All tangled up

I've been a little absent lately... getting totally "tangled" up in a new obsession... Zentangle! It's something I'd seen and tried about 2 years ago and never really got too far. But then I saw that they were offering a beginner class at my local scrapbook store with a CZT (certified Zentangle teacher) so, since I've been trying to get out of the house more, I signed up.

What a difference a class makes!

I learned why I wasn't successful my first time around... my impatience was making it so that I didn't take the time to approach the patterns correctly. Our teacher, Lori, taught us 8 different patterns to get us started. We did some practice tiles for those, and then we used the patterns to tangle on 2 "real" tiles.

I was hooked!

I had a few books already at home from my previous foray into Zentangle, and then ordered a few more including one called One Zentangle a Day that gives you daily exercises and teaches you new patterns and ideas on how to incorporate them into tiles and ZIA (Zentangle inspired art.) I've been doing that pretty much daily since I got it and I'm really having fun. In between those exercises, I've also started doing some ZIA in my sketchbook. It's a total 180 from my attempts two years ago, and I'm loving it!

Here's the first one I did:

Then, after going a little nuts pinning stuff to my Zentangle Pinterest boards, I decided to get a circle template to use in my designs. (Of course, the size of the piece plus the use of a template and colored pens is part of what makes this ZIA instead of a true Zentangle tile. I learned all the lingo in my little class. lol.)

I also decided that I'd like to do a really large-scale piece to eventually frame and hang somewhere. I thought I'd do a practice run for one of the main elements to see how it would turn out - I love it! As you can tell from my friend the sea dragon here, I'm thinking of an underwater theme. (I sketched him and then tangled inside of the sketch.)

Then this last weekend I went back to circles again. I think this one is my favorite so far:

And that's what I've been up to in my spare time recently! I've got a few other things to share, so hopefully I'll be back to update again soon. In the meantime, it's time for my Tangle a Day :)

Comments

[Cathy]

I just came across your blog and I love your work. I do many of the same "crafts" you do from Project Life, art journals, doodling, Zentangle. I want to look up what ZIA is? You are very talented and thank you for sharing...you are a great inspiration!

[Gwen Lafleur]

Hi Cathy,
Thanks! ZIA is Zentangle inspired art... so anything that uses the tangles but isn't necessarily on a tile with a string. Pretty much everything I do... lol. I just popped over to your blog - you have so much fun stuff! I need to explore more :)

[Tonda]

Hey Gwen! I love your stuff! Very inspiring...

[scrapncathy]

Thanks Gwen! I love your work! Keep sharing I'll be back for more inspiration!

[Jenny]

Absolutely love your art work. Your use if colour and design for zia is stunning.

[Kristin]

Saw your art on Pinterest, amazing! I too have just dabbled in it for a while but may be inspired to find a class to take.

[Gwen Lafleur]

Yes, take a class if you can! I tried doing it before and was never happy with how anything turned out. Just taking a beginner class made a huge difference. And it was really fun!

[Sandra Mitchell]

I love your ZIA's. Your drawing are just what I needed for some inspiration tonight. I just started in doing Zentangle in August. I was looking for a kind of craft or artwork that was creative and I wouldn't have to lay out a lot of money. I now do ZIA everyday.

[Gwen Lafleur]

Thank you Sandra! This is definitely the perfect type of artwork for low-cost creativity... I've seen pretty cool designs done with a ball point pen on a Post-It note! I haven't had a lot of time to keep it up lately, so good for you for sticking with it!