Zentangle® Tile #4

I created this tile in about an hour on a Saturday morning while my house was nice and quite while listening to “salsa” softly in the background.  I used some of the new tangles I have learned in the last week and also added a couple of individual doodles for fun.

Tangles Patterns Used:

• Bubbles
• Seaweed
• Vines
• Cubine
• Knightbridge
• Crescent Moon
• Printemps
• Btl Joos (S. Bartholomew)

 I must say the one thing I am learning about this Zentangle® is that I need to work small.  This tile is a little crowded but I did get some new “Apprentice” tiles that are a little larger, therefore, giving me a little more room.  The quality of the paper is a bit more cardstock feel but the micron pen work well with it.  These tiles come in a kit but can be found at Amazon and also at Etsy.

As always take care and look for your creative joy!
WonderingMindField

Art Journal Page #5

I was thinking about my daughter when I created this page and it really turn out much better that I imagine.  It is always a surprise what happens when you are creating in the joy zone (as I like to call it).  I like and adore my daughter and she inspires me and encourages me everyday to just let my imagination go and stop controlling the outcome. 

I found this stencil by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer from the Crafter’s Workshop (click on Julie’s name for purchasing options) and I just had to do something with it because if reminded me so much of my daughter.  I started with pasting dictionary paper on the journal page then I had this small square pattern stencil and by spreading modeling paste on I created the block pattern you see on top and bottom of the page.

I also used washi tape with numbers and paste it randomly, then created the stencil impression and colored in the lines a little thicker and with some nice aqua paint which I thinned out, I started adding the different shades of blue. With some blue and orange stains from Tim Holtz® I painted the squares and added some metallic butterflies that have been on my junk pile for ages from a Dollar Store haul a few years back.  In the picture they look darker bu they are silver.

This page took me about and hour and 15 minutes because it really was a very relaxing time for me and I felt good about it.  I find that when I'm thinking about my daughter she has that calming effect on me which them brings out better results.  I used a stamp by Studio G (#1082990) “Love Yourself” because right before I started this page my daughter and I were having a discussion about women not loving themselves enough and how we tend to sabotage instead of elevating ourselves.

My daughter is 20 years old and in this day and age is always amazing to me how many more obstacles cross her life that when I was her age.  Many conflicting messages regarding what is considered an the ideal woman instead of what a real woman is.  We both decided that a real woman is who we want to be and not what the social media, magazines, tv shows, or what the red carpe tells us it is.  Yes there are more size 8 that there are 3, there are more curves than straight lines, so if the the houses of style still want to continue doing business this way then it is their loss not ours.  I think a beautiful woman is someone who is happy with herself and it shows, whether she is a size 0 or a size 18.  She knows that trying to obtain perfection is to let others dictate her path in her life and in this world.  Achieving your own perfection and not living in the illusion of others idea or perfection is what make us real and not a product.

Be safe and always remember to find your creative joy, whatever that may be…
WonderingMindFiled

Art Journal Page #4

Alright…this is much better!  I liked the way this turned out and it is the first page I’m happy with after the few mishaps I’ve had in the past.  I learned how to correct a few mistakes I’ve made in my previous pages.  For example, I used a tree stencil and used modeling paste to fill it in and form the tree with a thin layer of the paste.  I took my time my time and first place the papers and embellishments on the paper and see if I liked the placement before I started gluing.

I glued some bit and pieces I had, such as the half circle roman numbers that resemble a clock to add some interest.    I  used dictionary paper and ripped a few pieces and decoupage  the scrap of papers.  I discover my favorite tool, dry wall tape.  I was looking for something in my basement that had a bit of grid feel to it and came across the tape used to hold two dry wall together, you know that annoying tape you have to lay on the dry wall and then plaster the thing.  Well this makes a great texture and because it already come a little tacky it stays put until glued down.

You never know what treasures can be found in the basement, since I also found door screen material that also make great grid texture and both the tape and the screen material are thin and do not add too much bulk to the page.

When coloring the page I did forget to mention that I created the tree after I painted the page with aqua acrylic paint.  When completely dry I used painters tape and taped down the stencil then with the modeling paste created the tree.  to add contrast with the background I took some orange acrylic paint and with a little water painted the tree.  The great thing was that the modeling paste created a nice texture and when painted if had grooves and line that resemble tree lines.

This is definitely a promising start for me and I hope to continue learning and improving while of this beginner’s journey.

Be safe and continue searching for your creative joy,

WonderingMindField

Zentangle® Tile #3

Here we go another tile to share with you.  I was a little confused about how to go about it but I told myself to just go with it and see where I end up.  After all that is the principle teaching of the Zentangle® method or so I read, to let your mind wonder and clear it of all heavy thoughts.  I stated with a string that resemble a curvy x.

The tangles I used are:

• COIL – by Sue Jacobs
• CADENT – by Zentangle® Original – Suzanne McNeil
• Lattice
• FLOWER – Background
• SEAWEED
• FLYING GEESE – Suzanne McNeil
• JUMP – Suzanne McNeil

The “lattice” pattern I copied from the pattern on the fence in my house and after I drew I thought it looked a little plain.  I have seen on the internet a drawing where the artist had drawn two patterns and make them look like one was actually behind the other and I really liked it so I gave it a try.  I really like the illusion and plan to practice some more and use it again in the future.

I try to make tiles that incorporate whatever tangle I have learned that week.  I have a pretty busy life but I have given myself a goal of learning 5 tangles and to then create a tile to put all of them together.  I hope I can learn at least enough tangles to create at least two tiles a week or more, it all depends on how crazy my week is. Keep my fingers crossed.

As always please visit the Zentangle® official website for all information regarding the Art of Zentangle®.
Everyone is welcome to critic my tile and hopefully be inspired to create since even a beginner like me can learn and find joy in art.  Be safe and as always look for your creative joy.

Wonderingmindfiled

Art Journal Page #3

I know practice makes perfect, but even I grimace when I finished this page.  This is the tragedy that occurs when you try to do as others and then realize you have no idea how to finish. 

It started with using too much gesso, then I though about using texture (bad idea on this page.  I hade seen another very talented artist use lace and scrap of papers and using the gesso to cover it.  Well, as can see it did not go very well.  I kept at it with paint in the hopes that it would get better.  Not so much!

But this disaster just thought me one very good lesson, more is not always better.  Hope you learn from this catastrophe and learn that layering has to been done gradually and slowly.  Just because it worked for somebody else does not mean it will for you or that the end result will be the same.

I must know think of another page and the good thing is that I think I have a better understanding of how to approach this art journaling business.  I will not despair but I will persevere. 

Be Safe and always look for your creative joy,

WonderingMindField