Jailed Johnny

The Diva challenged us to use a new tangle pattern ' Jailed Johnny'. I looked at it, and looked at it, not sure what I wanted to do with it. Instead of seeing apples though, I saw hearts. So at that point, it all came together. I also wanted to play with my new tangle 'Ditto' so I added that too - only on a curved line. Color of course, is my thing, so I did it all in pinks for valentines Day.

We have more snow - again. I went out to shovel the front walk this morning and when I looked out just now, the wind has blown snow back again! Part of my family is down in Florida. It's looking more and more appealing!

Ditto - new tangle pattern

Ditto is a new tangle pattern that was inspired by a picture of Art Deco wallpaper. It's a simple tangle that can be used as a filler or in a linear fashion in borders and such. It goes together in that wonderfully soothing fashion that a good tangle pattern should.

I've drawn it here on an angle but that doesn't mean that's the only way. Click on the pictures to expand them.

1 - Draw lines with a pencil. Leave space between the lines. These lines will be incorporated into the shading later so don't worry about how dark you draw the lines. Next draw zigzag lines within also in pencil. These lines should be done as lightly as possible. (if you have trouble with the zigzag lines - think stair-steps.) Do the same zigzag lines within each set of lines.

 2 - Draw comma shapes along the right side of the vertical lines. (Or you can think of these shapes as fish with a skinny tail.) Then come back and do the next comma/fish along the top of the horizontal lines.

3 - Add more comma/fish shapes in the space you have left, these shapes will get smaller and smaller.

4 - Continue adding comma/fish shapes in the other direction.

5 - Once you have the hang of this you can skip the step where you pencil in the vertical/horizontal lines. Here I've shown drawing the big comma/fish shapes into the zigzag line right away. Then you'll go back and do the smaller shapes.

 6 - Add additional shading along lines and blend out.

At the left I've drawn the pattern super size so you can see the shapes. Note that as I draw them I like to curve the tail slightly in toward the line.

In the tile I've tried out a few tangleations. I'm sure you will come up with more!

I DON"T recommend using a ruler. But I did here because I want you to see what happens to the pattern if your lines are close together - or further apart. The more space you have, the more commas/fishies you can fit in.

This picture shows what happens when your zigzag lines meet up instead following the same patterns. This gives you a more symmetrical look.

Oh, the name. Ditto. Why that? Well, Since it's now February with Valentines day coming soon, I was thinking of how romantic the movie Ghost is. But Patrick Swayze's character can't bring himself to tell his wife that he loves her. When she says "I love you", he simply says "ditto". So since this tangle pattern is filled with commas/ditto marks, I thought it was appropriate.


I did an extensive search through my pattern books and didn't see this one done anywhere but if I've overlooked something similar out there, PLEASE let me know.

I've just posted a video on YouTube on how to draw Ditto. Follow this link
http://youtu.be/OBj-rTO0aGQ

string 25 - fassett

Fassett is a new tangle pattern from Lynn Mead. It has just been recently posted on tanglepatterns.com so this is my first go round with it. I've used it with String #25 from Tanglepatterns.com also. I didn't get crazy with color or a variety of tangleations. I simply wanted to relax and just see where Fassetts would take me. I did however go back to a technique of coloring one half of the tile with Black  (using my IDentipen) and then tangling with a white gelly roll pen. I also played with adjusting the tangle within the string. It was a fun tile to do. Thanks to Adele at www.tickledtotangle.blogspot.com for suggesting this challenge.

Aquafleur porthole

Aquafleur is the newest official zentangle tangle pattern from Rick and Maria. I've always thought it look like something growing in the sea so I tried using other 'sea-like' tangles with it. 

I'm living in the cooold Midwest while my brother is enjoying the weather in the Florida Keys. I wish I could throw a virtual snowball at him. Instead I tried to visualize what he might see on a dive with this zendala tile.

I did this on a zendala tile hand colored with watercolor paints. A dark blue Micron pen was used for the tangles and two shades of blue colored pencils added the shading..

Zentangle jewelry class

Zentangle jewelry!

I've been promising this class for a while and it's finally here. I'll be teaching how to get your tangles on a piece of wearable art. You will have the choice of doing a cuff bracelet or a necklace and earrings. I'll teach you all my secrets for prepping the materials. If you are not familiar with jewelry making techniques, I cover the basics here. All the supplies, and the special pen, will be included in the class! And, as always, you'll learn a group of new tangle patterns.

There are two dates coming for this jewelry class. The first is next Sunday, Feb 2, from 1-3:00. It will be at Banbury Fair, 211 Railroad Ave in Bartlett, IL There are limited seats available. Call Banbury at 630 837 1727 to sign up. 

If you can't make it to Banbury on Sunday you will have to wait a month and a half till March 18th. That's when I'll teach this class at McHenry County College. Call them at   815-455-8588 to sign up.

String 15

This tile uses string #15 from Tangle patterns.com. It was done as a challenge form Adele Bruno CZT at her blog TickledtoTangle.blogspot.com It uses tangles from the 'Y' section of tanglepatterns.com. 

Yabbit by Margaret Bremner, CZT
Yang by Genevieve Crabe, CZT
Yew-dee by Peg Farmer, CZT
Y-ful Power by Shoshi
Yincut an official Zentangle® pattern

I used a purple pen for my tangles and shaded with a couple of shades of purple colored pencils.

