We just posted our June 30 newsletter.
You can read all of our newsletters on our newsletter page.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
On the first day of naptime . . .
We came home to find a Zentangle Ensemble on our kitchen table that Molly created. Our first thought was, "Oh, this is perfect for BLOG Zentangle." Our second thought was, "There's too much here to do all at once."
So, we invite you to join with us for "The Nine Days of Naptime." Molly created these during her daughter's afternoon naps and we think you'll enjoy this beautiful song of tangles in nine verses.
Molly used one of our Ensemble packs.
An Ensemble pack is a set of nine Zentangle tiles that share a common string.
Sometimes different people will each do one tile and then put them all together. There is usually a fun synchronicity of adjacent patterns and it is always wonderful to see a completed group ensemble. In this case Molly did each tile individually without looking at any completed tiles so it was a surprise when she first put it all together.
Here is her first Naptime Ensemble tile.
Here it is in place. Over the next few days, we'll get to watch this Ensemble's string fill with a wonderful dance of tangles.
Tomorrow, verse two!
So, we invite you to join with us for "The Nine Days of Naptime." Molly created these during her daughter's afternoon naps and we think you'll enjoy this beautiful song of tangles in nine verses.
Molly used one of our Ensemble packs.
An Ensemble pack is a set of nine Zentangle tiles that share a common string.
Sometimes different people will each do one tile and then put them all together. There is usually a fun synchronicity of adjacent patterns and it is always wonderful to see a completed group ensemble. In this case Molly did each tile individually without looking at any completed tiles so it was a surprise when she first put it all together.
Here is her first Naptime Ensemble tile.
Here it is in place. Over the next few days, we'll get to watch this Ensemble's string fill with a wonderful dance of tangles.
Tomorrow, verse two!
Click images for larger view
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Newport
Massive Zentangle Sighted in Newport, Rhode Island!
Well, maybe it just looks bigger.
We are in Newport getting last minute details lined up (one stroke at a time) for our August Zentangle Masters' Class. Maria did this Zentangle this morning - a fun dance of hollibaugh with a variation of verdigogh.
Note: This Masters' Class is full, but we'll have more . . . watch our newsletter.
Click images for larger view
We are in Newport getting last minute details lined up (one stroke at a time) for our August Zentangle Masters' Class. Maria did this Zentangle this morning - a fun dance of hollibaugh with a variation of verdigogh.
Note: This Masters' Class is full, but we'll have more . . . watch our newsletter.
Click images for larger view
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
CZT October Class is Full
Good news, bad news . . .
Good news is that we filled our October Certified Training Seminar in just over one week.
Bad news is that we filled our October Certified Training Seminar in just over one week.
We will continue to wait-list people who wish to attend. We encourage you to wait-list because there is a good chance that some of you will get seats. We will not run any cards or deposit any checks for people who are wait-listed. Also, please do not PayPal funds until we let you know if you will be able to attend.
Read more about our CZT seminars here.
We look forward to meeting and working with our new friends in October.
See you then!
Good news is that we filled our October Certified Training Seminar in just over one week.
Bad news is that we filled our October Certified Training Seminar in just over one week.
We will continue to wait-list people who wish to attend. We encourage you to wait-list because there is a good chance that some of you will get seats. We will not run any cards or deposit any checks for people who are wait-listed. Also, please do not PayPal funds until we let you know if you will be able to attend.
Read more about our CZT seminars here.
We look forward to meeting and working with our new friends in October.
See you then!
Like a Fine Wine
We learned from Sakura® that the best way to store your Pigma™ pens is horizontally . . .
. . . like a fine wine.
(And we thought the only reason you see them horizontally on store shelves was so you could read the tops.)
If you have any questions about these pens, ask them here and we'll get an answer for you.
. . . like a fine wine.
(And we thought the only reason you see them horizontally on store shelves was so you could read the tops.)
If you have any questions about these pens, ask them here and we'll get an answer for you.
