A Grate Time in NY NY

Rick and I had the good fortune to spend a couple of unexpected days in NYC this week. Our really loose schedule was to enjoy grate meals and see grate art! Well, we got the last part right! HAHA (We did find some pretty great food and beverages, but I digress. . . .)

On our second day out, the wind was howling and the rain was colder than . . . well . . . it was cold! The museum we wanted to go to was not open yet. Rick spotted a lovely old cathedral on the other side of the street and suggested we go in to find shelter.

Again, our angels guided us to a place unexpected.

It was warm and inviting and the quiet was oh, so, soothing. We sat a bit to take in the enormity of the structure, admiring the huge stained glass windows, the beautifully weathered woodwork, the statues and the ceilings.

But, what caught our eyes most, were the humblest pieces of art, I am sure were not on any list of exhibits. The grates in the walls, of cast iron or brass, were truly works of art. Each one seemed to be different. Shapes, sizes, and textures. (and warm!)

Rick had the camera out and acted like he was at a fashion photo shoot, bending this way and that, changing the features on the camera to make sure he got the details just so. (My hero. . . )

So the rest of the day, no matter where we were, that's what we saw. The most beautiful collection of functional art. I love that whoever created or designed these, made sure he (she) made them special. I wish I could thank them for their work. I hope someone did.

So, when I got to the task of translating them to tangles, some interesting things started to happen. I wasn't as successful when I tried to duplicate them exactly but if I studied the composition and found what it was I liked about a piece, and used that, the tangles began to form.

So, on this first one, you see the duplication of that first tall stone lattice grate, with carefully intersecting circles. I could do it, but I don't think I could easily deconstruct it. Too fussy.

On the next tile, I did the grid lines the same, with heavier vertical. Then I drew some random looping circles and shapes behind the vertical lines with an 01 Micron. After I was happy with how it looked, I went back with an 005 Micron and aura-ed every shape on both sides of the lines. Then I "mitered" all the corners ever so carefully to give it dimension. This I like much better!

Then I started going through all the other grate pictures and took inspiration from them and tangled away with a reticula and fragment approach . . .

All in all, a grate day!

--M

Twelve Days of 3Zs - Gratitude!

Thank you all for the outpouring of creativity, sharing and appreciation!

We randomly chose one commenter from each of the twelve days' blog posts AND we randomly chose one person from each days' Zentangle Mosaic #hashtags. Each of those 24 names (23 actually, there was one double!) will receive:

• a 3Z Multi Pack of 55 tiles (white, black and Renaissance), and
• a box of 3Z Prestrung Tiles that we used in this 12-day celebration

The blog posting winners:

1.  KrisMis 
2.  Kat Van Rooyen 
3.  Peter Fruehwirt 
4.  PamS 
5.  JackieSaundersCZT19 
6.  Anonymous - Jackie CZT XIII - was written in the actual posting. 
7.  Maureen Stott 
8.  Jadene Ridinger 
9.  Ria Matheussen 
10.  Quwatha Valentine 
11.  Donna Pilato 
12.  Doveina Bolen

And, the Zentangle Mosaic posting winners:

1.  JuttaGladnigg 
2.  AnnetteCZT20 
3.  JenniferSparrowCZT21 
4.  GaleShermanCZT 
5.  MicheleBeauchampczt7 
6.  WanyiCZT18 
7.  MariekeSCZT 
8.  Eveningstarlight 
9.  Danita 
10.  PamS 
11.  IngSR 
12.  Banksia

Please email "zentangle [at] gmail [dot] com" with your shipping info so we can send you your gifts!

Last week the Zentangle staff visited the Providence Biltmore where we will hold next years CZT training seminars.

While there we shot this video (one take, no edits!) to celebrate this fun series.

Words and links:

On the last day of 3Zs,
    Bijou showed to me,
    huggins hugging huggins,
Wandering icanthis,
Not so boring drawings,
Tangled auraknot-ings,
Perky pokeleafs peeking,
Dark and naughty knightsbridge,
Swirling molygon-ings,
Gold, glowing tipples,
Some marasu encircling,
Winsome bits of shattuck,
Fetching diva dancing,
And a tile full of tripoli!

If you thought we were a big company, well, here we are . . . family, friends and neighbors who love to work with each other and for all of you in this worldwide creative and appreciative Zentangle community. We never take it for granted. Thank you!