I've been away for the past few days enjoying family and weather in Austin, TX. It's good to be home but I sure wish I could have brought some of the warmer weather with me. 

HOOT class anouncement

 

Happy news! Three classes of mine were selected for the HOOT conference in Ohio next August! I'll be giving you more information when the brochures come out and when sign up begins. For now I wanted to whet your appetite. The three classes are; Zentangle Xmas (above). Tangled Garden (middle picture) and Zentangle Basics on a canvas bag.

 

HOOT is a convention held in Columbus, Ohio in early August each year. Heart of Ohio Tole Painters is the organization that sponsors it. It has many classes dealing with oil, acrylic, and watercolor painting. Colored pencils and pen and ink are also represented. There is also a trade show where you can find many art supplies that the standard stores simply don't carry.

 

 

 

Hope to see you there!

Tangle trip inspiration

Tangle pattern inspiration is easy to find.  When I travel I find hotels and restaurants are a treasure trove of ideas.  These are some pictures I took from my latest trip. 

The pictures are from the carpet and upholstery in the room.

string # 23

This tile uses string #23 that can be found on tanglepatterns.com. It was contributed by Barbara Finwall. I've veered away from a traditional Zentangle again in a couple of ways. While I used the string, I didn't use a frame, choosing to use the string in an abstract manner. And instead of shading with a black pencil, I chose colored pencils. I chose green, orange and purple based on the color triad in color theory.

The tangle patterns shown here are;

Bales

Bandola

Barberpole

Bask-it

Baleek

Baton

Pink Zendala 87

This zendala in pink started with the zendala template #87 from the Bright Owl. When I saw it I knew I had to add color. Holbein makes a watercolor paint called 'Opera' and it's a color I simply adore. I laid in several washes of the color - one at a time, letting each dry. Then I lifted out some of the pink color in the center.

The tangles were done with a pink Micron pen and colored pencil added a little shading.

All the tangles are ones that can be found in my tangle pattern gallery page. (see the tab at the top)

Zhostovo border

Looby Loo

La Bel

Vigne

String 22 - with blue

Playing with one of my colored tiles again, I've used a string from TanglePatterns.com. This one is string 22 and it was contributed by Margaret Bremner CZT. The tangles that I used came from a challenge on the blog 'Tickled to Tangle" by Adele Bruno.

Tangle patterns  used - Ragz, Rain, Raindotty, Reticulated, and Retro. It's an interesting group of tangles. I had to think about how to use them so they would work well with each other but that's what makes the challenge interesting. 

I used a blue Micron pen and shaded with a couple of different colored pencils in various shades of blues and purples.

'Bumps' revisited

click on picture to enlarge

I was asked by a blog visitor to enlarge the step outs I have for the tangle pattern 'Bumps'. Of course, I can't find the original diagram I did so I decided to redo them - and simplify the steps even more. 

1- Draw a simple shape - in this case, a three petaled flower.

2- Draw an aura around that shape

3- Draw a partial aura around one side.

4. Add a smaller shape above - this first line is a smaller aura, then add 'bumps'. You may have one bump, two or three bumps.

5- Complete the aura of the 'bumps'.

6- Add similar shapes around the center area.

7- Again draw partial auras that fit whatever shapes you have going.

8. Add the smaller shapes and complete the auras.

Continue until you fill whatever shape you are working with.

Once you do it a few times you will find that you can combine some of the steps and draw the larger shapes and then fill them with the smaller shapes. (Combine steps 3 and 5 - then add step 4 within)

As you fill spaces you will find odd shapes and areas that you can't fill with the shapes above. These are some of the 'bump' ideas you can use. When you get toward the edge of the shape you are filling the shapes will either be simpler - or more interesting!

This tile started the bumps pattern at the bottom of each shape rather than in the middle. This finished example shows several variations on the bumps pattern. You can vary the basic bumps to whatever type you like. Add double auras, add dots, do it in color. Play with it!

Click on any of these pictures to make them bigger.

2014

I live in the Midwest now, but I grew up in New York. So for me, the New Year always begins when the ball drops in Times Square. I've never had to pleasure of seeing it in person, but now that I'm past that stage in my life, it's perfect for me to see it on TV. I used a Renaissance tile to try to convey the excitement of that moment when the countdown hits the moment of the New Year.

I did another tile to celebrate '2014'. Here I envisioned that the numbers, 2014, and their auras, were simply another tangle pattern to use. Add a little 'Ahh', and let's see what I get. I did this one with my Sakura gelly roll pens in the gold and silver colors.

String 21

This tile really goes back to utilizing the basics. Draw a string, fill with tangle patterns, shade. and sign. The string here is Sting #21 - which can be found on tanglepatterns.com. 

The tangle patterns used are Struzzle (incorporated into the string), Sugarcane, Summer sitter, Sundoo, and Sunflower. The S theme is because the string is courtesy of Sue Zanker.

Happy New Year zendalas

Erin at The Bright Owl posted a zendala template that I'm really loving. I decided to do it twice. Once with color and then again with more traditional black and white.  I love the way the color one expresses the excitement of New Year's Eve. I stayed up last night to watch the ball drop in NYC and it looked like such fun. At this point in my life though, there is no way I would stand outside in the cold for hours and hours so I'll just enjoy it on TV!     

Happy New Year!!!

Black and white can be so soothing, especially after the dynamic one I did first. Tangles used are Facets, Framzs, N'Zeppel, and Paradox.