Click image for larger view
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Bordering
Maria has been exploring individual Zentangle tangles as borders. She discovered that pretty much any tangle can work as a border.
In this next tile, notice how static meanders - almost as if there was a string within a string (second border from left). Tangles like these underscore shading's impact.
Next, notice how her stripes of tangles are a form of aura.
In this next tile, notice how static meanders - almost as if there was a string within a string (second border from left). Tangles like these underscore shading's impact.
Next, notice how her stripes of tangles are a form of aura.
Click images for larger view
Monday, June 21, 2010
Clipboard
A friend of ours recently graduated from high school. When asked what she was planning to do, she replied that she wasn't sure. However, one thing she was certain of was that it would involve a clipboard. So that's what we gave her!
This started out as your generic hard board clipboard. Maria coated it in gesso and then wrote her name with an oblique pointed pen and walnut ink. We used an 05 Sakura® Pigma™ Micron pen for the tangles. Afterwards Maria coated everything with spar varnish.
So how did she hold open the clip? She tied it open with a bit of braided picture hanging wire. Brilliant!
Oh, yes, Maria discovered a new way to do 'nzeppel that we'll show you later.
So how did she hold open the clip? She tied it open with a bit of braided picture hanging wire. Brilliant!
Click images for larger view
Friday, June 18, 2010
Pencil Holder
We keep this pencil holder on our kitchen table. Its original label is covered with a Zentangle tile cut to fit. Maria deckled its edges with sand paper.
Notice how rounded these leads are. We like them this way and rarely sharpen our pencils to a fine point.
P.S.
100th blog entry!
.
Notice how rounded these leads are. We like them this way and rarely sharpen our pencils to a fine point.
Click images for larger view.
P.S.
100th blog entry!
.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Reflections
We all know that you can easily choose what the front of a mirror reflects.
But did you know you can also change what the back of a mirror reflects?
Before Maria added that Zentangle, all you noticed was this burn mark.
But now it reflects something entirely different.
Materials used:
But did you know you can also change what the back of a mirror reflects?
Before Maria added that Zentangle, all you noticed was this burn mark.
But now it reflects something entirely different.
Materials used:
- Antique mirror with burn mark from cigarette or curling iron
- Sakura® Pigma™ Micron pen
- Several coats of polyurethane
Click images for larger view
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Ancient Pyramids
Intrepid early morning backyard explorer braves unmown surroundings and discovers ancient Zentangle pyramids!
Actually, it's just us having too much fun as usual.
Pyramid base is 3-1/2" square (a standard Zentangle tile). Pyramid is constructed with our tile paper, some double-sided tape along with some help from a compass, ruler and a pair of scissors.
Actually, it's just us having too much fun as usual.
Click images for larger view
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Contrast
Keep in mind that contrasting tangles can have a dramatic effect.
Click image for larger view
Monday, June 14, 2010
A Great Dish
A recent visit to a Japanese restaurant gave a whole new meaning to the phrase "great dish." Our food was superb and so was the dish! It had so many interesting patterns that we paid for our food and the dish it came on.
Many of the patterns on this dish are familiar tangles. But, we were particularly intrigued by that nested "Y" pattern on the right. Molly finally figured out how to create it in a Zentangle way. We call it "y-not." Like any good tangle, you create it by a simple series of repetitive strokes. Congratulations to Molly for figuring out how to do it. We'll show how it's done in a future newsletter.
Here are a couple of Molly's Zentangles using "y-not."
This one was taken just before our granddaughter decided to examine it more closely.
P.S.
That beautiful green flourish is a garlic scape from our garden.
Many of the patterns on this dish are familiar tangles. But, we were particularly intrigued by that nested "Y" pattern on the right. Molly finally figured out how to create it in a Zentangle way. We call it "y-not." Like any good tangle, you create it by a simple series of repetitive strokes. Congratulations to Molly for figuring out how to do it. We'll show how it's done in a future newsletter.
