Zendala Dare #96 - Back in the Game

So glad that Erin is back with the Zendala Dare! Erin has actually posted three since she's come back, I'm just now getting around to completing them.  She's been busy with nursing school and a career, but now Erin is back with a template:

This is what she gave us to work with. I had no idea what I would do with it, all those lines, the linear feel as opposed to roundness and fullness.

 So I just grabbed my Sharpie fine point and started.

I began by transferring the zendala over to my tile,

then started in that center section.

No specific tangle that I'm aware  of -

I just started drawing.

Reminiscent of Katy Abbott's kuke.

And I just kept adding until I reached a finish point. Add a little shading and here is what I came up with:

I really love the way it turned out! You can see all the other zendalas for this challenge on Erin's blog - The Bright Owl - here.

Zendala Dare #94 - Happy

While Erin was taking some much needed time off, we were missing the Zendala Dare each week. Well, the wait is over - Erin is back and the dare this week included the theme of happy. Erin left the interpretation of that theme up to us. Yay!!!!!

This is the zendala template she provided us with. With the theme in mind, the first thing I thought of when I saw the template was . . .  minions!!! Cause they make me very happy!

So I started laying down lines within the template, which I traced onto a blank zendala. I knew those little round orbs around the outside were the shape I needed for little minion heads and I just took off running from there.

Admittedly, at this point my little guys were looking a lot like Homer Simpson heads, but they just don't make me happy. (Homer Simpson wearing a gas mask!)

More lines, and the minions started taking shape.

Once I got everything drawn, I pulled out the copics and started filling in some colors. And singing . . .
It might seem crazy what I'm about to say Sunshine she's here, you can take a break I'm a hot air balloon that could go to space With the air, like I don't care, baby, by the way
Because I'm happy Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof Because I'm happy Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth Because I'm happy Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Because I'm happy Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do.

Well, you get the idea, but just in case you don't - I am also including the youtube video of Pharrell Williams singing Happy, featuring the Minions - which makes me incredibly happy!
If you want to see how everyone else interpreted the theme Happy, click the link here and visit The Bright Owl. Because I'm happy . . . 

 

Snowflake Zendalas, ZD #35

This week's zendala dare was a lot of fun! I haven't been able to participate in awhile, so I was excited to be able to this time. Erin challenged us to make a snowflake zendala, something she learned about at her CZT training. Erin had also read about this fun technique in Suzanne McNeill's book Zen Mandalas.

You begin by cutting a snowflake. Erin shows how to size the snowflake to fit your zendala at the pink link just above this photo.

Once your snowflake is ready, place it on top of your zendala round and trace it in pencil. You are supposed to do this "lightly." I have never quite been able to figure that whole "lightly" thing out. Mine is always "darkly," or "heavily." Makes for some interesting erasing later.

Then you start figuring out how to split up your zendala. Decide how you want to lay out the lines by looking at your traced "lightly" lines and envision what might work. You can start marking some of the lines you want to use with your micron, or in my case my copic multiliner. Because I have to make things difficult. And different.

After a little while, you must take a five minute play-with-the-adorable-little-puppy break. You know, rub the ears, protect your fingers from getting bitten, throw the green snake toy, protect your fingers from getting bitten, play some more fetch with said green snake toy thingy, protect the fingers from getting bitten,  wipe up a little puddle of "accident" off the floor, protect the . . .  you get the idea.

This is where I decided I was done with laying down lines. I liked the way my template looked at this point. Erin mentioned that this method of completing a template had limitless possibilities. I would have to agree with Erin on that point. Right about here, my daughter mentioned that my zendala no longer looked like a snowflake.

Next I started tangling the various areas of the zendala.

I notice that I say "next" a lot. Oh well, at some point the adorable-little-puppy is going to get sad that I am no longer providing chew toys by way of my fingers, and will decide to chew on my jeans instead. (And sometimes inadvertantly my leg. Take a break to put puppy back in her play area, away from my feet and legs.)

Add shading and call it done. Can you line up any of my completed zendala with the lines of my snowflake?

I really love the shading step. I used to hate this part, but now it's one my favorite things to do. Lots of people are posting their snowflake zendalas over at The Bright Owl, Erin's page. You can check those out here. You could also complete one of your own and post it there for the rest of us to admire :).

Zendala Dare #24

It is hard to believe it's been 24 weeks since Erin started the Zendala Dare. I participated in her first dare. It was my 3rd post on this new blog. Since then I have gotten fully immersed in this art style called zentangle, to the point that last month I trained and became a certified zentangle teacher. For jollies, here is the zendala I drew for that first challenge.

I have learned a lot since then, but I still kind of like this zendala. Haha! Wow! I've learned a lot about editing since then, too.

Back to week #24, this is the template Erin gave us to work with. I didn't really know what I would do with it, nothing was coming to mind. So, I just picked up a pen and started with that center square. Then I moved on to the main square and dreamed up some borders.  I enjoyed trying out Helen's petal ribbon (a take-off of finery,) which you can see on her blog A Little Lime here. A really pretty and fun variation! From there, this tile just kind of took on a life of its own. Throw in some Pitt artist pens and Derwent Inktense Pencils, flick a little color around, and call it done.

Several people have asked how I take photos of my tiles for posting. My main problem is always finding even light. Look for a spot where you have the same amount of light across your tile - and background, if you use one. Be careful around windows because you will get some sunlight, some shadows, making your photo uneven. 
Every photo on my blog has been taken with my iphone 4S, even though I have an excellent canon, the iphone just takes good pictures. I get as close as I need to so that the tile and a minimal amount of the background fill up the screen on my phone. I lean against my chair, lock my arms to my side, hold my breath, watch for the square on the phone that tells me the shot is in focus, and gently push the button. No snapping, no jerking, no punch the button to get it over. Gently, so your photo is sharp. Then I just email the photo to myself for editing. And that will be the subject of a different post.
Head on over to Erin's page The Bright Owl and check out all the incredible zendalas! You should really draw one of your own and post it for us to enjoy :).

