Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Crossing Over To The Dark Side - with Diva Challenge #231 Undulating C's and S's, Square One Jonqal, and That's New To Me #33 "U"

"Cross over to the dark side", they said...I have become obsessed lately with black tiles, mainly because I really need to work on my techniques. I know, Zentangle is supposed to be relaxed and just "happen".  Sometimes that is true, but then there comes the urge to push past that limit.

When the Diva Challenge was announced by Sharla Hicks, I thought "Good.  All those lines work nicely on the black tiles."  I'm glad I didn't look at Sharla's links to her botanicals on black because I would have just hung it all up right then.  "Comparanoia", as one of my FB CZT friends puts it!

I plunged in on my own tiles and had some fun with highlighting and shading. I've been experimenting with a charcoal pencil as opposed to graphite because it has a matte finish. I like the look on the black tiles. It needs a judicious application, though, as it can get messy. I use a tortillion and really push it into the paper to stabilize it.  I use a Zenstone or chalk pencil to highlight or "raise up" some areas.

I did this black circle for the Diva challenge, and then just because I was having fun, I did a Renaissance tile version for good measure. I like that one even better.

Diva Challenge #231

Diva Challenge #231

That's New To Me #33 asked for tangles starting with "U", plus something from artist Jane Monk.  I chose (for my black tile, of course) Upholstery, Up N Down, Unruly, plus Jane's Fern and Raindotty. That's a lot of patterns for me, but here I think they work.

That's New To Me #33 - "U" and Jane Monk

A few days earlier, the Square One focus this week was Jonqal.  I love its bold angularity. This tile was done before the Diva challenge was published, and I find it interesting that the rest of the tile is all done with "C" strokes in Bunzo and Huggins.
Square One: Purely Zentangle - Focus Jonqal

Then I did another Bunzo on black with more C's in MI2.  Must be psychic, right?  Ha! One more thing about this last tile.  I'm using a technique I call "pool and pull" with the white ink. You let the ink slowly pool into a fat liquidy dot, then quickly pull the pen out.  Like exploding perfs.
I actually turned my Bunzo into the prickly pear cactus from my front yard!


Bunzo with pool and pull enhancement, MI2, Tortuga and Tipple
Well, that's enough for now.  Maybe it's time to relax on the black tile thing.  Hey, are those Bijou tiles stuck away in my Zentangle case?... I think I hear my ADD calling... time to jump on over to something else for a minute.  Can you relate?

Thank you for stopping by today.  I enjoy and cherish all your thoughts and comments.  Until next time...

Namaste
Antonine

22 comments:

  1. I just love your Diva tiles. Such wonderful movement and shading. I particularly like the Renaissance one. Gorgeous! Your black tiles are yummy and I really like the Bunzo with your Jonqal. Nice work!

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  2. I really had fun reading all your thoughts, great blog :-) Wonderful work on the tiles as well, those black ones look great, it is hard work using white I find. The Renaissance tile is my favourite, you have got something really spectacular there and using such a simple stroke too.

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  3. Gorgeous tiles Antonine! I love your Diva tiles~the movement is extraordinary. I applaud your white on black~I have yet to venture to the dark side. Thank you for your regular visits to my blog and leaving such generous and thoughtful comments.

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  4. All great tiles. Of the two challenge tiles, I agree that your Renaissance tile is stunning.

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  5. The second picture is SOOOO beautiful! Love it.

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  6. Oh my, your Renaissance tile for Challenge #231 reminds me so much of the canyon walls up in my end of Arizona. Were you sitting at Lee's Ferry with pen in hand when you cast it lovely upon the tile? The depth is amazing. I think I'll stare at it for a couple more hours.

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    1. Ha! I wasn't at Lee's Ferry or thinking of anything in particular, but since I do live in Arizona, maybe there was some subconscious reference!

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  7. wow, all your tiles are besutiful. i love the second tile and the "purely zentangle" tile is awesome

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  8. Oh, so many wonderful work! Especially I like your both entries for the diva challenge. They are gorgeous and very creativ!

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  9. I'm still petrified of black tiles (I totally need to get over that). Both your Diva tiles are brilliant. I often don't go on to look at all the tiles for other challenges, but yours held my attention all the way down the page. Really, really nice. "Comparanoia". Love it!

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  10. Wow! I like them all, but the diva challenges are just STUNNING!
    Awesome penmanship there!

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  11. Wow! I like them all, but the diva challenges are just STUNNING!
    Awesome penmanship there!

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  12. These are all so nice! That undling...wow, on both of them, I love how textured that pattern is, like you could feel it under your fingers. And that pool and pull cactus looking bunzo is JUST terrific! what fun.

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  13. Antonine, these are all lovely!! I like the 2nd Diva one a little better too - but both are great! Your Square One is quite engaging - cool the Diva influenced!! :) Your MI2 is amazing - I love these pears :) The black is wonderful!! And your New to Me U is great!! Mine will be out on Saturday. The Diva certainly influenced you!! :)

    ~ Diane Clancy
    http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/2015/08/my-diva-sharla-hicks-undulating-challenge

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  14. Wauw, stunning, Great tiles. Your diva is awesome esspacialy with the colors.
    And i love the highlights in Bunzoo. Beautiful.

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  15. Antonine, you have so many beautiful pieces here! Looks like you were totally enjoying yourself too!! I too, had to do another piece for this challenge because it was such a Zenful experience! Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment on my new blog! I have so many ideas and plans and yet right now I'm lacking time. Once my daughter goes full day in kinder, I'm thinking that'll help. For now I can only do what I can and continue my undulating motion to calm me!! (I have to say, while waiting in lines and having that undulation go through me, I often notice many other women in that same motion. I kinda have to giggle to myself.) Anyway, enjoy your weekend! See you next week! :0) Annette

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  16. The Diva tiles are amazing! The second is also my favorite!

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  17. I love all your tiles, but especially the DIVA tieles are gorgeous! So dramatic!

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  18. All great work, but the Diva tiles, especially that second one, are absolutely fantastic!

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  19. Wow, your Diva tiles are gorgeous, especially the second one!

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  20. All your tiles are beautiful, but the Diva ones are outstanding!

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