Welcome to this week's Challenge.
Before we begin, you may notice that my obligatory preamble is missing! Well, that's cuz i've moved it over there --> see it?
I have a few things to share with you today...
ONE - that i've been asked to teach at CanTangle, a learning even for Certified Zentangle Teachers being held in Regina, SK in July 2015!
Currently i am in Providence, Rhode Island, attending the 15th CZT Seminar. So today you will all be treated to a guest post from Sharla R. Hicks, CZT! Enjoy!!
Weekly Challenge #173: Redux, Remix, Revisit Your Comfort Tangle
Hummmm redux is one of THOSE words! Wikepidea states: "Redux is an adjective, meaning "brought back" or "resurgent"." Another way to look at Redux is as a Revisit-Remix of old and new. How does this apply to Zentangle and today's Diva Challenge?
My challenge to you this week is:
- Redux, Remix, Revisit a familiar favorite tangle, one you may call a comfort or go-to tangle.
- I challenge you to pick one you have not visited in a while as this revisit opens new channels of mindful creative thinking.
- Optional: Choose a secondary comfort tangle(s) to highlight, blend and intertwine with your first choice.
- Go about your exploration using a mindful, one stroke at time approach.
- Do not rush the process—slow down—breath—take deliberate strokes—appreciate and find joy in the process—know you are enriched by your participation in the challenge.
- Change up your Revisit / Redux / Remix by selecting a new to you tile color or shape, different color paper and/or shading choices.
- Exaggerate with bigify or miniaturization.
- Change up with thin to thick variations.
- Change up straight to curvy or visa versa.
- Draw with &/or without string.
- Exaggerate with bigify or miniaturization.
Here are some ideas:
- If using white tile and black pen, alter the color choice of your shading tool and background fill.
- For example in the Mooka Redux shown above, I used General's Indigo MultiPastel Chalk Pencil for shading and experimented with what I call black out.
- You could change up your shading with Color Pencil, Pastel Chalk Pencil, Watercolor Pencil, Watersoluble Pen, or any other shading tool of choice like watercolors. (see note below for some help if needed)
NOTE: If you need some help, I am offering 2 shading tutorials over on my Tangled Expressions Blog.
- One is using Gelly Roll Pens in a watercolor shading technique.
- The other outlines using Watercolor Pencils for shading as shown in the below example.
- I also use many other shading techniques, but I think these two are less known, so I hope you enjoy.
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Here I used Zentangle Tile, Black Micron Pen & Graphitint Watercolor Pencils for shading Unfamiliar with how to do watercolor shading? See note above. |
- Maybe try a new color of paper as your base tile or paper with black pen.
- One of my favorite papers for rich color variations is Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel paper, they make 10 or more colors.
NOTE: I prefer drawing on the smoother side of Mi-Teintes paper for more control over my line.
- Shade and highlight with matching shading choice.
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Here I used a Green-Toned Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel paper, black Micron Pen, shaded with GraphiTint Watercolor Pencil & highlighted with Clear Stardust Sakura Pen. |
- If using the new Zentangle Renaissance tiles, select an alternate pen color and shading choice not used before.
- I personally find deep rich pen colors are extra special on the tan tiles.
- Shade and highlight with matching shading tools.
Here is the real joy of the challenge:
After completing your tile(s), go back and compare your tangle choices to earlier works, you will be greeted with new variations and ideas that a Redux, Remix, Revisit of an old familiar tangle and friend brings.
My wish for each of you this week is the joy found in the mindful creative process of Redux, Remix, Revisit Your Comfort Tangle and I can't wait to see what you come up with!
Till then,
Sharla
Tangled Expressions blog at SharlaHicks.com
Sharla R. Hicks, a Certified Zentangle Teacher, certified under the tutelage of Zentangle founders Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas in February 2011, Class 5, and returned in June 2013, Class 11. She has made Zentangle an almost daily practice for the last 3.5 years which has had a profound effect on her discipline as an artist, her creative abilities, given back her love of teaching, and most significantly—Zentangle has helped her find her Artistic Voice. Sharla crosses the boundaries of expressive quilter, fiber artist, mixed media, collage, writer, printmaker and more. Her current focus is offering the gift of Zentangle to others through workshops, classes and lectures. Her Tangled Expressions blog and personal website is SharlaHicks.com. Sharla started the online store SoftExpressions.com in 1996 where she supports and teaches aspiring Zentangle artists and Expressive Quilters with innovative products, tutorials, and Zentangle Classes in the prettiest warehouse on the block in Anaheim, CA, USA. Sharla grew her business from the ground up and it has been quite an adventure. Now she find extra joy each day in the mindful exploration of Zentangle.
