Zentangle is...

The Zentangle® Method, created by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts, is an easy to learn, fun and relaxing way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Joey's Weekly Challenge #106

Roman Numeral VI this week was our string for Joey's Challenge, with a special request to use the top and bottom bits. This frame-like space drew me back to the cover of the Zentangle Primer, volume 1, where Maria tamed Pokeleaf into a band. (I just love studying her work, don't you?) My other inspiration came from the Mosaic app, which I mentioned briefly last week. If you're not yet familiar with it, let me recommend it for the following reasons:

  • It connects you to the Zentangle universe that exists beyond blogs. You'll meet so many gifted artists that you may have never seen online, including lots of Certified Zentangle Teachers (CZTs).
  • Everyone--Maria, Rick, the Diva and all your favorite tanglers--meets up in ONE place. No need to visit different websites to stay connected.
  • This social media is supportive and appreciative. You can "appreciate" artists and receive notifications when they've posted new tiles. You can appreciate tiles, as well, and, by doing so, create your personal mosaics, à la Pinterest boards. You can leave comments, too. You can search in so many helpful ways: by pattern, by medium, by artist, by geographic area, by style, by subject (for example, Diva challenges).....
  • If you're using the Primer, you can post your work for the exercises in each chapter and see what others did. It's like being in a global classroom!
  • Zentangle HQ posts regular tips to take you further in your journey.
A few days ago, Maria posted a tip that encouraged us to use graphite, or, as she calls it, "the new black". I elected to use graphite for my Joey tile. I used my favorite pencil--an old number 2 pencil that I found when I was teaching middle school. (I was always on the look out for wayward pencils to replenish the pencil bucket in my classroom!) I don't know what it is, but this pencil feels sooooo good in my hand, and is soft enough to melt into the paper when I blend it, without getting muddy. Do you have a favorite pencil, or pen? Or perhaps an "unofficial" Zentangle tool?



Thank you, Maria! Thank you, favorite pencil! And thank all of you for stopping by! See you next week!

11 comments:

  1. I like this effect, the graphite adds a soft subtlety...lovely!

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  2. Love the graphite effect! It gives your tile a beautiful look and feel. I've got a 7B pencil I love to shade with.

    By the way ;-) the pattern I've used in the V in my Joey tile, is called Charlie.

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    1. Thank you, Ilse! Just tried Charlie out, too. We are big Peanuts fans, so this one's a keeper!!

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  3. Beautiful! I really love how you did Pokeleaf and yes, I look at Maria's work all the time. I'm currently obsessing over border patterns;-)

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    1. Thanks, Michele! I'm waiting to see you on the Mosaic app, where I love to drool over Maria's work!

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  4. There's a wonderful simplicity to this. I really like how you've brought out the negative space in this.

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    1. Thank you, Thomas! I liked your colors on your Joey tile this week! (Sorry I couldn't comment on your blog, but I'm not on wordpress.)

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  5. What a lovely tile, you have had a great affinity with graphite right from the word go, I still need to practise it but have been busy with the Primer. Excellent post, and I can endorse your critique of the mosaic app 100%. See you over there .

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    1. Thank you, YT! Love seeing your uploads on Mosaic!

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  6. What a beautiful tile! I love the choice of tangles and the very special shading.
    Dear Jennifer, I would like to thank you for your encouraging words on my blog! I am so grateful for that!

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I appreciate your comments and suggestions!