Habits... make good art...

Okay... now 2017 can officially begin! 

I finally completed my Intention piece... I've layered lots of thoughts, celebrations, goals, and dreams into the final project. I began this piece by writing about things I wanted to celebrate and do in the coming year. I wrote about my word of the year and I admitted fears to help me release them. I then started painting over this layer... adding and removing color as felt right. As I mentioned in my last post, I am drawn to spiral shapes and LOVE to draw them as well. I decided to draw a large printemp and cut it out to include on my page. I was thrilled when the interior spiral sort of "sprung" out. I knew I had to use it in my piece! It was perfect... representing to me that by sticking to my word of the year it would help me spring to what I want to be/accomplish.

WIP : With spring released...

WIP : With spring flattened...

After placing and carefully gluing my printemps/spirals so that the spring could also lay flat when I wanted it to, I figured out how I wanted to add my word of the year... I initially thought I'd collage a little paper over part of the symbol and then write over it. It didn't feel right. It didn't represent my word. So... as I do whenever I am stuck, I walked away for a little while. Eureka! I knew what to do... I got out my gelly roll clear glaze pen and wrote my word, "habits," around and around the Printemps, it would show the words in a certain light and it would add a little dimension. I adore how you can see it... it's there... it's important... yet it disappears if you're not paying attention. It reminds me that I need to be vigilant to stay on track to make actions into habits. 

I wanted to add in my intention/goal for the year that was supported by my word of the year. This has become a mantra that means so much to me. I first watched this speech by Neil Gaiman last year... it inspired me and I watch it again when I need to relight my fire. I have written down quite a few things from this speech that resonate with me... but I'll stick to some of his words that are the thoughts behind my goal. 

"When things get tough... this is what you should do... 
Make Good Art.

Do what only you can do best... 
Make Good Art. 

Make it on the bad days, make it on the good days too."

Sooooo... my goal for the year is to simply make. good. art. How do I do this? I make art on my good days, and my bad days... I make a habit of creating. 

My next challenge in this piece was how did I want to convey it... Simply writing it wasn't going to give me the Oomph! I needed it to have. I decided to create and cut out my own stencil. I then used modeling paste to create a dimensional phrase. Yay! Just the effect I had hoped for. 

I continued with glazing and adding a bit more color before using a dip pen to add some printemps and swirls. I used Dr. Ph Martin's lovely iridescent ink in black sparkle to continue the theme of seeing things differently depending on the light and angle. After a bit more messing around with it, I am now calling it finished. I feel so satisfied with my intentions and goals... all put onto a piece of watercolor paper. 

This demonstrates that "habits" is invisible...

With a slight shift of the angle "habits" become visible. 

Detail shot...

More details... you can see the raised mantra. 

I liked how the shadow showed dimension here. 

I keep a bullet journal... this is the page where I kept track of what I used for this project. 

I am so happy to be participating in Life Book and Our Tangled Lives again this year. The inspiration and opportunity to learn from other artists is priceless! 

It's time to start the next project!

I so appreciate all who visit, and am always grateful for any comments! Have a wonderful, art filled day! 

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Another Challenge-ING Week

I'm back to my old ways... posting at the last possible moment! I guess I'm just happy I had a chance to participate in the Diva's Weekly Challenge again! YAY! This is Challenge #184 : ING. The funny thING is I just posted a photo I drew of ING last week along with the UMT Challenge. I briefly considered being v-e-r-y lazy and reposting it since I knew I had a busy week... but. that. would. be. cheating. and. that. would. not. be. good. I wanted to experiment  with the pattern a little more than I have, so it was fun to fashion it into a frame with a combination of large and small zig zags. I enjoyed filling it with a variety of tangles; paradox, crescent moon, and some tripoli inspired fillers. It seemed appropriate to call this one "Frame-ING."

Diva's Weekly Challenge #184 : "Frame-ING"

Cami and I taught a Beyond the Basics String Theory Class this week. I had so much fun trying to figure out what my special gift would be to the students attending this class... I considered many, many options... and then one day I was sitting outside admiring my collection of beach rocks that I keep in a basket... that's when I knew what I would do! I selected a variety, washed them well, painted on a sealer, and then I watched the bijou video again! I took notes of all the bijou-isms that appeared. So now... my continuing students (intro class students receive a name place card-click here for post) will have the opportunity to collect a new tangled rock with bijou-ism at each class they attend! Here is a sampling...

