Weekly Challenge #173

Hey Hey Hey!!

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!

Also in Regina, the week before CanTangle event, Sandy Steen Bartholomew will be teaching a Right-Brain Business Plan® workshop.  You can see the website here.

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?

Over the last couple of months I began a Revisit / Redux / Remix of the official tangle Mooka, designed by a Marie Thomas, Zentangle co-founder.  Turns out Mooka is one of my go-to tangles that opens me up to mindful focus and inspiration.  This day was no exception because when the time came to shade, I couldn't find my favorite graphite pencil so I turned to the one shading tool I had on hand, a General's Indigo MultiPastel Chalk Pencil.  I was surprised and in awe of the strength and power of this shading choice. I am hooked and I think you may be too.  20+ tiles later I think  I have come to a conclusion or again maybe not as my mind keeps thinking up new solutions.  You can view many more of these Mooka Redux/Remix/Revisit tiles on my Tangled Expressions blog at SharlaHicks.com

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.

Think about the following:

• 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.

Here are some ideas:

• If using white tile and black pen, alter the color choice of your shading tool and background fill.

1. 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.
   
2. 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.

Here I used Zentangle Tile, Black Micron Pen 
& Graphitint Watercolor Pencils for shading 
Unfamiliar with how to do watercolor shading? See note above.

 More challenge thoughts:

• Maybe try a new color of paper as your base tile or paper with black pen. 

1. 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.
   
2. Shade and highlight with matching shading choice.

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.

 Here is my last thought for the challenge:

• If using the new Zentangle Renaissance tiles, select an alternate pen color and shading choice not used before.

1. I personally find deep rich pen colors are extra special on the tan tiles.
   
2. 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??