And thank you again for all who commented, shared and enjoyed this year's Twelve Days series. We are in awe to watch this renaissance in Zentangle Art. We love that this creativity seems to build on itself, inspiring others (and us) to explore new possibilities . . . and then share it back with everyone.

You can see so many of these sparkling creative gems on the Zentangle Mosaic app (free to view on iPhone, iPad and Android smartphone). We are so proud of and grateful for all the artists who have allowed us (and everyone) into their "portphonio" of Zentangle art.

Here's a mosaic of all twelve day's 78 tiles. Each row represents one day!

'Til next year,   Our Best Good Wishes for a wonderful life.

Enjoy!

Rick, Maria, Bijou, Alfie and all of us at Zentangle HQ!

On the last day of 3Zs . . .

On the last day of 3Zs,
Bijou showed to me,
huggins hugging huggins . . .

Wandering icanthis,
Not so boring drawings,
Tangled auraknot-ings,
Perky pokeleafs peeking,
Dark and naughty knightsbridge,
Swirling molygon-ings,
Gold, glowing tipples,
Some marasu encircling,
Winsome bits of shattuck,
Fetching diva dancing,
And a tile full of tripoli!

Alfie worked with Maria and Rick to arrange the book just where he wanted it. Then he told us to come back in an hour . . . well, maybe two hours. But it was worth the wait!

After those pictures were taken, Alfie asked us to remove the book from the table. He said that Bijou and he had some more work to do and once again, they sent us away.

When we returned, we saw that they had arranged all the tiles in order of each day!

As we said in our first day post, we will be sending out gifts. We will choose one person at random from each of the twelve day's blog commenters and we will choose one person at random who posted tile(s) the Zentangle Mosaic app for each day's hashtag. Each of those chosen people will receive:

• a box of 3Z Multi Pack of 55 tiles (white, black and Renaissance), and
• a box of 3Z Prestrung Tiles that we used in this 12-day celebration

We will do the choosing on this coming Saturday at noon eastern time (GMT -5) and we'll announce the 24 recipients in another blog on Saturday or Sunday.

-----+-----

Thank you all for playing with us for these twelve days!

The hashtag for today's tile is: #12thdayof3zs

For this last day we used a version of huggins that we call crazy huggins.

The elemental shapes of crazy huggins are:

•  an orb and 
• a simple curve.

You may find these guidelines helpful as you explore crazy huggins:

• Use an even number of orbs
• Add curves using the principle of "take off and land"
• Never cross one curve over another
• If a curve is already connected to an orb, the next curve must connect in the same direction as the previous curve connected to that orb
• You can add additional orbs anywhere and anytime
• When adding auras, add it to the outer curve of the telephone shape (of two orbs and one curve)

Here's the step-out:

As our 12 Days come to an end, while we are sad to see it finish, the most wonderful thing has happened!

We experienced a true renaissance in Zentangle Art. It seems that all of a sudden we were witnessing tiles from around the world that seemed to explode with creativity.  They were 

so alive, interesting, personal, and spectacular. Everyone here noticed it. What happened to cause this? 

Well, it could be the season.  A time of joy, gratitude, giving, reflection . . . perhaps it was just time. It has been what . . . 13 years since we started what we call Zentangle? Word has spread around the world! People are enjoying the benefits of this simple method of putting pen to paper and sharing it with each other.

If you have not already,  please, see for yourself this "renaissance" on our "Zentangle Mosaic" app. (It costs nothing to just browse through the hundreds of thousands of tiles from around the world.)  We are so proud of all the artists who have allowed us (and you all) into their "portphonio" of Zentangle art.    The stories and descriptions from the artists and the comments from friends and other tanglers come together to create a world of love, support, teaching, learning and understanding. It is magic in the best way.

Congratulations and thank you to all who have participated both in word and/or art, to make this year's 12 Days series a gift for all.   Especially, to all of us at Zentangle Central.

'Til next year,   Our Best Good Wishes for a wonderful life.

Rick and Maria, et al

P.S.

See you later this weekend!

On the eleventh day of 3Zs . . .

On the eleventh day of 3Zs,
Bijou gave to me,
Wandering icanthis . . .

Not so boring drawings,
Tangled auraknot-ings,
Perky pokeleafs peeking,
Dark and naughty knightsbridge,
Swirling molygon-ings,
Gold, glowing tipples,
Some marasu encircling,
Winsome bits of shattuck,
Fetching diva dancing,
And a tile full of tripoli!