Bijou-isms : Student Gifts

This week's class was very small, but AWESOME! We LOVE our students! The kindest, most inspiring women! Here are a couple photos of class mosaics and art that they completed...

Gorgeous, aren't they?!

This is the Zentangle® Class Postcard I posted earlier this month at the yoga studio. I made a little business card holder that is next to it. 

Okay... the best for last... Here are the cookies I baked for class this week... (by the way... feel free to take one, but one MUST be saved for the Duchess... I promised her last week...) 

Yummmmmyyyy...

These are the super, delicious Peanut Butter S'more Cookies! Thanks for stopping by... enjoy the cookies! These are best with a nice, cold, glass of milk. There's plenty of delicious milk in the fridge... help yourself!

A Week of Firsts...

I am soooo happy to have had a chance to do the Diva's Weekly Challenge. This week's challenge was to let water inspire you. I knew I wanted to mess around with a couple of techniques I had not used in Zentangle® Inspired Art before. I just hoped it would work like I was picturing it in my mind... 

I started off with Sakura Glaze clear pen. I made my watery quipple along the tile, stopping every so often to let the previous orbs dry. I then took a few of my prismacolor pencils to start lightly layering color in the portion above the wave. I wanted this light variation of greens and blues to show under the glaze pen. I then added printemps in this section. Once the tile had dried completely I used some lovely blues to watercolor over the tile. This tile is the first I have completed with out ANY black ink or graphite shading! Oh my... This was so much fun! (It was kind of tricky trying to photograph this to show the light sparkling off the glaze pens... I think you can see it a little bit here.)

Weekly Challenge #181 Water : "Breakers"

Another first:

This week I had the amazing opportunity to teach my first "Introduction to Zentangle" class along with Cami, since becoming CZTs. It was a blast! I feel so fortunate to be able to teach this meditational art form to others. 

When I went to training one of the things that impressed me was the way that Rick, Maria, and the whole Zentangle family created a wonderful experience for us all. I knew that I would strive to do my best at each and every class to create this atmosphere for my students as well. I used bijou tiles to calligraphy my students names and then used Zentangle patterns to tangle each one. I thought it would be a lovely way to welcome my students... I created a little scallop frame to hold the tiles and made a bijou size "ceremony" card to place on the back. I also made little paper easels that I included in their kits. (I cut out all these with my AWESOME Silhouette Cameo!) Organizing it all for this class was very time intensive, but going forward it will be much easier since I have the templates all complete. I was so happy with how it all looked...

Preparing for Zentangle Workshop

Here is a photo that also shows the "Ceremony" steps I placed on the back of each place card.

I absolutely LOVED teaching with Cami. She is one of the world's youngest CZTs, and she is AWESOME! I was so very proud of her! My students were all amazing! I am looking forward to seeing them attend future workshops. One of the students, Eileen, left the most amazing testimonial on my artist page on Facebook... I have to share it... She absolutely MADE MY DAY! Here is what she said:

Eileen wrote: "GREAT INTRODUCTORY CLASS: Fun, fast-paced yet relaxing and artistically liberating Zentangle with Holly and Cami last night. I've seen miscellaneous web instructions, bought and read several books on the subject, and tried to practice Zentangle on my own but just wasn’t able to get into it until their class. In just a few hours this wonderful mother/daughter team covered the basics of pressure, strings, using designs, shading and much more. Both were very professional, well organized and great teachers. They love what they are doing and it shows. I left totally relaxed yet energized, inspired and confident that my inner artists was on her way out. It was amazing to see, given the same directions, how all student’s work evolved differently. Zentangle brings out the artist in everyone one line at a time. Looking forward to advancing my artistic side. Thanks Ladies!"

I couldn't have asked for a better way to start out! Thank you so much, Eileen!

Here are a couple of mosaics of the art work completed in class. (Completed one tile and started a second...)

As you can see, they all did a fantastic job!

I also have to mention that I completed my .... 600th BIKRAM YOGA class this week! Yippee!! It was a very eventful week!

A Double Challenge & Tangley Nails

Okay... So I admit it... I am cheating... I am combining the Diva's Challenge #176 and #177 in this entry. Weekly Challenge #176 : BYOB, was to spill your beverage of choice over your tile, and then tangle. I prepped my tile... and then it sat... and sat... and I ran out of time. Then it was time for Weekly Challenge #177 : "Truffle by Caroline Broady, CZT" which was to include Caroline's tangle in your entry. 

