I love the overall composition of this tile from CZT Amanda Higbee!
Zentangle drawn on an Official Zentangle tile, using a black, Micron pen. Shading done with graphite pencil.
Tangles: Cobbles Floo Hypnotic Msst Purk Printemps Static
Yesterday I taught a classes at Good Gifts Healing Arts Studio . Above is the mosaic from the Introduction to Zentangle class , including my tile (the one with Florz).
I love sharing Zentangle with others!
Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a black, Micron pen. Shading done with graphite pencil.
Tangles: Bales Crescent Moon Florz Hollibaugh Printemps
Overhead.
We spend so much time looking down. I wonder how much we miss by not looking up once in a while? What is the ceiling like in the Cathedral or Museum? How about that old building on the corner? What does it look like above the trees at night? Or the clouds in the sky before or after a storm?
Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a black, Pigma Micron pen and a cool grey Copic Multiliner. Shading done with graphite pencil.
Monday, July 16, 2018 I taught the first and second Introduction to Zentangle classes at Good Gifts Healing Art Studio .
We had eight eager students in the first session. You can see their tiles above, before we did any shading on them.
The second session was smaller and more personalized, with two wonderful, attentive students. Below, I’ve added my tile to the mosaic to make it more impactful.
I had so much fun with everyone! It was really interesting to listen to each student’s story and find out what brought them to Zentangle and what they plan to do with.
I accidentally left 3 tiles behind at the CZT Seminar. While I’m sad about that… I decided to recreate them! This one is done on a Zendala tile, but it’s not perfectly symmetrical. Working in the round isn’t something that I do very often. But I was very surprised at how relaxing this was. I think not having to make everything match from side to side takes the stress out of this type of design.
We all came to this particular path from different directions: locations, desires, experiences, expectations, dreams…
Now, we will travel together for a while. Each doing the same thing, but each doing it their own way.
This is our first step on this journey.
My first tile from the CZT30 seminar!
Zentangle drawn on an Official Zentangle tile using a black, Micron pen. Shading done with graphite pencil.
Tangles: Crescent Moon Florz Hollibaugh Printemps
If you are in the Phoenix metro area, you can take a beginner’s Zentangle class from me!
Introduction to Zentangle Class with Tandika Star, CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher) Zentangle is a simple-to-learn, relaxing, meditative way to create beautiful art by drawing structured patterns, one stroke at a time. Unlike other art forms, there is no preplanning, experience or mistakes in Zentangle.
In the introduction to Zentangle Class, you will learn the philosophy, method and approach to creating Zentangle art. You’ll walk away with a completed tile, an understanding of the Zentangle Method, the knowledge of how to create several tangles, shading techniques, all needed basic supplies and a resource list that will have you up and tangling and wanting to know more.
Do a little.
I’m still have a little trouble getting back into the swing of my daily routine. So I did this first thing yesterday morning, just so that I would accomplish something. I find that I can always fall back on the basic tile, that we all make in our first Zentangle class for a comfortable, meditative experience. In this case, I changed it up a little by using a black, 3Z tile. Not everything we create has to be a master work of art!
SpundalaZ.
Yesterday, I reviewed various tools that could be used to create the base for a SpundalaZ. Today, I’m showing you one done on one of the bases, this one.
I used colored pencil to push the coloring a little more towards violet in various areas, and also added the violet coloring to the background with Distress ink and colored pencil. But you should still be able to see where the rings and color changes are.
If you recall, I posted a similar tile a couple of days ago. It was the same tangle, in almost the same size and layout, but drawn with black ink on a white tile. That tile was drawn in July, 2010, when I was first learning how to tangle.
I decided to recreate that tile, but using everything that I’ve learned since then. To begin with, I reversed the coloring and used white ink on a black tile. That gave me the opportunity to play with highlights and shading. You might think that you can’t really “shade” on a black tile… but you actually can. Most paper isn’t blackest black. In this case, I was able to find a colored pencil and a black Copic that were even darker than the paper. Even though you might not notice it without studying the image closely, those shadows are there, and they do make a difference!
Starting here.
