Twing-ING

Do you participate in that social media that is Facebook? I'm guessing if you are technically savvy enough to find and follow my blog, you probably savvy Facebook as well. If you go there and search for a group called Square One: Purely Zentangle® you can request membership and be part of the group. The mission, so to speak, of Square One is to go back to the beginning. Back to square one with your zentangle knowledge. Back to the 3 1/2" square white tile. Back to black ink, pencil shading, and no eraser. Back to the way we learned to tangle. 
Each week Chris and Jenny challenge us with one specific tangle to work with. Week one was cadent - I still need to do that one. Weeks two and three were twing and verdigogh. The last two weeks are in my tile above. 
That whole center section is a variation of a new tangle that we - as CZTs - aren't allowed to share step-outs with the public yet. And I tell you that's not a bad thing. Even with the step-outs I couldn't get it right, which is why I am calling that center column a 'variation' of that unknown entity. You see twing waving across the middle - also a variation. I did twing by memory and I forgot a couple lines.  I can't find the step-out for it to save my life! So here is another drawing I did some time ago. Twing is the zig-zagging pattern across the top:

Then I added verdigogh to the center-unnamed-not-official-tanglethatwecannotrelease-yet. (And trust me, it doesn't look anything like this when it's done the step-out way!) Verdigogh is that arm-waving stuff and it's way fun to add to your tangle drawings!
So. Getting back to Square One! You can totally do that and get involved in the fun on Facebook at Square One:Purely Zentangle®. You know you want to!

Watercolored Sunflowers

For several months now I have been following the artwork of Dion Dior. If you don't know who she is you are missing out on some amazing artwork! Seriously, you should stop right now and go look at her blog. She gets the most vibrant, brilliant colors and you know I am all about the color! I found out she teaches an online watercolor pencil class through Joggles. You can see their course offerings here. I signed up for Dion's class and already I am behind. Oh well. I am working on it!

Since this is a purchased class and a livelihood for Dion, I can not go into detail about the instruction but I can show you my first assignment. I began by sketching out a picture. And since I am really getting into zentangle® more and more, I used tangle patterns to make my actual shapes. 

It's called zentangle inspired art - ZIA.

Once I got my sketch the way I wanted it, I began filling in color with my water color pencils. I never know if that is one word or two. Water color or watercolor. And then depending on where you live it could be water color or water colour. 

My pencil of choice is the Derwent Inktense Pencils. I love the vibrancy and depth in the colors!

You are really able to get some 3-D feel with the layers.

And they come in so many colors!

Once I was satisfied with the piece, I flicked a little color around the paper and called it done. I still have two other assignments before I complete week one. And week two has already been assigned. And on Tuesday we get week three :). Wow! Thankfully, Dion doesn't mind if we work at our own pace. Thank you, Dion!!!! (I am a horrible example for my own students.)

String Challenge 015

  

The string challenge this week was fun! The past few weeks have been so busy with revamping my blog, getting ready for the CZT training, then going to the CZT training, then coming home and trying to get caught up at the house - that I am falling further and further behind on my challenges. I think this will at least catch me up with Tangle Patterns' challenge. 

Above is the string Linda gave us, provided by Texas CZT Courtney Frantz. You can see what I came up with. I tried some new ideas - for me - some new patterns and just a little color pop. If you are interested in joining the string challenge, check it out here. We get a new string each week and it's always fun!