Zendala Dare #22

I am five weeks behind on the Zendala Dare. Life just got away with me, now I'm trying to play catch-up! So far behind that I forgot that the Zendala Dare this week was to take the mandala pattern above and turn it in to a Monodala - one pattern with variations. I totally forgot the whole "mono" part of the instructions. I sat up late last night and into the morning drawing, hoping to catch-up a couple things. And this dare was one of them.

This is what I drew. I had a great time with it, trying to figure out all the little shapes and angles. I sat down a little while ago to post this and when I went to Erin's page to grab her button I saw that word "Monodala" and thought, oh, yeah, whoa! So, I will try to draw one of those tonight - because I do want to give it a go -  but I'm posting this anyway. And in the meantime, I'm probably one more week behind somewhere else. Life!

To look at the "correct" monodalas, visit Erin's page here. Why don't you join in the fun?

In Honor Of . . . My Dad, Zendala Dare #17

The Zendala Dare's challenge this week is to honor someone who has been touched by cancer - either still fighting, or someone who lost the battle. She gave us this template:

and asked us to keep that someone special in mind as we tangled this mandala. 
I thought about that one for a few minutes. In my circle of family and friends, my mom, dad, mother-in-law, nephew, an aunt, several uncles, a sweet photographer friend, several friends at church, even myself have all heard that doctor's diagnosis of cancer. I think the one that impacts me the most is my dad. He battled cancer for years, running tests every 3 months for 4-5 years. Dad died a little over six years ago - not from cancer, but from a heart issue. Of all the illnesses my parents went through, from Dad I received his cancer genes, and from my Mom - her diabetes. 
This tile was fun to work on. In his healthy days, Dad loved being out on the water. Riding around in his boat, putting across the lake, throwing a line out for a fish, setting up a trout line, fishing for cod off the docks of Newfoundland, or casting a net for shrimp - it didn't matter as long as there was water. This tile just reminds me of water and boats and maybe some fishnets in the background. 
Thanks for a fun challenge, Erin! Head on over to The Bright Owl and check out the Zendala Dare. It is not too late for you to post a zendala of your own - in honor of someone you love!

Oodles of Flowers

It's time for the Zendala Dare #16! Here was this week's template:
Each week, Erin gives us a blank mandala template for us to work the magic of zentangle on. We tangle any patterns we want to use, then we share them on her page The Bright Owl for all to see.

I actually drew two tiles this week. I need to practice my line work, so this was my first effort. My straight lines are alright, but I really have problems with round lines. I'll keep working on it.

This one I am little bit happier with. This shot will give you a little perspective of the size paper I'm working with.

I began by watercoloring a couple tiles. I usually do at least two in case I mess one up somehow. Doesn't usually happen, but sometimes it does. Once I decided I wanted to draw flowers, I chose the pinkish tile over the blue. Pink reminded me more of flowers, the blue more of water. I traced the template onto my tile lightly with a pencil, then started adding in lines with my micron.

I just kept filling in spaces. I didn't start out planning on doing flowers only, but it just seemed right as I went along. Then I started filling in spaces with the black micron.
  
And - - - my finished tile. I stood there and stared at those four open pink spaces. I thought about filling them in with leaves, and then thought, no. Less is better. It doesn't hurt to leave some open spaces. To check out everyone's zendala work, head on over to The Bright Owl here. There's plenty of time for you to work on one yourself and join us!

Catch Up Time, Zendala Dare #14

Not sure why, but my life has been a little hectic lately. Last week I was busy building a new facebook page The Creator's Leaf and working on this blog - trying to make it more professional. Crazy times! Cause I sure don't know what I'm doing. Anyway, I missed last week's Zendala Dare :(. Above is the template Erin gave us to work with.

I found this template a real challenge. As I was staring at it last night - trying to think, "what circular patterns do I know?" and it dawned on me that this could be one big gear! Yay! Steampunk! So this is what I did with Erin's template. Lots of fun! I started with the center gear, then expanded the metal arms along the sides of the smaller circles in the template. The large circles at the top made up a bunch of screws and fittings. Add in some pipes and a wall in the background, then liberally wash some watercolors around. Ta-da!

Patterns are pretty much ones I made up: geerz, barz, pipez, and a wall :). Color from Derwent Inktense Pencils, a Pitt Artist Marker, and  Pentel Slicci pen. Check out all the zendalas that were done on time at The Bright Owl.

Zendala Dare #15 . . . Already?

It is so hard to believe that we are already at week fifteen of Erin's Zendala Dare! I love doing this challenge every week. I was so busy last week - working on a new facebook page and working on my blog - I just never got around to last week's zendala. I plan on doing it later today so I can get caught up :). Above is the template Erin gave us this week. It reminded Erin of candy. To me it looked like Christmas packages and I was determined not to tangle a bunch of packages. 

So I just started thinking about random patterns that would work well in lines. And I switched a few of them up to make it work even better. Threw in a couple of my own patterns and this is what I got. Hopefully it isn't too random, but at least it doesn't look like Christmas paper - haha! (Actually I love Christmas paper, I just didn't want to do the expected.)


Patterns - auraknot, hollibaugh, crossroads, muzic, melody/variation, newell, woods/weave mixed together, knightsbridge/variation, fescu, and my patterns blox and pipez.


To check out all the zendalas, head on over to Erin's page The Bright Owl here.