Zen Gem Swap

Zentangle All Around is currently working on a  zentangle gemstone swap.
I like doing sets of nine ATC swaps. They fit so nicely into a baseball collectors page. Makes it easy to display.
Here are my nine.  Zen gems are fun, a little challenging, but fun and rewarding when they turn out. Hahaha!
There are many YouTube videos teaching gems or zen gems. Why not give it a try today? You will need some colored pencils and a little patience. So worth it! Don't you like a good challenge?

In a Swirling Tide

Lately I feel like my life is a swirling tide.

A lot of changes going on here in the house,

combining the content of two rooms into one,

making a bedroom for the Frankles.

Taking care of issues for my mother,

trying to figure out how to get out of town for a few days,

making plans for our big trip to Newfoundland

in two months,

just a lot needing to be done.

And I'm tired.

 At night, I sit on my chaise and draw.

Lately I've been re-watching the re-runs of M*A*S*H.

That whole team was so funny!

And even though I've seen the shows over and over

throughout the years,

I still laugh. Sometimes laugh really hard.

And chuckle.

 Then I recall that my dad fought in the 'Korean Conflict.'

Never understood why he called it that,

but they call it that in the show, too.

And I see the conditions he fought under,

and I thank God that he was never wounded.

(Although the patients at the 4077 have a 97.8%

chance of survival once they reach the M*A*S*H unit. 

Learned that last night.)

And since Hawkeye wasn't really in Korea,

I'm thankful Dad was safe.

 So with this piece, I used my Stillman & Birn Zeta Series sketchbook 

and just started by placing random black circles in a big wad - 

central of the paper.

Then I start connecting them with 4 swirling lines.

Next came the black and white contrasting fill-in sections.

Then the printemps and the flux . . .

 . . . then the Prismacolor pencils.

They give some really nice colors, go down smoothly,

and blend really well.

As for the swirling tide that is my life - I am starting to see some relief. The studio reorganization is coming along nicely. Mostly.
(I guess I should have taken some measurements before I got too far along in the process. But things will work out.)
Now, if my new Dylusions Paints get here tomorrow as planned, I will be ready to head to Orlando in a few days, to relax, draw, and paint in a Disney hotel for awhile. And eat ice cream and jelly bellies. Can't wait! I need a break from the swirling tide.