Zentangle Challenge - White Space

The Diva's weekly challenge was to create a Zentangle and not fill in every little space. I must admit that can be a challenge when you are tangling. I often have to consciously make myself leave negative space, but I I seem to like the tangles I create with white space much more. Though you can fill in every space of the tile with pattern and still have white space by carefully choosing which patterns you use. Some of them leave a lot of white within their design and this serves the same purpose compositionally.
At any rate here is my tangle of this challenge:

Visual Journal Class Week 3

Looking back I see it has been almost a month since I worked on my visual journaling page. In week three we were to add additional elements into the collage by stamping with paint using found objects, sponges, paint daubers, stamps. Then some additional shading and color. You can see if you look back to the first week that the collage has changed significantly. There is a lot more depth and layering. I think it has gotten a little dark but it is starting to be cohesive. Onward to week four.  I'll finish up this work in the next couple of days and upload the final result.

A new class is starting this month on strathmoreartist.com. It is entitled "Start Where You Are" and might be a great class for beginners in collage art. I'll keep you posted.

Spring Fever

 

 

Seeing as how we just had around 15 inches of snow or so dumped on us in the last two days you may think I am out of my mind. However, we have had so much new spring merchandise coming into the shop in the last two weeks that I really am having spring fever. There reaches a point in February where I am ready for spring colors to brighten up my mood and my surroundings. Sheila and I have both been getting in new spring stock and the whole store looks full, fresh, and festive.  We have new fashions, handbags, scarves, belts, jewelry and prom purses. Remember, the coffee pot is always on, so stop by for a visit when you can. Until then here is a small preview.

New Tangle - Artoo

This week's Diva challenge was to use her new tangle, named for her son Artoo, who is home and doing well. Photos of him are posted on her blog and he is too cute! I thought the tangle pattern was nice and it is very easy to vary. I love organic tangles because I tend to be a bit rigid and locked into a grid quite a bit. It helps me to come out of my comfort zone.

Zentangle Challenge - Hearts for Artoo

This Zentangle is for week 8 of the Diva Zentangle Challenge. The Diva posted the challenge while her little boy was in the hospital. The challenge was to use two previous challenge techniques. I chose the two pencil string combined with the addition a blind string. So these "Two Hearts in One" are for Artoo as well as my prayers for her family.

Zentangle Challenge

Recently I discovered two wonderful blogs by Zentangle enthusiasts. For those who don't know, a Zentangle is a small black and white patterned drawing, a type of "artistic meditation" developed by Rick and Maria Thomas. Zentangle is a registered trademark and you can find out more about them at zentangle.com.
I love to tangle but often find myself using the same patterns over and over. It is easy to get into a rut. Then I found two new websites. One is a site entitled tanglepatterns.com and is a compilation of many Zentangle patterns organized and maintained by Linda Farmer. Bless her! The other is a site where a weekly challenge is posted for tanglers who would like some fresh inspiration. It's the Diva's Weekly Challege and a link to the site may be found on the right sidebar.
Last weeks challenge was "Breathe" and here is my tangle:

ATC's and what to do with them...

ATC's - what to do with them? Artist trading cards are fun to make and swap but what can you do with them beyond storing them in notebooks or framing them for your walls. While you do have to part with most of the artwork created for swaps there are a few methods for preserving a piece for yourself. I always scan or take a picture of the artwork I send off. This week I was finishing up eleven Valentine ATC's for a swap at artfortytwo.org. Before mailing the cards out I scanned a few of them for use in my own Valentine's. I cut out the scanned ATC's and mounted them on brown and purple cardstock to frame them. I attached the framed pieces to the front of 4x6 cards in pink and cream. Then using the metal foil from last week's make and take I framed the ATC's again on the cardstock  after coloring the foil with alcohol inks.

Add a Valentine verse inside and you have your very own Valentine's - just in time for February.