Zentangle Challenge #311 - Circle Square String Theory

I've been absent from Laura's Diva Challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) for a few weeks, only because I've been concentrating on other things. I miss it and am going to try to make it a priority to do and comment on each week's challenge. This week's challenge is to use circles and squares as a string, and to me it's like going back to basics - this is often where I go when I'm stuck. I find that once I've done a string of geometric shapes, it's much easier for me to just fill in the shapes without much preplanning. It's very Zen for me and I'm often surprised at the result.

Zentangle Challenge #301 - Duo-tangle: Paradox and Diva Dance

I love both of the Tangles in this week's Diva Challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca). I particularly like Paradox with rounding. But I don't think I've ever put them together, so this was very fun.

Zentangle Challenge #286 - Straight to it

The challenge this week from Laura (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) is to use straight lines. I chose tangles from one of my step out booklets, but chose tangles that to me also implied some sort of movement. I'm happy with the way this fun challenge turned out - as usual, totally not what I had envisioned when I started with Afterglow! My apologies to those who don't get comments from me. I am looking at most entries when time permits, but I'm not able to comment on Flickr or Instagram photo's, and sometimes don't comment when there is a blog post that covers several challenges. I am looking, and I am enjoying, and I do try to comment when I can.

Zentangle Challenge #278 - UMT - Knightstar by Daniel Lamothe

This week's Diva Challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) is to UMT (Use My Tangle): Knightstar by Daniel Lamothe. My first try was using squares that were way too tiny (I should have followed Laura's advice) so that tile was used for further experiments and pen tests… This is what I ended up with, and quite like it. I think Rick's Paradox pairs nicely with Knightstar. It was hard for me to leave the white space, but I'm glad I did.

Zentangle Challenge #258 - UMT - Rautyflex by Kathrin Bendel

It's been a while since I posted for Laura's Diva Challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca), because… well, life just sometimes gets in the way, and lately I'm just not feeling inspired. This week's challenge is to use Kathrin Bendel's tangle: Rautyflex. It's a tangle that requires lots of concentration, but also has opportunity for lots of variations. I used two variations in this tile, and am quite happy with it. Thank you Laura, for making me stretch and giving the motivation to tangle!

Zentangle Challenge #244 - Tripoli

Tripoli is an acquaintance that I admire, and am actively trying to make my friend… But I find it difficult, and I stress when dealing with it - not at all Zen-like! As with some friendships, sometimes you have to work at it more than others, and I will be friends with Tripoli… someday. This week's Diva Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com is to use the Tangle Tripoli. I'm glad for this "opportunity" to push myself. My most recent tile, which I quite like, is with the word "Awe", which has become my spirit word in Zentangle. I chose a stone with Awe written on it at CanTangle and it travels with me in my pencil case, and I wrote the word on my arrow project from Camerida. I am in AWE of Rick and Maria and the Zentangle world they have introduced and nurtured. I am in AWE of all the truly wonderful people in the Zentangle Community who just keep on sharing and giving. I am in AWE of the fabulous Zentangle art I see every day. But also, I am in AWE of what I have been able to create and open my heart to! This picture with three tiles on it is of my first three attempts - all have aspects I like, and other aspects… not so much.

Zentangle Challenge #229 - Guest, Sandy Hunter "+/-"

This week's Zentangle challenge at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca, by guest blogger Sandy Hunter is to leave some white space. I used to be good at this, but as I find more and more tangles I love, I find I'm filling everything in, so this is a good exercise for me. I used a flame template, but didn't think it showed well, so I echo'd it…. Does that count as white space? And I had to shade it, so maybe not so white anymore. Anyway, great challenge!

Zentangle Challenge #220 - UMT (Use My Tangle): All Boxed Up

This week's challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to "use my tangle" (UMT), and the tangle chosen is from Alice Hendon called All Boxed Up. I didn't love this tangle at first glance, but once I started playing with it, I had lots of fun - hence the three tiles (smile). My scanner is not great, so I apologize for the quality… really, they all look better in person, I think. I'm looking for good tangles to do on black tiles because I really think I need to start investigating those a bit more, and get more experience with them (and Renaissance too). I think All Boxed Up has potential - and while I like the black tile I did here, I think it could be better if I knew how to bring out the white a bit better. I'd love to take a course just on the black tiles… anyone? (in or near Toronto) Thank you for looking and I know it's very time consuming, but I appreciate it when people take the time to leave comments.

Zentangle Challenge #219 - Straight lines - tile #3

This is my third tile done for this week's Zentangle Challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com. In my first submission I used Hollibaugh as a string and filled in the bands with tangles; this time I've left the bands empty and filled in the spaces behind. I also used two tangles I've never attempted before - Zuan Shi and Juke. I'm having fun with this challenge!

Zentangle Challenge #199 - UMT (Use my Tangle) Hitched

I've gotten out of the practice of posting my works on my blog and so I'm starting back with new motivation in the New Year! This week's Zentangle Challenge (iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) is to use the tangle "Hitched". I can see that there will be lots of variety with this tangle and look forward to looking at what others have done with it, especially how to shade it! We got a new printer/scanner recently (arghhhh - more technology to try to figure out), and this is the first scan I've done… it doesn't seem to show shading very well so I'll have to play with the scanner more, or shade darker, which I don't really want to do. Anyway, thanks for looking, and Happy New Year to all of you!

Zentangle Challenge #157 - UMT - Charlie

This weeks Zentangle Challenge from Laura at iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com is to use the Tangle: Charlie. I like this tangle - I like the boldness. I decided to pair it with other bold tangles and came up with this. I haven't used Charlie much, but am going to use it again today in my Tangle a Day Calendar. It's a fun one!