Weekly Challenge #341 "Go Big (Or Go Home)"

Working BIGGER is the theme for this weeks Diva Challenge. Like all challenges, there are different ways to interpret what 'working bigger' means. Working on bigger tiles, working with bigger tools, drawing bigger tangles.

I decided to draw a tangle bigger than I normally would. I chose the tangle Pinbawl.

Here is my 'bigger' piece.

Tangles: Pinbawl, Paradox, Tipple

If you would like to see how others have used completed this challenge, then check out The Diva's blog and click on the links to see their creations.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one. Thank you for stopping by.

Weekly Challenge #338: White on Black!

I have been experimenting with using a black glaze pen to draw my tangles on a black tile to see what the effect would be like. It was difficult to photograph as it needed light from an angle to show the tangles drawn on the tile. Here is what the tile looked like after the tangles were drawn.

Then I read The Diva's challenge for this week, which was to use white on black. This fitted in perfectly with what I was doing. So in completing the tile I filled in all the spaces between the tangles with a white gel pen.

I must say this was not easy. In the beginning the fill was very rough as it was hard to see where the tangles were drawn on the black tile and I either under filled or over filled the spaces by going over the black lines. Seeing the black lines on a black tile is difficult. As I continued, my technique improved as I began to realise I could feel the black gel pen lines when I moved my white gel pen slowly beside them and began to outline the spaces before filling in the remainder of the space. It took a great deal of focus to complete.

Here is the completed tile.

An interesting experiment indeed, that I may try again at a later date to see if I can improve on the technique. It is definitely different, and good for focusing on a task.

If you would like to see how others have used completed this challenge, then check out The Diva's blog and click on the links to see their creations.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one. Thank you for stopping by.

Weekly Challenge #335: "UMT - Tint by Henrike Bratz, CZT"

Henrike Bratz, CZT deconstructed a tangle called Tint. The name is derived from Tintern, in England. Tint was a carved pattern on a chair where Henrike was staying.

Being the first week in the month, Laura Harms, CZT challenged us to use Tint in a tile.
Here is my tile for this challenge. I used string #236 found on the TanglePatterns web site. To me Tint looks like bees buzzing around.

Tangles: Tint, Cubine & Fescu

If you would like to see how others have used Tint, then check out The Diva's blog and click on the links to see what they did for this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one. Thank you for stopping by.

Weekly Challenge #334 - Crazy 'Nzeppel

Crazy 'Nzeppel is the challenge for this week's Diva challenge.

Tangles: Crazy 'Nzeppel, and Fracus

If you would like to see how others have used 'Nzeppel, then check out The Diva's blog and click on the links to see what they did for this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one. Thank you for stopping by.

Weekly Challenge #326: A Pre-Teen, A Metaphor and Mindfulness

Hello, All,

It's been some time since I last posted a Diva Challenge. Elisa Murphy, CZT, is a guest blogger on the Diva Challenge this week as Laura takes a well earned break and spends some quality time with her family.

This week's challenge I could not pass up. Elisa challenged us to create a monotangle using my favourite go to tangle 'Nzeppel. I also wanted to work on a black tile as I haven't used one for tangling for a while.

One of the great things about the Zentangle method is not knowing what the outcome is going to be. I did have an idea of what I was going to do, but allowing the method and focus let's us go in no set direction. My tile is nothing like what I had envisioned before I started. Here I have put 'Nzeppel inside 'Nzeppel, inside 'Nzeppel. Although it looks a little eerie, I do like how it turned out.

'Nzeppel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to see how others have used 'Nzeppel, then check out The Diva's blog and click on the links to see what they did for this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one. Thank you for stopping by.

New Tangle Pattern - Jocund

It's been a while since my last new tangle was introduced.

Today I would like to show you a simple dot grid tangle that uses the . (dot) and (elemental strokes used when we create Zentangle art.

I saw this pattern in a catalogue ages ago and had taken a photo of it. I had forgotten all about it till I went looking through my photos to find something else and rediscovered it.

As I was drawing this tangle it kept making me very happy because of its repetitive nature and simplicity. So when thinking about a name for this tangle I decided to use a word meaning happy. Jocund means cheerful so thought this an appropriate name.

The step out below is drawn without turning the tile. However an alternative, which may be easier for some, is to turn the tile180 degrees for drawing the second set of arcs (step 3 in the step out).

Tangle: jocund

I have included some different ways to shade jocund in these examples and a tangleation can be seen in the top left hand side of the white tile. 

Here is a copy of the step-outs enlarged to make it easier to see.

More Variations of jocund.

 

I hope it gives you as much pleasure as it does for me. I would love to see what you can do with this fun tangle. Give it a go.

