The ease of zentangle

While spreading the word of Zentangle, I often run across people who see the finished product and announce, "Oh! I could never do that!"  Then, I set out to explain how YES, you can do this.
To help, I made the following two  Step outs to help the doubters understanding that I speak the truth!

New Classes

I have scheduled a class for Saturday, November 15 from 2-4 pm at the Beaches Art Studio.  (370 A A1A Beach Blvd. at the Pier)

This class will be a basic Zentangle class. You will learn how to draw 4 patterns. Using these patterns, you will make two beautiful Zentangle tiles to take home with you along with extra supplies to continue drawing the Zentangle way.

Another class is scheduled for Saturday, December 13th from 2-4pm. This is also a Basic Zentangle class, but I will teach 4 different patterns in this class. You will draw one pattern each on a Bijou tile (the smaller 2x2" tiles). Your finished product will be a 4 tile ensemble that makes a terrific piece of unique art. The supplies for repeat participants will include 6 Bijou tiles and a 5" frame with matting for your finished work. Participants who are attending for the first time, will receive the Basic Zentangle package with a Micron 01 pen, Zentangle pencil, tortillion for shading, three 31/2"x31/2" Zentangle tiles and 4 Bijou tiles in the Zentangle tote bag. I will have the frames for purchase if you would like to get one for your finished work. They are $5.00.

Each class is $36 for 2 hours of instruction which includes supplies. For your convenience, other supplies and books will be available for purchase.

Please fill out the registration (click HERE) and submit. . If you choose to pay by credit card when registering to secure a spot in the class, select the red store button in the upper right hand corner. Credit cards or cash will be taken at the class as well. The class will be confirmed to meet when 3 participants have registered. The class closes once 15 participants have registered.

Hope to see you on Saturday, November 15th and/or December 13th.

Happy Tangling.

It's a String Thing #66

This week, It's a String Thing included the tangle Quandry by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas in the challenge.  CZT Adele Bruno, even posted her great Tips for Tangling on Quandry.

I tried really hard to draw this tangle, but never really succeeded. Here is the tile I drew.


It definitely is not my favorite tile and you can see tons of "unintentional" lines in the drawing, but I did enjoy working on it. Overcoming the quandary I was in drawing Quandry, really took a lot of focus.
I also included the tangle Quib.

Go to Tickled to Tangle to see Tips for drawing Quandry then give it a try yourself!

Happy Tangling!

Wow! Great time at the Anastasia Branch Library

Yesterday, I presented a program on Zentangle at the local library. About 35 people showed up! Wow! 

I had prepared a Power Point with pictures and videos, but the room wasn’t large enough to accommodate the people and the visual equipment. I just talked and drew on an easel instead.

I started the program with a drawing of the pattern Fassett by Lynn Mead. Everyone had 2 half sheets of cardstock and a ballpoint pen. As participants would walk in, I asked them to draw the pattern or their best rendition. There was not a sound in the room until I started the program about 15 minutes from the time the first person started drawing. Some people figured out there were three triangles nested with the center one being colored, but no one could figure out how to get the final design.

I started the program with a slightly modified definition of Zentangle. I included the words ”fun” and “easy”. I asked the participants if they found drawing the pattern easy and fun. Needless to say, I didn’t get many head nods.

From there, I taught them to draw Fassett and had them draw along with me. Everyone could do it and everyone got the pattern!

I am learning that teaching Zentangle as a drawing process that everyone can do and which happens to relax you more effective than teaching Zentangle is a meditative drawing process. The difference is almost insignificant, but it seems to make a difference in getting the word about Zentangle out to the people of St. Augustine.

We had a great time. I love to teach. I do hope that I will get some customers out of this presentation.

Happy Tangling!
Joan

Uncorked and It's a String Thing 62

This week, CZT Adele Bruno challenged us with one of your strings and her new pattern “Uncorked” in honor of her birthday. Happy Birthday, Adele.

Honestly, at first, I wasn’t too enthralled with the pattern because all I could see was the inside of an onion. Then I drew it. I love the way the lines flow and drawing the tangle was delightful. Then, I started seeing other possibilities. Uncorked still looked like the inside of an onion, but it was also looking like a flower bud about to bloom (Fuji mum to be exact). After a few more explorations, I started seeing seascapes with Uncorked.