Here are a couple of Molly's Zentangles using "y-not."
This one was taken just before our granddaughter decided to examine it more closely.
Click images for larger view
P.S.
That beautiful green flourish is a garlic scape from our garden.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Fall 2010 CZT Registration
We just sent out this newsletter opening our registration for our October 12 - 15 Certified Zentangle Teacher Seminar. If you are interested in attending, please go to the newsletter for the registration form. Our trainings usually fill up pretty quickly.
In that same newsletter we also showed a couple of neat Zentangle creations. We're reproducing them here so you see them more closely.
Enjoy!
Click images for larger view
In that same newsletter we also showed a couple of neat Zentangle creations. We're reproducing them here so you see them more closely.
Enjoy!
Click images for larger view
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Oops!
Well, the actual words and feelings were a bit stronger than "oops."
Maria was returning from a calligraphy conference and ink from a leaking ink bottle found it's way to her treasured Zentangle "field notes" book.
Most of the drawings were not damaged and we separated the pages so they wouldn't dry together.
After a few days, I noticed Maria with her white ink and pointed pen.
Although the spilled ink was unplanned and unwanted, this book is more beautiful and unique than we could have expected.
Plus it now has a great story (and lesson!) . . . and we love great stories.
Maria was returning from a calligraphy conference and ink from a leaking ink bottle found it's way to her treasured Zentangle "field notes" book.
Most of the drawings were not damaged and we separated the pages so they wouldn't dry together.
After a few days, I noticed Maria with her white ink and pointed pen.
Although the spilled ink was unplanned and unwanted, this book is more beautiful and unique than we could have expected.
Plus it now has a great story (and lesson!) . . . and we love great stories.
Click images for larger views
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Happy Birthday!
Vicki Murray, a Certified Zentangle Teacher in Oklahoma City, recently celebrated her 60th birthday with a Zentangle-decorated ice cream cake.
What a great (and in this case, cool) idea! Just create your Zentangle-inspired image . . .
. . . and use your favorite edible transfer product (search online for "frosting sheet"). It has pretty good image quality, too.
Thanks, Vicki. We all wish you a very happy 60th birthday!
What a great (and in this case, cool) idea! Just create your Zentangle-inspired image . . .
. . . and use your favorite edible transfer product (search online for "frosting sheet"). It has pretty good image quality, too.
Thanks, Vicki. We all wish you a very happy 60th birthday!
Click images for larger view
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Tangle to Polymer
One of our regular commenters, "rev byrd" emailed us this gem. Here are her images and narrative about using a Zentangle as inspiration for a polymer clay creation.
You can view these and other Zentangle images at her Flickr site.
Thanks "rev byrd" for sharing that with us and everyone here.
I have been following your blog for some time now. I really enjoy it. I look forward to it every morning.
I have done a few (very few) Zentangles of my own and I did purchase your kit.
Anyway, recently I did a Zentangle and then translated it into polymer clay (my medium of choice). An on-line friend said I should send it to you, so here it is. No paint was used here, nor ink, just the colors of the clay the way I mixed them. Size of the clay Zentangle is around 9 by 11 inches.
You can view these and other Zentangle images at her Flickr site.
Thanks "rev byrd" for sharing that with us and everyone here.
Click images for larger view
Monday, June 7, 2010
Zentangle High (School) Fashion
Teacher, "KC" writes:
How cool is that! Thank you KC. And congratulations to all on your awesome t-shirt creations!
Our school here in Texas had 2 flex weeks at the end of the year for a summer school and this year we offered elective classes. I did the art elective and chose to do your Zentangle technique. The students did a few practice tiles and then did their tangles on a shirt. I have sent along photos of both my AM and PM classes so you can see what they produced. They were so proud of their accomplishments especially since many of the students had not had art before this.
I blurred the faces for privacy issues so that you might be able to post them online.
How cool is that! Thank you KC. And congratulations to all on your awesome t-shirt creations!
Click images for larger view