Update:

As I kept playing with jocund I realised I was drawing it differently to the step-out above. I find it easier to draw with less thinking involved. Here is the step-out

Happy tangling.

Weekly Challenge #315: "Tangle Study - Molygon"

The Diva, CZT Laura Harms gave us the perfect opportunity to experiment and explore the tangle Molygon. I know sometimes, if I don't experiment with tangles they end up always looking the same each time I draw them because they become comfortable drawing them that way.

So I challenged myself to see what I could do with Molygon. Like Laura's example, Molygon can be used as a great filler to fill in spaces. This is how I often use Molygon when I tangle.

In my exploration this week I found Molygon can be drawn -

• in a circle formation (see the centre of my tile)
• in various sizes. I drew mine from large to small ( see the radiating arms)
• in a line, rather than random (the radiating arms)
• you can bend it in various directions to go around corners (the radiating arms)

Once I had finished drawing the Molygon I wanted it to stand out as the main feature on my tile so I finished my tile with  Jonqual in the background.

Tangles: Molygon & Jonqual

I do love Molygon with its repeating two arcs to draw each shape. I find I can very easily slip into the 'ZenZone'. 'ZenZone' is a term one of the participants, in a recent workshop I held, introduced to us. Thank you, Rita.

Well I now can't wait to see what everyone else has come up with for their Molygon challenge this week, so I am heading over there now.

If you would like to see how others have used Molygon then check out The Diva's blog and click on the links to see what they did for this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.Thank you for stopping by.

Weekly Challenge #314: "UMT: Scallamps - by Sarah Uram CZT"

A very quick post this week.

The first week in each month is the Use My Tangle (UMT) challenge by Laura Harms, CZT. This weeks UMT is the tangle Scallamps by CZT, Sarah Uram.

Don't forget to check out The Diva's blog to see how other people have responded to this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Weekly Challenge #313: "Amanda Day (Earth Day) Version Six!"

This weeks challenge is in honour of Mother Earth and in celebration of Earth day. Earth day is celebrated around the world each year on the 22nd April. People mark the event to show their support for environmental protection.
In supporting environmental protection this week I picked out part of some packaging my young niece was going to throw out. (My niece loves watching Paw Patrol).

This is the before photo.

 

And here is the after photo.

Don't forget to check out The Diva's blog to see how other people have responded to this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Enjoy your tangling journey. 

Weekly Challenge #310 "UMT Frunky by Katharina Königsbauer-Kolb"

This weeks Diva challenge is to use the tangle Frunky, by Katharina Konigsbauer-Kolb.
Frunky is a very simple tangle and I decided to try is using the black on black idea I had been experimenting with for last weeks challenge.

Instead of using the Zenstone, I tried using a white charcoal pencil, but the result was very messy with white charcoal spreading all over the tile in places I did not want it the go. So back to the Zenstone again. Also you will notice there are no string lines in lead pencil this week as in previous tiles the string lines detracted from the finished look. You can see the string lines in my previous post.

Tangles: frunky, n'zeppel

I would love to see what you can do if you try black on black.

Don't forget to check out The Diva's blog to see how other people have responded to this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Enjoy your tangling journey.

Black on Black

Over the last few days I have been playing around with a new idea for a black tile class. I wanted to see what a tile would look like if I used a black SakuraⓇ Glaze pen for drawing tangles on a black tile.

Following the ZentangleⓇ method I began with my four dots and string. Then I switched to using the black glaze pen to draw the tangles.  Using the glaze pen gives a shiny light to the tangles, which you can't really see in the photos. Also being black on black, the tiles still needed some more contrast to make the tangles stand out on the tile and look even more interesting. The Zenstone was my choice for contrast, but instead of using it to shade the tangles I decided to use it to fill sections of each tangle.

Here is the first tile I produced using the glaze pen & Zenstone. It certainly has a different look to using the white gel pen on the black tiles.

And here is my second tile.

For my next tile I decided to combine my explorations of black on black with the Diva challenge. This weeks challenge is to use Noom, a new tangle introduced at the ZenAgain seminar in 2016.

 With this tile you can really see the black string lines through the white Zenstone. I think next time I will not use the lead pencil and just begin tangling. Other than the lead string lines showing I really like how this tile looks.

I would love to see what you can do if you try black on black.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Enjoy your tangling journey.

Weekly Challenge #307: "Kitchen Table Tangles with Indy and Mazzy

A recent post on the Zentangle blog, written by Molly, included a "Kitchen Table Tangles" video starring Molly's two daughters Indy and Mazzy. In the video Indy and Mazzy introduced their their new tangle called Zingo. These two girls are professionals when it comes to Zentangle.