Here are some of the drawings I did playing around with Uncorked. The first is the tile I submitted to Adele for the challenge.

In this next drawing, I simply added embellishments to see how it looked.  The neat thing about Uncorked vs Mooka is that all the "petals" are self contained and can be treated as separate pieces of the tangle.

This is when I began looking at Uncorked as a flower bud instead of an onion.

Finally, I saw the possibilities of using Uncorked in a seascape.

Bucket List

Ever since the movie, ”The Bucket List” came out, I have noticed an increased interest in creating and working on personal bucket lists…myself included.

One of the items on my list was to travel by train.  When I was young, my parents would put my brother, sister and me on a train from Jacksonville, FL to Columbus, GA to visit our grandparents.  We were about 8-10 years old and traveled alone (oh the days of trust).  It was wonderful.  We were given a picnic lunch and off we went.  It was great fun to look out the window and see all the farm lands and woods.  The cars connected with an open passageway.  The conductor would take us out to stand in the fresh air as we whirled by the various landscapes. 

Obviously, these memories are wonderful and romantic.  I wanted to re-live this great adventure, so I took a train trip to Durham, NC to see my sister.  I left from Palatka, FL which was the closest station to my house in St. Augustine at 9:40pm.  Instead of going inside to a station with beautiful carved wooden seats to wait for the train, I stood outside by the track with my suitcase.  There were two other people their waiting with me.  The train pulled up and stopped just long enough for us to climb up the stairs and shut the door. 

To make a long story short, train travel as I remembered it was not to be experienced – at least on this trip.  However, I doubt I will make another to find out if it is any different.

I am home now sitting on the porch taking in the beautiful autumn weather.  

My visit with my sister was grand!

Fengle Shui

I have always had a hard time drawing the tangle, Fengle.  Last night, I couldn't sleep so I got up and started drawing.
I love what I came out with.  See tanglers, you never know!!

It's a String Thing #61

This week, Adele Bruno added my pattern, Moonpie, to the challenge.  What a treat for me!
I completed two tiles.  The first one shows Moonpie used in a grid.  In the second tile, I drew Moonpie as a floating tangle.
Happy Tangling!!

New pattern: 2 the Point

As I was waiting in the dentist's office, I was perusing a decorating magazine and came across the picture of a mirror.  I really liked the frame.  The frame was my inspiration for this pattern.  Here are the step outs.

I like the pattern because of its versatility of embellishments after the structure is drawn.  It would also work nicely with color.

Zentangle on Glass

This is where all my passions come together. After 60+ hours work, I finally finished the stained glass window I have been working on. This is my 3rd stained glass piece and my first leaded window.



I still need to get it framed before I hang it in the window.



The process:

I drew the ZIA first. I drew it the size I wanted it. Then, Sister Diane (my glass teacher) drew up this scene incorporating all the pieces. I had a silk screen burned then printed (screened) the designs onto pieces of stained glass. After drying, the glass was fired, then shaded with glass paint and fired again. I cut all the glass pieces, fit them to the pattern & ground the edges smooth. Finally the leading started. You work in one corner up and out until it is complete. After all the lead came is in place it has to be soldered front and back. Then the solder and glass are sealed with glass cement and buffed.

The process and experience was an incredible journey. Fortunately, Sister Diane helped me out a lot when my frustration levels rose to unhealthy limits. I understand and appreciate the costs of stained glass windows a lot more now that I know what goes into making them.

It's a String Thing #60

I just returned from babysitting my two grandchildren (ages 6 and 1) in

St. Petersburg, FL for 5 days. I know why God takes away your childbearing capabilities as you age. It goes along with your energy.

Of course, I relished the time I had with the boys and we got along grand once I figured out that I could put the 1 year old down for the night at 6:30 and the 6 year old at 7:30. I was in bed and asleep by 8:30.

As the deadline approached for It’s a String Thing tiles, I sat down to draw when I got home. My tile ended up looking like fireworks! Do you think this is a subliminal message? Although I loved my time with my grandchildren, I was delighted to be home.

Here is my tile for this week

The tangles to choose from were: Xplode, Xav, Xeni, and X using string 61.  I chose to use Xplode and with a touch of Xav and AHH.

Check out Adele Bruno's Tips for Tangling on her blog Tickled to Tangle,

Happy Tangling!