Zentangle Challenge #347: String Theory - Traced Objects

This week's challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to trace found objects for our string. I used an oddly shaped coaster, scissors, a fridge magnet and a bottle cap. This was fun!

Zentangle Challenge #346 - Duo tangle, Phicops and Huggins

It's been a while since I did and posted a piece for Laura's I am the Diva Challenge (iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca), but I'm planning on doing them regularly again, and have started a hand sewn journal to do them in. This week's challenge was a duo tangle to use Phicops and Huggins. I kept it simple but added a bit of colour with my beloved Graphitints.

Zentangle Challenge #334 - Crazy 'NZeppel

This week's challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to use the tangle Crazy 'NZeppel. I LOVE 'NZeppel as a grid - not so keen on the irregular version, but I did the challenge, merging Hollibaugh, and using Derwent Graphitint pencils for a touch of colour.:

Zentangle Challenge #328 - UMT - Aloha by Suzanne Fluhr

This week's challenge is from a guest blogger, Suzanne Fluhr, to use her tangle Aloha. I've used this tangle quite a bit before and love it, but don't think I've done it in colour. All the colour here is Stabillo All pencils.

Zentangle Challenge #326 - 'NZeppel monotangle (and pre-teen metaphor)

I LOVE 'NZeppel! So much, I've named my Christmas Elf 'NZeppel! This week's challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) is from guest Elisa Murphy, and it's to do a mono tangle of 'NZeppel. I love the blog about not fitting in… many of us can identify, but I must say that the Zentangle community has made me feel more fitted! Here is my tile for this challenge:

Zentangle Challenge #322 - Aquafleur

Aquafleur is the Tangle we are to use in this week's Diva Challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca). This was the tangle for my certification so I have a particular fondness for it, though my conundrum is always what to do with a background if it is the main focus. I love it on it's own. I haven't used it for a while, so I'm particularly happy this challenge has me working with it again. I did two tiles… and will probably play with a couple more over the next few days. The blue and green colours on the Renaissance tile is done with the Stabillo All pencils.

Zentangle Challenge #312 - Coffee, Tea or Me

I used a splash of fuchsia ink, then blew through a straw to get my "stain" string for this week's Zentangle Challenge. (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) I have a few other stained tiles (my favourite being wine stains), so I may just continue and do more… (My apologies in advance for not commenting on posts using Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, or several others that I can't access without an account or using a password please know that I am looking at your work and enjoying it.)

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 #303 - Valentangle

A while ago I had the opportunity to play with Suminagashi marbling ink with Chris Titus. This tile is from that very fun session. The Suminagashi ink comes out in quite a subtle pattern, and the colours are muted - as you can see, red becomes pink. Happy Valentines Day to everyone!

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 #299 - Drawings

This week's challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to use the new tangle Drawings. Not one of my favourites from ZenAgain, but I love seeing it on other people's art. This morning I am tip-toeing around the house because my husband has a (man) cold… I'm sure most of you know what that means. My normal routine has been disturbed for a few days, and though I feel bad for him not feeling well, I'm not in the Zen moment to be creative. So I drew this quickly and without judgement - just letting go - and, surprisingly, though it's a bit rough, I'm quite happy with it! Colour was added with blue and red Stabillo All pencils.

Zentangle Challenge UMT - Orbs-la-Dee by Anneke van Dam

Happy New Year! It's so wonderful to look forward to the Diva Challenge every Monday! (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) Thank you so much Laura! The first challenge each month is a UMT (Use My Tangle), and this month it's the tangle Orbs-la-Dee by Anneke van Dam. This is a tangle I used a few times when I first saw it, but then forgot about it - one of the reasons I love these challenges. So, my tile is busier than what I've been doing lately and I had intended to put Orbs-la-Dee in the centre but made a "mistake" when starting it - and that's how 'Nzeppel happened. I just love the way Zentangle tiles can end up so very different than what was envisioned… This is one of those tiles that I wish I had taken a before shading picture… I almost tore it up at that point! I don't love this one but it turned out better than I thought it was working toward. And I apologize that I don't comment on every post. I don't post comments on photo's taken on flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, and sometimes when there is a blog post with lots of responses to many challenges. I won't comment if I have to sign up for or or sign into something else - it's partly time management.

Zentangle Challenge #296 - UMT: Moowa by Anya Ipsen

This week's challenge from Laura (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) is a UMT (Use My Tangle): Moowa by Anya Ipsen.