It's funny, I struggled looking at my spilled and splotted coffee, not certain how I wanted to begin (which is why it sat a week!)... and then as soon as I sat down and played around with truffle a little, deconstructing and separating it out, I knew exactly what to do with my tile. It's funny how things happen like that. I loved seeing Caroline's inspiration wallpaper and that guided me in drawing a few tangleations as separate sections... eventually becoming a prehistoric looking plant surviving an afternoon storm. (I couldn't help but think of this one resembling something... so Zentangle® Inspired Art!) 

"Afternoon Storm"

And now... Tangley Nails...

A couple of weeks ago my Mom called me to tell me about this AWESOME nail product that she thought I would love... I could upload my own art (WHHHAAATTT???!!!) and have  custom nail wraps made! I looked into it right away. PERFECT! (...imagining teaching class with super, cute, tangley nails... YESSSS!) I started looking through all the designs available, over 300!! I thought I'd start putting my favorites in the shopping cart... Oh. my. I put A LOT in my cart. I then decided I loved this product so much I was just going to jump right in and become a consultant! I signed up that night. (My sister is a consultant, so it was an even easier decision!) 

The girls and I had so much fun applying our nail wraps when they arrived a few days later! I wish I had taken a photo of them applying them... it was a blast! It was fun to see how we all three ended up with totally different manicures using the same 4 sheets of designs! (Another Zentangle similarity!) I absolutely LOVE that these nail wraps are non-toxic, latex free, last 2 weeks on fingers, 4 weeks on toes, can remove without harsh chemicals, doesn't damage your nails, no dry time, easy to apply, can get 3 or 4 manicures/pedicures from each sheet, etc... but mostly... I love being able to have fun, elegant, trendy, romantic, or whatever mood I'm in nails... I feel like it's another fun way to express my personality. How great is that?! 

I have been having so much fun with my Jamberry Nails. I obviously had to do some Zentangle Inspired Nails! (I think this is official terminology!) ;) 

Zentangle Inspired NAILS!!!

If you like you can check out the amazing designs yourself at my store. Nails wraps are buy three, get one free! (excluding collegiate/sorority/create-your-own.) I haven't designed my own yet... but it won't be long! Thanks again Mom and Harmony for this fun introduction! 

An Illuminating Challenge and a Completed Project

First things first... 

This week's diva challenge #175 : UMT Crux by Henrike Bratz. This was my first opportunity to draw Crux. Wow! I LOVE it! It's such a gorgeous pattern with so many tangleations possible. I started by drawing the basic pattern in my sketchbook... 

Mystery tangle made with first attempt... and then Eureka! 

Oops! I realized I made too many diagonal lines so that practice became some other tangle! I started again and realized where I ventured off on my own. :) There we go... Much better! I then started experimenting with the pattern transitioning from small to large to small again. I also wanted it to start escaping it's grid...

Rough sketch as I played with Crux...

I looked at the rough sketch I made and decided this was the path I wanted to take with my tile this week. I loved how the design resembled some sort of lantern... Probably a fairy lantern... This means it needed a little fairy dust, prismacolor pencils! I haven't used color much in my Zentangle® Inspired Art, it was fun to incorporate a little layer of color here. I was ready to create my tile! Here is my entry...

Diva's Weekly Challenge #175 : UMT Crux : "Illumination"

The process was illuminating! So I named this tile, "Illumination." Perfect in more ways than one... I think the little fairies were happy too! 

Now about my FINALLY completed project...

I feel so lucky... I was asked to create some art for the back of a business card for one of my very favorite yoga instructors. (I am a HUGE Bikram Yoga fan! It changed my life! More on that another time!) Sachie has been an inspiration and encouraging to me throughout the past two years since I first began my practice. I felt like at one point most of my major break-throughs in class were due to her corrections and supportive words. (I do love, and learn tons from ALL the instructors at the studio!! Each one has taught me something very important.) 

One day, prior to class, I shared my excitement with Sachie about attending the then upcoming Certified Zentangle® Teacher Seminar (my previous post was about this AWESOME experience). She asked what Zentangle was... I described this wonderful meditative art method and showed her a few pictures of the art I had created. She loved it and asked if I would create something for her. I felt honored. I was so happy to finally be in the position to maybe give her back a little for all she has done for me. 

I really wanted her design to be something meaningful and special to her. I asked her to think about any pattern or image that was important to her. Later that day I received a text with some photos. Here is one of the photos...