Alfie is so pleased with himself that he got all of the tiles on one side of the book!

Once again Alfie had fun making this mosaic . . . eventually. First he asked us to add a leaf to the table to accommodate the additional icanthis tiles (what an appropriate coincidence!).

So today our table reminds us also to "Create, Praise, Savor and Embrace"!

-----+-----

Thank you all for continuing to play with these twelve days!

The hashtag for today's tile is: #11thdayof3zs

To see the guidelines for these 12 days, go here.

We will give out a prize for one randomly chosen poster of each day's tiles on the app and also for one randomly chosen commenter on each day's blog post. (We'll announce the winners shortly after the twelfth day.)

And here's icanthis:

We published this newsletter yesterday introducing yesterday's and today's tangles. Both are new and we think you will enjoy them as you get to know them.


See you tomorrow!

On the tenth day of 3Zs . . .

On the tenth day of 3Zs,
Bijou sketched for me,
Not so boring drawings . . .

Tangled auraknot-ings,
Perky pokeleafs peeking,
Dark and naughty knightsbridge,
Swirling molygon-ings,
Gold, glowing tipples,
Some marasu encircling,
Winsome bits of shattuck,
Fetching diva dancing,
And a tile full of tripoli!

Alfie is loving his up-in-the-air view. He says it feels like he is flying. He and Bijou insisted we move this marble carving and make it part of today's mosaic. We're glad they asked and didn't try to move it themselves!

-----+-----

Thank you all for continuing to play with these twelve days!

The hashtag for today's tile is: #10thdayof3zs

To see the guidelines for these 12 days, go here.

We will give out a prize for one randomly chosen poster of each day's tiles on the app and also for one randomly chosen commenter on each day's blog post. (We'll announce the winners shortly after the twelfth day.)

And here's drawings*:

We put out a newsletter today introducing today's and tomorrow's tangles. Both are new and we think you will enjoy them as you get to know them.

* Insider tip: We pronounce the tangle name "drawings" as "draw-Wings" fully pronouncing the "W". We smile every time we say it.

See you tomorrow!

On the ninth day of 3Zs . . .

On the ninth day of 3Zs,
Bijou tied for me
Tangled auraknot-ings . . .

Perky pokeleafs peeking,
Dark and naughty knightsbridge,
Swirling molygon-ings,
Gold, glowing tipples,
Some marasu encircling,
Winsome bits of shattuck,
Fetching diva dancing,
And a tile full of tripoli!

This morning we woke to find Alfie gently singing to Bijou as he worked at Maria's desk.

Bijou had found a typo on the page. (Maria had forgotten the second "A" in auraknot!) So Bijou woke Alfie to fix it.

We laughed as we listened to what Alfie was singing (to the tune of "Jingle Bells"):

Wabi-sabi, wabi-sabi,
Wabi-sabi all the way . . .

Bijou listened with tilted eye-stalks and (we can only presume) . . . a smile.

The snow storm last night must have inspired Alfie's mosaic:

 -----+-----

Thank you all for continuing to play with these twelve days!

The hashtag for today's tile is: #9thdayof3zs

To see the guidelines for these 12 days, go here.

We will give out a prize for one randomly chosen poster of each day's tiles on the app and also for one randomly chosen commenter on each day's blog post. (We'll announce the winners shortly after the twelfth day.)

And here's auraknot:

See you tommorow!

On the eighth day of 3Zs . . .

On the eighth day of 3Zs,
Bijou sketched for me,
Perky pokeleafs peeking . . .

Dark and naughty knightsbridge,
Swirling molygon-ings,
Gold, glowing tipples,
Some marasu encircling,
Winsome bits of shattuck,
Fetching diva dancing,
And a tile full of tripoli!

It's taking Alfie longer each day to arrange this growing mosaic. The effort is worth it because the result makes you want to just sit there and marvel in wonder and appreciation . . .

. . . appreciating every exquisite tile, how each one interacts with its neighbors and the organic beauty of the completed mosaic.

-----+-----

Thank you all for continuing to play with these twelve days!

The hashtag for today's tile is: #8thdayof3zs

To see the guidelines for these 12 days, go here.

We will give out a prize for one randomly chosen poster of each day's tiles on the app and also for one randomly chosen commenter on each day's blog post. (We'll announce the winners shortly after the twelfth day.)

And here's pokeleaf:

See you all on Monday . . . (we're taking tomorrow as a day of rest).