Using Zingo is the challenge this week on 'The Diva's'  blog.

Here is my tile featuring Zingo.

Tangles: Zingo & Printemps

The Diva's blog is a great place to check out how other people have responded to this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Enjoy your tangling journey.

Weekly Challenge #306: UMT Amphora by ZenLilyMoon

"Use My Tangle" (UMT). A great challenge, by Laura Harms, to try a tangle you have not used before. This weeks challenge is to use the tangle Amphora by ZenLillyMoon. This is a tangle I have not used before.

Amphora is a lovely curvy tangle and simple to draw. It only takes three steps.

Tangles: Amphora, printemps, tipple & purk

The Diva's blog is a great place to check out how other people have responded to this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Enjoy your tangling journey.

Weekly Challenge #305: "DuoTangle Marasu vs Molygon"

Duotangles are one of my favourite Zentangle activities.

This weeks challenge from "The Diva" is to create a duotangle using the tangles Molygon and Marasu.

If interested in looking at other people's heartfelt Valentine's Day tangles then head on over to The Diva's blog and check out what others are creating for their someone special .

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Enjoy your tangling journey.

Weekly Challenge #304 - Waybop

A quick post this week.

Diva Challenge - Waybop

If interested in looking at other people's heartfelt Valentine's Day tangles then head on over to The Diva's blog and check out what others are creating for their someone special .

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Enjoy your tangling journey everyone.

Weekly Challenge #303: "Valentangle"

It's Valentine's Day here in Oz and for this weeks challenge from CZT, Laura Harms we are to create a 'Valentangle'.

Mine started with a print of a heart that I found in a picture frame I purchased ages ago. I had kept it thinking it would be perfect for tangling. This challenge gave me the perfect opportunity.

So here is my 'Valentangle' for my Valentine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you all enjoy Valentine's Day with someone special.

If interested in looking at other people's heartfelt Valentine's Day tangles then head on over to The Diva's blog and check out what others are creating for their someone special .

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Enjoy your tangling journey everyone.

Weekly Challenge #302: "UMT Hamadox by Diana Schreur CZT"

On the first Monday of every month (Tuesday for those of us in Oz) "I am the Diva", Laura Harms challenges us with using a tangle developed by another person. This month  is a tangle by CZT, Diana Schruer, called Hamadox. 

Hamadox is a fun tangle combining/ joining two tangles together to create a tango. Rick & Maria first described a tango in their November 18th, 2012 Newsletter;   "A‘Tango’ is our new term for two tangles dancing together. Just as in couples dancing, in tangle tangos, one tangle is more likely to lead and the other follow.” Hamadox uses the tangles Hamail and Paradox.

This was a fun challenge to do and I completed it using an opus tile.

Tangles: hamadox, lichen

If interested in looking at other people's duotangles using paradox and diva dance then head on over to The Diva's blog and check out what others are creating for this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Enjoy your tangling journey everyone.

Weekly Challenge #301: "DuoTangle: Paradox vs Diva Dance"

In the latest Zentangle Newsletter, Rick & Maria shared a video as part of a new series called Kitchen Table Tangles. In this video Rick created a duotangle using diva dance & paradox.
Following on from this inspiring video, Laura challenged us to create a duotangle using these two tangles.

For this challenge, my first thought was to use a black tile. I thoroughly enjoyed mixing these two tangles together the way Rick had done in the video, and I am very pleased with the result.

If interested in looking at other people's duotangles using paradox and diva dance then head on over to The Diva's blog and check out what others are creating for this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Enjoy your tangling journey everyone.

Weekly Challenge #298: "UMT - Orbs-la-Dee by Anneke van Dam"

Christmas, 2016 has now come and gone. I hope everyone had a wonderful, fun filled time with family and/or friends.

We now welcome in the new year for 2017 and already January is fast going by.

Laura Harms is back again this year with her weekly challenge. As the first for 2017, Laura has a 'Use My Tangle' challenge. Orbs-la-dee, by Anneke van Dam is the tangle to try. So wanting to use a new 3Z tile I put my hand in the box and pulled one out to work Orbs-la-dee on it. The string on the 3Z tile I had chosen randomly whispered 'create a monotangle'. Here is my monotangle using Orbs-la-dee.

If interested in looking at other people's Orbs-la-dee tiles then head on over to The Diva's blog and check out what others are creating for this challenge.

Looking for other Zentangle activities based on your interests? Click on this link to my Dare, Challenge &/or Focus page, read the simple descriptions and click on the links that interest you.

Thank you to all who leave a comment. I love receiving them and always read every one.

Enjoy your tangling journey everyone.