Diva Challenge #160: "String Theory: Spiral out, Keep Going! (v.2)"

Was not sure if I was going to get this done before the deadline. I started a while ago but the week has been busy.  I have not even had a chance to look at things that others have submitted. I have not used spirals a lot although I like the ways that I have seen others use them, particularly Shelly Beauch. You can look at some great art by her by clicking on here to go to her blog. I think I got a little ambitious with the things that I tried to put in the spirals. Overall it turned out well. Here is what I came  up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Zander, Quib, Knot Ricks, Tripoli, Fengle, Betweed, Marasu, Printemps, Jetties, Indy-rella

I hope to have a little time now to look at what the others have posted on I am the Diva. 

Thanks for visiting. As always, comments are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated.

Go Tangle !!

More play with the Renaissance tiles - Shading

A few days ago I posted a Renaissance tile using the new tangle Rixty. When I was done I indicated that I did not think it was done but I was not sure what I wanted to do. Well I did do something to finish it. It is a different shading than I usually do. Not sure what I think of it. It definitely does make the Rixty stand out a little. I did find out why people were making some of the comments about the Renaissance tiles. When shading, did have to be gentler with these tiles. Was not just when blending, but also when using the white pencil. I used a Prisma white wax pencil for he shading. I tried a few areas with the Zenstone but that was too light so I went over it. I will keep trying. I think I need to get out my copy of Made in the Shade and do a little practice. I hope you enjoy it.

The original shading using the colored and graphite pencils did not seem to impact the tile as much as the white wax pencil. Did not try using a white charcoal pencil. Nest time I use the Renaissance tiles, may have to try shading with that to see what difference, if any there is. 

Thanks for visiting. As always, comments are welcome, encouraged, and appreciated.

Go Tangle !!

More fun with new things: Renaissance tile and Rixty

Can be fun to try new things.  This time is was further experimentation with the Renaissance tiles and trying out the recently released tangle Rixty. The tangle is fun. Can be a little challenging the more that you try with it. Here is the tile that I came up with. Not noticing much of a problem with the tiles. Some have talked about not liking them as much because they are not as thick as the originals. They are not, but have not really had much of a problem with that. Have not used gel pens as much on them and will have to try that to see how they work. I decided to post this tile now although am not sure if I am done with it yet. I am thinking about doing some white highlighting but not sure exactly what I want to do. I hope you enjoy it.

I did this with the black and brown Microns. Shaded it with graphite and a generic colored pencil Burnt Sienna.

Thanks for visiting. As always, comments are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated.

Playing with Renaissance tiles and white highlights

Have been wanting to use the Renaissance tiles for a while but just have not set down to do it. As much as I enjoy doing the Zendala Dare, not having one this week did give me some time to experiment. It also gave me a chance to practice some techniques and tangles that I will be using in a Zentangle® Garden class in a few weeks. Definitely takes a little planning not only for planning out the different size tangles but what to do.

Besides this I had the opportunity to try highlighting with some new tools. I had used the Zenstone a few times but have not used it a lot. I also received a PrismaColor White wax pencil in a package from my sister. I received it a while ago but had not gotten around to trying it yet. I was pleased with it and like it better than the white charcoal pencil that had used before. I think the Zenstone and the charcoal pencil blend similarly but the Zenstone leaves a smoother effect. Maybe is just a difference in how I am using them. I feel it is easier to completely blend out the charcoal pencil. Not as easily with the Zenstone.  Did not use a white gel pen to do any highlighting on this tile. I was having fun with the highlighting and may have gotten a little carried away with it.

I know that Zentangle is not suppose to be representational but because of doing the class I did start out with ideas of what I wanted to do. I used Pea-Nuckle to create a basket to put my organic tangles in. I have not used it a lot lately, but I really do like this tangle.

Well enough rambling, here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Diva Challenge #158: " Duotangle: Diva Dance + Crescent Moon"

This week's Diva Challenge is a Duotangle. It puts two tangles together that are to be used to create your tile or ZIA. The two tangles picked, Diva Dance and Crescent Moon seem to be two tangles that just go together. Both tangles use auras and filled shapes. There are probably more variations for Crescent Moon, but Diva Dance is versatile in that it does not really have a specific shape. It can fill a space of be used in a line. As is usually the case, the  most challenging thing for me is the shading. I think on this one it was not so much the tangles as it is how I used them. I was trying some different things. I hope you enjoy it.

If you have not all ready, I would highly recommend going to I am the Diva and looking at all the great pieces that others have done. If it so moves you, leave a comment about what you like. Most people who participate enjoy some feedback from others. If you are really inspired, try one of your own, even if you do not post it on the site. I plan on taking some time to look at them.

Thanks for visiting, As always, comments are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated.

Go Tangle !!

Diva Challenge # 157: " UMT - Charlie"

I finally was able to finish the tile for this challenge. The first challenge of the month is always a UMT (Use my Tangle) challenge and this month's tangle is Charlie by Erin Olson. The inspiration was Charlie Brown's shirt. You can read about it on Erin's blog here. It is an interesting tangle and there are a variety of ways it can be used. I kept mine simple. Was not into a lot of heavy thinking by the time I got around to working on this. Used a very simple string and two other tangles to put with it. Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles  used: Charlie, Batch, Shattuck

For those of you interested in such things, I used a white Signo UM-153 to make the white lines on the black. Did not turn out too bad. White pens are always a challenge.

Since it is late in the week, I am sure that most of you have all ready looked at the other posts on The Diva's website. I hope to be able to spend some time doing this over the weekend.

Thanks for visiting. As always, comments are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated.

Go Tangle !!

Zendala Dare #93: Snowflake Surprise

This week's Zendala Dare was a challenge. The challenge was to use the template to create a representation of your vision of a snowflake. While I did like the template, as  hard as I tried I could not think of anyway to come up with something that represented a snowflake. I looked at the second one that Erin did, which was beautiful, but could not come up with anything. I did not want to duplicate hers. I think it partly is just the way my brain processes the templates. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that when I see a template I usually look at spaces and think of tangles that might fit. Other people have mentioned before that they will look at a template and it reminds them of something so that directs their zendala. That rarely happens to me. There maybe have been a few times that a template reminded me of something, but to me it was an obvious connection. Trying to come up with a representation of a snowflake stumped me so much I just could not get past it. Since I really did like the template I finally decided that I would just proceed with a zendala and hope for the best. Here is what I came up with. I hope you enjoy it, even if it is not a snowflake.

Tangles used: Quib, Knightsbridge, Betweed 

The center is what I would call a starburst.

I have not taken the time to look at what others have posted but hopefully will be able to do so later. I am still hoping to complete the Diva Challenge, but this week has been chaotic. I feel lucky to get this one done. If you have not looked at the posts on The Bright Owl, would strongly encourage you do so.

Thanks for visiting. As always comments are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated.

Go Tangle !!