Zentangle Challenge #294 - Fragments and Reticula

I'm not comfortable with Fragments and Reticula… I think I understand it better since it was well explained and we got to play with it at ZenAgain, but I really don't see the point in some ways. It seems to complicate and add stress, at least for me. When I saw this week's challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca, I actually cringed and thought I'd pass on this one. But then I felt guilty and decided I had to at least try a tile. As it turns out, it was quite fun. I chose the tangle Well, at least the first few steps of it. Here is the fragment (repeated and mirrored, the outline, and the final tile. It's a bit crazy how twisting, turning, different embellishments or shading can change a fragment!

Zentangle Challenge #292 - UMT: Eaxy by Nadine Roller

I had lots of "oooops" and difficulty with Eaxy for this week's I am the Diva challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca). I'll have to give it another try on another tile, but I felt that even though I got lost on this one several times, I'm happy with the end result. Though to me it doesn't look much like a Zentangle tile - more an abstract compilation. The Peaks in the bottom were based on a vintage shirt I saw in a shop - I liked the layered peaks and the lines more open on one side within each peak… yet not always on the same side. (again, I apologize for not commenting on all submissions and do take time to look at and enjoy them. I don't have instagram, Yahoo, or Pinterest (or have to log in each time, which I won't do). And I also don't comment, usually, on posts that have several challenges in one post because although I enjoy seeing what you are up to - I'm specifically looking for the Diva Challenge.

Zentangle Challenge #285 - Relax, bro.

When we tangle for ourselves, as opposed to tangling for something we are going to publish somewhere for others to see, probably, our tangling is more Zen, more relaxed… And that is the premise for this week's Diva challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) It's true for me sometimes - especially if there is a challenge or focus on a tangle I'm unfamiliar with or don't particularly like. For this tile I took one I had worked on at an outdoor music concert this summer, and really didn't like. The basic tangles I had done were only Betweed, and Molygone. I set the tile aside. (I have a stack of potential tiles to finish…) For this challenge I finished the tile by adding in a few more tangles - the first that came to mind when I looked at a spot, then shaded. I wish I had taken progress photo's: the tile I wasn't happy with, the tile before shading…) I'm happy I kept that tile, and really should go back and touch up my other unfinished, not loved tiles….

Zentangle Challenge #284 - Monotangle to Tripoli

This week's challenge from Laura at www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca is to do a monotangle of Tripoli. I love Tripoli, but also have a love/hate relationship with it. The part of me that wants things perfect or at least reasonably close doesn't love this tangle because it always goes wonky for me no matter how careful I'm trying to be. On the other hand, I'm loving this challenge, because today I decided to "just do it" and let the pen go where it wants. I was stressing at first because I wasn't liking the initial look, but this is one of those cases that showed me that embracing the imperfections is why Zentangle is so magical. I'm happy with this in the end…. I also want to say here, that I do try to see everyone's entry, and comment on as many as I can. However, I don't do Flickr, or Instagram, or Yahoo, so I can't log in to make comments. Sometimes too I don't read all or comment on a blog post that encompasses several challenges in one post. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy looking and love the work… just so you know...

Zentangle Challenge #283 - UMT - Centre Square

This week's Diva Challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) is to "Use my Tangle" - Aleesha's Centre Square. I'm not a big fan of lots of filling in, but it can be quite meditative if I could just keep my mind on it. I wanted to play with the shading in this tangle, and it didn't actually go where I thought it might, but it's all good. Aleesha, thanks for the tangle, and Laura, thanks always for doing these challenges and making us go where we might not otherwise venture!

Zentangle Challenge #282 - Spill it!

Oh boy… this one was a challenge for me. Not specifically the tangling (though I had trouble with Tipoli)- but I ruined 4 tiles trying to "spill" stuff on them. Three were too sticky, and one was just… grey. I wanted to do a red wine spill, but didn't want to open a bottle of wine I wasn't in the mood to drink. I found this tile in a pile of "to do something with" tiles, and don't remember what was spilled on it. Anyway, here is my tile for this week's Diva challenge (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca), before and after.

Zentangle Challenge #279 - Duo-Tangle: Meer vs Auraknot

Laura's challenge this week is to use two tangles, Meer and Auraknot in a Duo-Tangle. (www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.ca) Not loving this tile but it's getting posted.