Saturday 30 July 2011

Zentangle - the value of shading.

Hello bloggers! Long post today, so bear with me - its been a while.

Hope you have all been well and happy! I have been happily tangling - mainly to try to preserve my sanity as my 2 daughters squabble and argue with each other constantly! They can be complete angels or complete devils and lately they have been wearing horns rather than halos! My favourite thing to say at the moment is "There is a girl with a curl, right in the middle of her for'd. When she is good, she is very very good, but when she is bad, she is horrid!!" This applies to both my girls (and to me too, I believe lol).

But I digress...

My post today is about the value of using shading on your zentangles. I have been meaning to scan my tangles before I shade them as well as after, to demonstrate the value of shading. However, I am usually so in the zen-zone that I don't remember until after I have finished. So, today I managed to do it.

The Zentangle Inspired Art yahoo group to which I belong, is about to run another bingo game (called Zengo!) and the 'fee' to enter is to complete a 3x3 grid sampler of tangles, that we choose from a list of 60. I chose 8 that I hadn't tried before and one that is a fave (Puf).

The 1st image I have here is the completed grid, minus the shading. I really love to use shading, as I love the depth you can achieve just by adding a smudge of shadow. I could never leave a tangle unshaded (at least, not for long) because it just looks so incomplete to me.

The 2nd image is the finished sampler, complete with shading. See the difference? It is amazing, isn't it, how something as simple as a bit of shading can enhance the finished appearance so much (you can click on the images for a larger view).
I know a few people who are afraid to add shading to their tangles, for fear they might 'wreck' them, or not do it 'right'. Folks, there is no right or wrong! If you like how it looks, then its 'right'. Don't be afraid - its only pencil and there are plenty more tangles inside of you waiting to come out.

There are no mistakes, only opportunities to learn.

My advice to anyone who fears to shade - pick up a pencil and just go for it. I use a 2B or a 4B pencil and very light pressure when shading - if I am too heavy handed I simply rub it out and re-do. The softer pencils are much easier to rub out than HB pencils. Again, there is no right or wrong way to do it. You can shade using a 'light source' (like I did for 'Nipa', where the light is coming from the north-east) or you can shade where the light appears to be coming from straight above (like in 'Eiffel' and 'Zingiber') or you can just shade however you want.

I like my art to appear 3 dimensional - I do the same when colouring in stamped images for cards. It's just my style. You don't have to shade your tangles, but you have to admit, it makes a world of difference.

Give it a try. You won't be sorry you did.

Take care and ciao for now,

Saturday 16 July 2011

Tangle a Day #7

Hello out there in blog land,

I have been doing so much creating lately - some for the Teapot Tuesday challenges at SplitCoastStampers, some Design Team work for LSBS, and today, just for me, a Zentangle inspired challenge. One of the challenges at Zentangle Inspired Art yahoo group is to create a ZIA tangle with concentric circles.

Here is my take on this, even using my 'Celtic' tangle (for which you can find the instructions at www.tanglepatterns.com). I really enjoyed this. It took me a couple of relaxing hours to do and it was perfect for clearing out my brain. What a great challenge.
(you can click on the image for a larger view)
Thanks for stopping by.

Take care and ciao for now,

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Zentangle Inspired Art ATC Swap 2 - If the Shoe Fits

Yesterday I popped up the ATCs I did for the butterfly ZIA swap. Today I have some the 2nd swap "If the shoe fits!". I have hand drawn the jester shoes (I love jesters!) and tangled them. The 2nd ATC I am calling "Cosmic Jester" cos to me it looks like it's in space.
The last one is the hostess gift for Esther for hosting the swap. I am really happy with these.
Enjoy.
Take care and ciao for now,

Monday 11 July 2011

Zentangle Inspired Art ATC Swap

Just recently, I joined a terrific Yahoo group called Zentangle Inspired Art. They are a wonderful group of folks who love to tangle too. I immediately signed up for a couple of swaps that close at the end of July.

I have completed the first swap (Butterflies) and have posted them off to the USA. I am really looking forward to the returns. In the meantime, I thought I would share with you those small pieces of art. The first three ATCs are for the swap. The 4th is for the hostess to keep, as a thank you for running the swap.

Enjoy.
Take care and ciao for now,

Sunday 10 July 2011

How to Tie a Bow - tutorial

Would like to know how to tie a bow? There has been some chit chat on LSBS recently about people's ability (or not) to tie one. Well, if you are one of those who would love to learn how, then pop over to the forum to see the first of a short series of tutorials on bows.

I am first up, with a ribbon bow. You can see the step by step >> HERE <<
Take care and ciao for now,

Saturday 2 July 2011

Shabby Flower Tutorial

I was asked by a few people how to make the flower on the cards I created the other day (seeTHIS post).

So today I have created a quick step by step tute, showing how I made them. Pop over to the forums at Little Scrapbook Shop >>> HERE <<< to find out how.
Take care and ciao for now,

Friday 1 July 2011

New Monthly Challenges over at LSBS

Looking for something to challenge you and cheer you up during these cold winter days?

Well, look no further than Little Scrapbook Shop, where we have the first of our monthly challenges ready for you!!

Challenge 1 is mine - its a colour and cardmaking challenge and here are the 2 cards I made which meet the criteria. . .
Challenge 2 is by Lauren - its a sketch challenge and what a great sketch it is too.

Head over to the Little Scrapbook Shop Forums for all the details. There is a great prize for each of the challenges and you have a whole month to get them completed.

Hope to see you there.

Take care and ciao for now,