Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Diva Challenge 218, TNTM 20, and SQ1 Zingers - plus one for fun

While most of North America is aching for warmer weather to FINALLY get going, we in the Phoenix area face the prospect with a bit of dread.  This year, however, we have been blessed with a very mild spring.  Daytime highs have been in the 80s, which is absolutely perfect here, and some days only in the 70s, which in May is pretty much unheard of.  Yay!  We'll take it.  We planted some new flowers in patio pots and are grateful that they have had some time to get established in the moderate weather before the blast furnace fires up.



Looks like the 90s and above are set to slide in by the end of next week, but I say thank you for taking your time about it and we'll just console ourselves with a dip in the pool and crank up the patio misting system.  No problem!

This week, our Diva challenged us to tangle on Black or on a found object.  My daughter just sent me a gift in a little wooden box like an old-time recipe box.  It is begging to be tangled!  But...as with journals, I have this fear of breaching the pristine emptiness, so I don't start.  I tell myself there are no mistakes in Zentangle - really, just start and it will be beautiful - but then I don't.  So, here I am, an official CZT, sending myself the "why I can't" messages!  Note to self:  Get Over It! 

But, this week I chose to do the black tile instead, and since I ran out of the square ones, I grabbed a black Zendala tile.  I have been itching to try my new Crestfallen on black, and I was not disappointed!  I have been wanting to try out some techniques for creating depth and "substance" by varying the pressure and thickness of my white Gelly Roll pen lines rather than using shading.  Last week I fiddled around with some Printemps and was happy with the result.  Now I applied the same idea to Crestfallen, and I love it!  I added in some tangles that I spotted in some of the posts on Facebook Square One pages (yes, I stole your ideas...), but since those were black on white, I guess it is not exactly stolen, right?


Next, SuzyMosh picked the letter "X" for That's New To Me 20, and since it was a repeat, she added the idea of incorporating a tangle from Sue Jacobs (she has such fun ones!)  I took Suzy's advice and visited her Pinterest page for X tangles, and selected Xplo-zen.  This one plays out kind of like an inside-out N'Zepple, and is quite fun to draw.  I love the sort of mid-century modern look of it.  Then I chose Sue's tangle "Ace".  I figured while we were on the Zen trend, I would pick the one that has a Yin-Yang feel.  This one was totally new to me, so I thought it was a good choice.  I continued the Zendala tile theme, in this case because it seemed like the proper format, and "biggified" the tangle, using only one unit of it.  I drew the Xplo-Zen inside of it.   I am pretty happy with this one.


I also responded to the Square One: Purely Zentangle focus on Zinger this week.  Always a winner in my opinion.  I must be on a round kick because I chose to do this one in a circular format, although I used a square tile.  I call this "Ring-O-Zing".  Fun!

Finally, I did a tile just for fun.  I should post it to the Square One: Purely Fun page, but haven't gotten that far yet.  I did this tile in black and white, but then decided the pearls needed to become rubies.  Somehow, I ran out of rubies or some of them fell out of the mountings (like all my jewelry lately!), so there are some empties here.  Not a masterpiece, but I do like this one.  Maybe the imperfection attracts me.

Take time this weekend to remember our fallen veterans and thank them for paying the ultimate sacrifice for our blessed lives.  May they all share eternal rest and have knowledge of our gratitude. 

Thank you for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts.

Namaste
Antonine

30 comments:

  1. Love your black zendala so much!

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  2. Well I am just so envious. Each of these is so different to the others and a little work of art in its own right. I keep going back and looking at all of them but that second Zendala grabs my attention every time. Lovely work, all of it.

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  3. These are amazing! I love the 3-D effects!

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  4. Impressive -- every one of them!

    The one time I had a work conference in Phoenix, they set up lunch outside. The place settings must have been there for awhile because by the time we sat down, the cutlery was way too hot to pick up.

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  5. All are fabulous! The black Zendala is gorgeous and the red pearls on the last tile is so fantastic! :)

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  6. I don't know where to start...superb, every one.

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  7. Wow, your Crestfallen makes me want to try it on black to too! Xplo-zen is new to me, but your Zendala is fabulous! The Ring-o-Zing (I think you need to add another Zing to the name for Ring-o-Zing-Zing!) is really cool. Love the way you looped them around the ring. And the Tripoli is great. I think the random number of triangles to each group along with the empties brings it together ... the rounded "settings" really do look like bent metal with a touch of imagination! Oh, and get workin on that box will ya?

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    1. Ha, Betsy, I've been rummaging out in the garage to find some sandpaper to smooth the surface of the box so I can start...stay tuned! And, I gave myself the V8 slap on the head over Ring-o-Zing-Zing! Clever girl!

