Translate

Saturday, August 23, 2014

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.)

Zentangle® Inspired Art : Weekly Challenge #181 Water : "Breakers"
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...

Zentangle® Workshop Prep
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!

21 comments:

  1. Way to go Holly and Cami on teaching their first class together!! Hope there are many more classes to come :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Lexey! We appreciate your good wishes!

      I so enjoyed seeing what you've been up to! Nice Zentangle Inspired Art you've been working on!

      Thanks again for leaving a comment!
      Holly

      Delete
  2. Your tile looks great. I have heard of people using the clear Glaze pen as a resist technique but have not tried it myself yet. Congratulations on doing your first class. I am sure that your students appreciated what you did for them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Donald!

      You'll have to give the resist technique a try! I think I will definitely use it again in other work. It was great to see your entry this week... Your tile was beautiful, calming, and relaxing to look at. You definitely captured the water theme!

      I appreciate you leaving a comment!
      Holly

      Delete
  3. great water tile - love the colour

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kia! Thank you!

      I so enjoyed your entry... Love the use of the Inktense pencils! You created a vibrant, lovely, water inspired tile for sure!

      Thanks for leaving me a comment!
      Holly

      Delete
  4. A lovely tile ans what a great way to great your students.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Anne... I so appreciate that!

      I loved seeing your beautiful entry for this challenge... You created such a lovely flow (like a lazy river) with the patterns you chose!

      Thanks so much for leaving a comment!
      Holly

      Delete
  5. Love your watery tile, fun technique. And your details about your class are great. So fun to see other peoples ideas for classes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Minette! Thank you!

      I so enjoyed looking at your THREE gorgeous entries! WOW! Beautifully done!

      I so appreciate you leaving a comment for me!
      Holly

      Delete
  6. Wonderful that you are now teaching. It's amazing how many people "think" they understand Zentangle but really find a class to unlock the truth of it all. Such fun that you do this with your daughter. I'm excited by the idea of using a Sakura pen as a resist. Great tile and I'm looking forward to "borrowing" your technique :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jean! So lovely to see you here!! Thank you for your kind comment.

      Yes... I agree... I think prior to taking a class it is easy for people to assume that this art is all about the outcome and have no idea that it is really all about the process... I feel so fortunate to have been able to go to training with both of my daughters and to now team teach with Cami! I look forward to holding a future workshop with BOTH of my daughters! THAT will be amazing!

      I look forward to seeing what you do with the "borrowed" technique!

      Thank you again for leaving a comment... You are always so kind!
      Holly

      Delete
  7. Awesome Challenge Tile. Love how your creative technique turned out. Beautiful. Your recounting of your first class was wonderful. Love reading your post. You have a beautiful and productive career ahead of you with your imaginative and dynamic classes. I wish you all the very best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so very much David!

      I so enjoyed seeing your wonderful entry for the challenge this week! It was GREAT! Your art is always a stand out!

      Thanks again for leaving a comment... I so appreciate it!
      Holly

      Delete
  8. Very nice challenge piece - love the names for your students. I did something similar for students but sort of drifted away from it - you've reminded me why I did it - may need to reconsider. And thanks for your comments - glad I found your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! I so appreciate your kind words!

      I LOVED looking at your challenge entry... The rain and stormy look makes me really hope that it will act as a special rain dance here in California!

      Thanks again for stopping by!
      Holly

      Delete
  9. I love your challenge tile, beautiful work. It's also very nice to read about your teaching experiences.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ilse!

      I had soooo much fun visiting your whimsical entry! The octopus is adorable! Wonderfully drawn!

      Thank you again for your kind words!
      Holly

      Delete
  10. Wonderful tile! Great effect with the glaze pen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, LonettA!

      I thought the movement in your lovely entry was fantastic! So beautiful!

      Thanks for visiting me!
      Holly

      Delete
  11. Love your Water tile, iridescent, magical tile. Your class sounds wonderful, I'm sure all your work made your students feel so special. Great job!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by to visit... AND especially for leaving me a message! :)

Related Posts with Thumbnails