When I first starting tangling, I didn’t have too many problems with patterns that had straight lines. But circles were really difficult for me. It is difficult, almost impossible for me to write in cursive, and I suppose there are similar difficulties with drawing circles in many ways.
So, I figured I would start out really big. My thinking was I could do these, starting from the center, and carefully go round and round, rotating my paper, and it should work.
Planetary jewels.
Each planet she visited had special gemstones. Either forged in fire, such as the agate pendant or grown in the sea, like the beautiful pearls… They were collected and traded for other goods in the market. You see, even the finest, most valuable jewels cannot be eaten when you are hungry.
Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a black, Micron pen. Shading done with graphite pencil.
Starfish.
I decided to try an alternate color scheme for my Starfish tile, based on Eni’s Starfish Line Interrupted video lesson. I generally prefer cooler colors, such as blues and greens, but I also happen to like pinks and oranges on occasion. This choice is based on recently seen actual living starfish at the aquarium, where they tend more towards these colors in real life.
I added the frame, with the tiny details from the Tan Treasure lesson just to add some interest and frame the design.
This is the second of a pair of tiles for my current project . I didn’t want both tiles to match exactly, but I wanted them both to have the same theme. The pictures of these have come out a bit paler than the actual tiles. Hopefully, the pictures of the end result will show the colors better!
Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a brown Pigma Micron pen. Shading done with Copic marker and colored and graphite pencils. Color was done with Distress Ink markers.
I had so much fun creating yesterday’s Zenbutton I decided that I wanted to do more of them in different styles. So, for this one, I’m using Marguerite Samama’s Delft Delights style.
If you need instructions in this style, they are available from AcadiaLaserCreations on Etsy.
Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a blue Pigma Micron pen and a cobalt Copic Multiliner. Shading done with colored and graphite pencils. Highlights done with white colored pencil and Sakurka Gelly Roll pen.
Paths.
She walked through the garden, following the path to gate. Nothing was in bloom yet, although she could see the buds just starting in some places. Some of the bushes were pruned into interesting shapes, mirroring the owners logos. The larger plantings were still wild and unkempt, not yet ready for the party.
I always find it amusing when a tangle that I use a lot comes out of the jar. Today, it was Printemps. It’s one of my go-to fillers. I almost threw it back in, but I didn’t because it provided a counterpoint to the straight lines of some of the other designs.
Embellishment.
This Zentangle came from watching a video published by Sakura of America in which Molly begins with the tangle Zenith and then embelished it. The end result was this fabulous diagonal design that looked like the hem of a beautiful skirt!
I pretty much followed the video exactly until the end of the tangling part. There, I added the Ruflz tangle to the upper, left side because I felt it needed something more. I followed the shading in the video to some extent, but I used different tools. Instead of the regular pencil, I used Copic Markers and a black colored pencil. I did my highlights slightly differently, and used white colored pencils.
Emerald Isle.
There is so much about Ireland that has influenced culture all over the world. Literature, music and dance come to mind. In the United States about 33 million Americans claim some Irish ancestry. These ancestors came to the U.S. as immigrants, and brought with them their heritage. In speech, dress, religion, foods and traditions they influenced the American way of life permanently.
Just as any other cultural group that is different from the main, the suffered prejudice. Irish Catholics were mocked in public schools. During the mid 1850s, the Know Nothing Movement tried to oust Irish Catholics from public office. Irish women were stereotyped as constant breeders and girls were considered to be industrious and moral. On the other hand, men were often thought of as drunk, always fighting, lazy and shiftless.
Incubation.
She found a group of eggs in various stages of growth in the Royal Nursery. She had no idea this was their method of reproduction until now. She wondered if each egg started with such elaborate patterns or if they were decorated after they were laid.
Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a black, Micron pen. Shading done with graphite pencil.
Tangles: Caviar Meer Patena Printemps Purk Shattuck
This wonderful tile was created by my daughter. She is my student and protégé! She is such an amazing artist and she loves to be my class tester. It never ceases to amaze me what she will do and whether she will change something because she likes her way better. I’m so proud of her and so happy we will both become CZTs at the same seminar!
She saw my similar tile and asked me to teach her how to do it. It’s always a great opportunity for me to have a “practice student!” And it’s so much fun to work together.