I used this kimono as inspiration for the birds
and cherry blossoms...

The kimonos were ones that Sachie's mother (she passed many years ago...) had made especially for her for her coming-of-age day. She told me that her family loved those birds. She also said that the OBI (belt) was purchased on a special trip with her grandmother to Kyoto. She asked if I could include some elements of these into the design.

I knew immediately that I would include the bird, which reminded me of a phoenix. I also felt like it was fitting for her additionally as a hot yoga teacher... We are constantly "rising from the ashes." (You definitely feel like you have combusted into a fire ball during some classes!) I also loved the flowers which resembled cherry blossoms and decided to include that element also. 

Here are the initial sketches from my little traveling sketchbook...

Initial sketch of the bird...

Sketch studies of cherry blossoms...

After drawing the birds and cherry blossoms, I froze... I had to figure out how I could add my tangles without overcoming these elements. I had ideas and I could visualize what I wanted it to look like, yet I was anxious about adding them to the piece. As Sachie had told me to "take my time," I procrastinated... and procrastinated... and procrastinated... (you get the idea). I was partially distracted by getting ready for the CZT 15 Seminar. (OKAY... I know this is another excuse!) I had to set myself a deadline. I decided upon returning from seminar, my deadline to show her the finished piece would be the next class that Sachie taught in the morning. That date was July 3rd. So... July 2nd... (funny how that works, right?!) I got right to work and finished it. YAY!!!! (Yes... I was up VERY late!!) Here it is...

Finished art for the back of Sachie's business card...

Thursday morning I showed Sachie... I am thrilled, she absolutely LOVED it! Yippee! I am very happy with how it all came together. I feel like I was able to represent her in a very artful way. (I also acknowledge that I must set deadlines for myself...) :)

I'd love to hear from you... please leave a comment. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Adventure ahead...

It's almost time... Two. More. Days... and my daughters and I head off to Boston to explore for a few days and then.... CZT TRAINING IN PROVIDENCE!!!! I am sooooo excited! I can't believe that the time has finally arrived. When I first signed up for the three of us to attend it seemed like it was so far in the future, I blinked my eyes, and now it's here. YAY!

I wish I would have had more time to complete more zentangles and practice, practice, practice. Some how the time escaped me. I hope I am prepared enough...

I absolutely adore Laura Harm's (the diva) site and weekly challenges although I have not completed many of them to date. (Something to work on!) I think I must be an extra slow tangler... well... I finally finished an entry for the Weekly Challenge #169 : String Theory : Circles. (Please don't mention that it was the challenge 3 WEEKS AGO!!!! I know... I know...) I called it "Galaxies," it seems to go hand in hand with exploring and broadening horizons. All just ahead of me...

I have been working (very slowly) through the book, One Zentangle a Day. The Day 14 patterns included Dyon, Keeko, and Chainging. I wanted to include these three patterns in my challenge tile.  As I have been learning new patterns I have taken lots of time to play with variations of the patterns. This has been fun although very time consuming. So now I will just work on the basic tangle patterns to get more "under my belt" before training. In the spirit of this plan here is a page from my little moleskin sketchbook. Besides the Day 14 patterns I have included Yincut, Locar, and Verdigogh all tangles from Day 15. 

My plan when I return from training is to post a LOT more often here with new art! I am so excited to start on a new adventure!

A whimsical garden...

I have slowly been working my way through the wonderful book by Beckah Krahula, One Zentangle A Day: A 6-Week Course in Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration, and Fun (One A Day). It is my official introduction to this art form. I was shopping on Amazon for some micron pens one day when I saw the term "Zentangle" on one of the packages... It prompted me to click some of the book examples... WOW! It intrigued me immediately and the title of the book was exactly what I needed at that moment. I never looked back! Now, I have to admit, I have added quite a few books to my little collection since then. All wonderful! I am definitely taking much longer than one day to do each assignment... I am taking my time and enjoying every single moment!

The past few days (okay, maybe a week!) I've been working on Day 6 which focuses on creating tangleations of tangles you have learned thus far in the book. I LOVED this assignment! So fun!

My sketchbook practice page

The next part of the lesson was to create an ATC tile using some of the tangleations you had created. (This is also the first tile I've done where I incorporated color.) I couldn't help but see elements to a garden in a few of the tangles... a very whimsical garden! So here is my Tangleation Garden...

Tangleation Garden

I think it would be a wonderful, whimsical place to visit. I hope you enjoy visiting it too...