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  8. Lots or great work. I like your white on black Zendala. Having more negative space in the lower section adds a lot to this. Like the "fun tile".Looks like Tripoli on top of 'Nzeppel. Congratulations on getting your CZT. Hope it was a great experience for you.

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    1. Thanks Donald! I confess I cheated on the black tile, as I had a bit more "stuff" in that open space, but when I didn't like it, I went over it with black ink to snuff it out! Yes, getting my CZT credentials was an excellent experience! Amazing privilege to learn from the masters!

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  9. So many beautiful pieces! I like them all!

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  10. All your work is so beautiful :-) I like your Crestfallen on the black tile and the other patterns you chose in combination to it. I often don't like Zendala tiles, but yours looks wonderful, like a black-and-white-ball ;-)
    What you do with Xplo-zen is also great - lovely pattern, isn't it :-)
    But I also love Zinger and in a circular format it is very nice, great idea!
    Also like the tile you did just for fun. Nice littel colour spots on it. Great work all of them!

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  11. This is a fabulous Post, Antonine. Every one of your Tiles is superb. Your creativity knows no bounds. So impressive. Your Crestfallen pattern is beautiful. I love your Xplo-zen piece. The symmetry is awesome. Your Ring-O-Zing piece is so beautifully woven and your Red Pearl Piece is intriguing. Beautiful shading on each piece. I love them all and applaud your work.

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    1. Thanks, David! I have to confess I cheated and traced a circle string for the Xplo-Zen tile. Thirty lashes... Oh well, I really enjoyed all the challenges this week. Isn't that the point?

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  12. Every one of your tiles is gorgeous! I've been wanting to try your lovely Crestfallen tangle and now I'm even more inspired. It looks great in white on black...can't wait to try it. I've never seen Xplo-zen...but it's also now on my "must try" list since your use of it is so, oh so, marvelous. You've been busy this week, girl.. with magnificent results.

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    1. Thanks, girlie! I'm really in love with that Xplo-Zen pattern, too. It reminds me of some old wonderful Japanese china my dad bought that I stupidly rejected back in the day when we were all decorating by Country Living.

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  13. Delightful pieces, Antonine! I think your Crestfallen looks a lot like a Saguaro cactus! I really love that one you did for Suzy Mosh's challenge. It really is stunning! (I can hardly wait for my pool to be warm enough to swim in. These overcast days are not helping one bit!)

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    1. Complain, complain, complain, woman! Here we are in pretty close to paradise... anyway, thanks for your complements on my entries - I had fun this week!

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  14. These are some wonderful drawings! I really love the tangle in a tangle you did for the TNMT zendala. Thanks for being part of the challenge this week!

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  15. Thank you for describing your experiences as you created your tiles this week. LOVE crestfallen and will have to try that out soon...I know I said that recently but I do mean to give it a go. And I think you are spot on regarding the mid century modern feel of the xplo-zen, my daughter is a big fan of that era...since I was born then and the 60s were more memorable for me I take that all for granted, I guess the younger set is more appreciative, but your creation with this is stunning! Nice work this week...each and every piece.

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  16. Love your work, Antonine. It shows so much thought and and zenful purpose. I'm looking forward to trying out "Crestfallen."
    Hasn't this spring been AMAZING?! I'm anxiously waiting to jump into our imitation lake, but the spa will just have to do, won't it? The garden is exceptionally happy for the mild weather and rain...yours looks happy, as well.
    Have a brilliant day! c

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  17. all i can say is WOW. I love all of your tiles! amazing work.

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  18. All tiles are just so... Wow!! Your linework is great and your choice of patterns and the composition are wonderful.

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  19. Lovely words and absolutely stunning tangling, Antonine. Beautiful. Axxx

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  20. Wauw, all your tiles are so elegant and artistic. I love zendala's and yours are awesome.
    Great work.

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  21. Wow, all beautiful tiles, but I LOVE your white on black, and I LOVE Crestfallen! You've done a magnificent job of thickening/darkening lines in just the right places.

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  22. I think all your tiles are beautiful and love your it's new to me tile.

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  23. Antonine, your work is always stunning and this week is no exception. I love that you used your new tangle on the black, it works well on there. Your white on black zendala piece is beautifully done. Your New to Me tile really speaks to the minimalist in me who never knows when to quit adding things. It's just such a beautiful flow of lines. They are all beautifully done and it's very hard to pick a favorite. Beautiful work!

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  24. I enjoyed all of the different creative ways you did each piece. Your mind is very good to be so creative! Sarah.

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  25. I totally LOVE both of the first 2. The others are wonderful too but you have given such a sense of other-worldliness to each of them. And great idea about shading with the white - I will have to try it!! :)

    ~ Diane Clancy
    http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/2015/05/my-diva-white-on-black-challenge-entry
    http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/2015/05/new-to-me-x-and-artist-focus-sue-jacobs-for-suzymosh

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