If you have a blog, add the site-specific URL where your tile is posted to the linkey machine below! Don't forget to link back here so that others can join in the fun! (if you don't know how to find this, you can see my half assed tutorial here) Also, please feel free to come back often and visit the links of those people on the linkey machine - don't forget to leave a comment or feedback, everyone loves feedback. ;)
If you don't have a blog but still want to participate, you can email your tile to me and i will put it in the slideshow. (send submissions to: weeklychallenge at mail.com) [not gmail, just mail]. I just ask that you put in the subject line: Challenge # ________
The deadline for each weekly challenge is Saturday night so that i can round everyone up by Sunday. What this means is that i will stop adding tiles to the slideshow on Sunday. You're still more than welcome to do the challenges and add your name to the linkey machine. - although to be honest the deadline is pretty forgiving.
I will be more diligent with the linkey machine - by editing out the ones that don't work, the doubles, the links that lead to nowhere, the links that go just to blog home pages (this is why we need those site specific urls), and the spam. And there is some spam. PLEASE do not put your *home* page in the linkey machine... please? for me??
Can't wait to get home from work today and play. Laura your tiles are an inspiration beyond words. I really love how you have played with mooka! See you later!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharla, your mooka tiles are divine!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharla, I appreciated you wonderful challenge. Thanks for hosting while Laura earns her wings. I'm so glad that she is in Providence. What a time she is having.
ReplyDeleteWow, I am so impressed by how each of you embraced the Redux, Remix, Revisit challenge. I can see that mindful Zentangle was your focus. Sharla
ReplyDeleteI have just found out about the weekly challenge reading up on Zentangles. I was almost thwarted as I've not done this before, haven't a stash of tangles, let alone favorites. But it was just the impetus I needed to upload what I've been working on.
ReplyDeleteWhile any piece of paper is fair game, I chose a nice warm peachy art paper I've had waiting for a little something to do. Is 20 years too long to wait?
Thank you for the creative push and to everyone else sharing their work. I dream in Zentangles.
Cheryl, welcome aboard!! It's always fun to see someone new join the Zentangle family! :0) Annette
DeleteVery much appreciated, Annette! I look forward to getting tangled up in this family. It's a great creative and meditative method and supportive family.
DeleteI like using the smooth side of Canson Mi Teintes too - the colour range is fantastic. Just found my old sample book in my paper stash. The samples are A6 (53/4x4 inches) so easy to crop to 'tile size' or leave as is. I think this is a really economical way to explore a LOT of different colour options.....and such fun. There's even a colour very similar to the Renaissance tiles.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great challenge. I never in my life would have thought to use gelly rolls with water. I purchased the "normal" gelly rolls from Sakura a while back and after trying them thought: What's the point? But now I know (for me)! Thanks for all your tips, Sharla, and your beautiful tiles are so inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharla for this great challenge. I was a real zen experience!
ReplyDeleteSharla, Thank you sooooooo much for stepping in for Laura!! WOWZA, your Mooka tiles are breathtaking!!! I enjoyed reading all of your helpful hints about color, too! I just had to try a black tile. They are so dramatic looking! It felt good to get into the Zen too. It was much needed for me, this week, as I am teaching Vacation Bible School to preschoolers!!! :0D Anyway, your work is so inspiring and I admire your talent! Thanks again!! Oh, I looked at your class schedule and hope to take your classes, as I am in So CA too! :0) Share Humanity
ReplyDeleteI'm delighted to find this challenge. I'm new to Zentangle and this is just what I need to stretch and grow. I so enjoy looking at all the other tiles - thanks, all, for sharing your amazing creativity.
ReplyDeleteVery fun challenge!
ReplyDeleteThis one was really fun - two of my 'comfort' tangles made it much easier. Thanks for providing this weekly challenge to keep us on our toes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stepping in while The Diva is in Providence. Interesting challenge. Hope I did it justice.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sharla, for your lovely mookas, the helpful coloring tips and the super-fun challenge.
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love all your Mooka tiles, Sharla! Thanks for the fun challenge!
ReplyDeleteSharla, I found this challenge super fun and I loved your work - gorgeous and inspiring!
ReplyDeleteJust squeaking in at the last minute. Thanks for the great challenge.
ReplyDeleteThis was a pretty difficult challenge for me.. You can find it at Day 26 of my entry!
ReplyDeleteI was looking through your site just now and the word "anxiety" jumped out at me. So, I clicked on it. And discovered a wonderful way to hopefully tone down some of mine. I have many life struggles right now and visiting your blog today was one of the best decisions I have made. Thank you for sharing with all of us, especially that post on anxiety. I know what that's like and feel for anyone who has to endure it. Now, on to the orbs and TIPPLE!
ReplyDeleteLoved this challenge! Gave me the most creative week I've had in months! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by how difficult I found this. Using favourite tangles, fine. Mixing them, interweaving them - nope. I tried twice and just kept on giving then their own space. Maybe I'm just not very good at following instructions.
ReplyDelete