Dual Use

Maria received some flowers with a card held in one of those clear plastic clips that you place in the vase.

She swapped it for an ATC-size Zentangle tile . . .

. . . that added another "flower" to this arrangement.

A florist just opened a store downtown. We're going to get a bunch of these and make some Zentangle bouquets!

Materials used:

• ATC-size Zentangle tile
• Floral card stand
• Bouquet of flowers
• tripoli

Click images for larger views.

Earth Day Challenge

Last Sunday was Earth Day. Laura Harms' latest iamthediva challenge (#67) is to create Zentangle inspired art using "the prompt of the earth."

Here is Maria's contribution:

Materials used:

• Zendala tile
• Brown Pigma Micron
• Black Pigma Micron
• pokeleaf
• mooka
• verdigogh
• perfs
• light green wash
• a touch of gold flakes

Click image for larger view.

Mi^2

Every now and then we see a tangle that is so simple yet apparently complex and open to multiple interpretations and tangleations that we just have to share it. That description applies to this fantastic tangle created by Mimi Lempart, CZT, of Florence, Massachusetts. It's called Mi². You can read about how to do it here on tanglepatterns.com.

Here is one of Mimi's tiles using Mi² as a monotangle:

Maria and I were admiring this tangle that Mimi describes as similar to huggins and W². After breakfast this morning I started exploring:

I love the minimalist opportunities this tangle offers. I also love the natural shading possibilities.

I was reading on tanglepatterns about challenges creating the initial seed shapes. So I tried starting with dots and used the arcs to define the seed shape around the dots. This also gave me a chance to play with a different arrangement of seeds:

I put six dots in a row in both directions. (I put a seventh dot on the top row by "mistake." So I just made it really big and part of the design.)

Here's the sequence I used:

Thank you Mimi for contributing such a fun tangle that is simple, beautiful and open to different interpretations. While the similarities to huggins and W² are noticeable, this tangle is unique in that the strokes (in this case, arcs) only go in one direction, whereas in huggins and W² they go in two directions at right angles to each other.

Click images for larger views.

Flow

We recently received this email from Diane:

"I think that from this article, one can assert that learning Zentangle and doing it for extended periods of time is good for your health! Of course we know that already, but here is scientific ammunition."

Here are a couple excerpts to encourage you to read that fascinating article.

"Your mind may be the closest thing to the Holy Grail of longevity and happiness. Education has been widely documented by researchers as the single variable tied most directly to improved health and longevity. And when people are intensely engaged in doing and learning new things, their well-being and happiness can blossom.

"This effect becomes even more valuable as we get older. Even in old age, it turns out, our brains have more plasticity to adapt and help us than was once thought. Old dogs, in short, can learn a lot of new tricks."

"People who are intensely absorbed in a task can lose track of time and place. Hours pass like minutes. They may be tired by the task but emerge energized and happy. This condition is known as "flow," a name coined 30 years ago by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi."

From the beginning, this was our intent for Zentangle. The Zentangle method and materials were designed to be a tool that supports easy and enjoyable access to flow with a side-effect of beautiful artistic creation.

And speaking of flow, here are some Zendalas that flowed from Maria's pen late last night (more like early this morning):

I couldn't resist framing these Zendalas in the abounding patterns of Spring! Notice the use of mooka in the first one and fengle and bronx cheer in the second one. (Yes, that bronx cheer was initially used for its intended purpose!)


Thank you for sending that article, Diane!

Click images for larger views of flow.

Zentangle at Concord Art Association

Wendy Chambers Brown, CZT, and Nancy Banker, CZT, recently exhibited some of their Zentangle inspired art at the Concord Art Association.

ZenDragonfly

Wendy Chambers Brown

Green Zen Design

Nancy Banker

Zentangle Table

Nancy Banker and Wendy Chambers Brown

You can enjoy more of Nancy's and Wendy's creations at this link.

Congratulations Nancy and Wendy!


Click images for larger views.

Round and Round

In a follow-up to a recent newsletter announcing our round Zendala tiles, here are some new ones that Maria and Molly created.

These use some of our Prestrung choices.

You can also create your own string . . .

. . . and be as asymmetrical . . .

 
. . . or as symmetrical as you please.

To encourage you to connect with a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) in your area, Zendala Sets are available only from CZTs during the rest of April.

Here's a list of CZTs around the world.


Click images for larger views.