here is my tile.  I am not thrilled with the results, but the process was great!  I used a white Gelly roll for the little border tangle.  I do not have a name for it, but I do seem to be using it here and there in my tiles.  Hint, hint, names welcome:)  And if you haven't already done so, do read the post that tells the story of the Four Diamonds Fund to fight childhood cancer and how it came about. 

Challenge: Sanibelle

I really enjoyed making my tile and using Tricia's beautiful tangle, "Sanibelle" for this week's Diva Challenge.  It is so lacey and delicate and easy once you take your time with it. Patience is  always the virtue needed most, isn't it?  This  tangle reminds me of the sea anemones we used to have in our tropical fish tank.  I loved watching the way they flowed back and forth and filled with water.  Maybe that was on my mind with this tile, because I seemed to be pulled towards the organic "fern" which looks kinda like seaweed and an underwater feeling overall. Even though we are having such a mild winter it is still nice to dream of tropical places!

I am so glad Tricia's tangle was chosen for the challenge.  She is an incredible CZT and creates amazing Zentangles and Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA).  If you haven't seen it, check out more of Tricia's work at her blog: Tangle with me

And special congratulations are in order this week for Laura, aka Diva as her blog was voted Most Fascinating Blog in the teaching category.  Her sense of humor, creativity, and dedication to the Diva Challenge and the Zentangle community are really special and she so deserves this honor!  Go Diva!

Non-Dominant Challenge

After taking a couple weeks off from the Diva Challenge I have been itching to get back in the fray. 
This week's challenge is to tangle with your non-dominant hand and, oh boy, it was not easy!  It was a very humbling experience to say the least and it REALLY made me appreciate how much easier it is to work with my right hand. I started another tile immediately after creating this one just because I wanted to experience the ease of doing just that.  Using my left hand was quite entertaining -- sometimes it seemed like I could make several pretty good strokes in a row then WHAMMO  the hand just wouldn't do what I told it to.  Filling in the black that I so enjoy was a real test of patience. It was all I could do not to grab the pen out of my left hand! 

On the positive side, it was eye-opening and made me appreciate the acceptance and support within the Zentangle process and community.  There are no mistakes in Zentangle!

Two Great Classes

I was fortunate enough to teach two different art classes at Middletown High School earlier this month and I am so happy to share the resulting mosaics right here.  One class was an AP art class and was just 9 --- terrific --- students.  The second class was almost 3 times that number, but even though the classroom was packed, the kids were very attentive and really took to Zentangle.  Congrats to their teacher, Susanne Suprock for being innovative and inviting me to teach.  What a pleasure!