Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Ghosts of Tangles Past




This post is sort of a 'Before and After'.
It includes a Zentangle I did yesterday and a tangle I did back in 2010 - shortly after I discovered Zentangle. I used the tangle I did back in 2010 as an inspiration for the new tile. It has a similar string and similar tangles. But I found ways I could improve on it and use some of the skills I learned since then.


Since it is my own work, I don't have to be polite. I can - and will critique the heck out of it. 

The tangle from 2010 was done on the back of a flimsy index card. I know now to use quality, archival materials. I now use quality paper and pens that will not fade over time. Thankfully, this piece was in a binder, so it wasn't exposed to sunlight.

I had learned a few of the tangles back then as I surfed the web. Some of them you will recognize, and some - I have no idea where they came from! I like that there are so many tangles that have step-outs online so I can really expand my selections. I tried to use the same tangles I used in 2010 but some I had to revise.

I was able to create a string within a circle. I used a circle template to draw the circle with my pen. I don't do that anymore. It looks almost machine made and doesn't have the handmade look that I value. Now I draw a circle in pencil first and then use my pen freehand. The string is OK but has so many tiny sections that created problems for me.

As I drew my piece in 2010, I tried so hard to get tangles into all the tiny places within the string that I ended up drawing the tangles tight and small. If you look at the new piece on top, you can see that I took the tangle patterns and drew them bigger. When I had the freedom to draw bigger, some of the 'tightness' disappeared.

The 2010 piece doesn't have any shading. I didn't understand that back then but now it's my favorite part of the process. My new piece also uses highlights since it's done on a Renaissance tile. That's something that didn't even exist back in 2010. I really like how it expands the piece and gives it depth.

I invite any of you who have been tangling for a while (even if only for a couple of months) to revisit one of your early tiles and redo it!

13 comments:

  1. What a difference! The second one is really beautiful, that gives me hope for the future. Thank you very mutch!

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  2. WOW Sue - I admire your art and this gives hope that practice really does change things. beautiful!

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  3. Yes Sue, we have learnt so much since 2010 especially in regards to shading and highlights, love your delicate touch.

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  4. Cool! Your first tile is about a month before mine. And we met a few months later. Love your style. Your "before" tile reminds me so much of my "before" tile.

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  5. Wow, I am amazed that you did a Zendala for one of your first attempts. I looks really good although of course experience gives you a whole other set of tools and the remake Zendala is a wonderful improvement.

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  6. It's the light that brings your recent tile so magically to life. I love it.

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  7. very cool. I think my favorite thing is, the elegance that comes with simplicity, in your second piece. And of course, the toned tile and highlights...that makes everything so much better. Delicious!

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  8. I like your use of colour and how you have shaded using those colours. I agree with how renaissance tiles lend themselves to adding highlights.

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  9. Am looking forward to where you are now in six years! :)

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  10. Lovely work Sue, I love your critique and insights. My how you have grown. I agree with the natural feel of a hand drawn circle it's beautiful.

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  11. Such a beautiful comparison -- your tiles and your words of how your practice has changed!

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  12. Your current style shows such life and confidence in it. It is a wonderful piece and your before piece was the perfect inspiration for you. I love seeing how people have grown and relaxed with Zentangle. This challenge was certainly an eye opener for many of us! Thank you for sharing.

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