Monday, April 27, 2015

Zentangle® on Vellum, a Labyrinth, and an Inchie

I learned about Clearprint Vellum and the cross country traveling field book from Sandra Strait, Life Imitates Doodles, and just had to put my name on the wait list. I finally got my book this week and decided that as a CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher), I should definitely do some tangling. But, as an artist, I really wanted to do something a bit more. This is what I decided on. I used Polychromos colored pencils for her face and shading, and a Sakura Micron 01 for the tangles. 
The Diva Challenge is a doozy this week LOL! Tangle in a Labyrinth. Laura gave a couple of great links, but I found some on You Tube and was able to stop and start, more times than I can count, to finally figure one out. I looked for the easiest one I could find and still messed up a couple of tiles before I got it. Then, I realized that I didn't have enough room to double the lines to add tangles. So, a bit of a Bales/Fife, a couple of Pearls, and I'm calling it finished :)

The Facebook group, Square One, requested the tangle Diva Dance for this week. I love Diva Dance, so this one was easy. Of course, I had to see what it could do and I pushed it into Verve and Paradox.

Every Inchie Monday prompt for this week was "Shell". I thought about the word for a moment and considered all the different ways this word could be used. Since I do so many different forms of art, I settled on, "I wonder how much money I actually shell out for my craft?"


Longer post than usual. My apologies. Thank you for looking and thank you if you leave a comment. I love reading them, and it's the main reason I do these blogs :)

54 comments:

  1. Wonderful work and great idea for your inchie :-)

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  2. Jean, I love love love your first piece of art!! This is what I also am trying to do .... put together being an artist and a zentangle lover. It is amazing!! I looked at the links that the Diva gave us and much as i wanted to try a more complex one, but didn't think I had the space to do it .... and mine went up and well ... it is done!! Yours is very cool - I love all the end points!! :) If the Diva can put the first one out, so can I :) Lovely Diva Dance!!

    ~ Diane Clancy
    http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/2015/04/my-diva-labyrinth-challenge-entry

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    1. Thank you very much, Diane. If I had realized that I actually needed a double line to add any tangles, I might have done that. But I didn't and by the time I got a labyrinth, I knew I was done for the day LOL!

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  3. Beautiiiful art, Jean. Your lady is fabulous. Such a good take on shell - don't we all shell out more for our art than is sane!

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  4. A great idea for your inchie, and your tangles are fab.

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    1. Thanks, Wendy. Always looking for something different to do. When you can't wow them with talent, wow them in wondering what ever were you thinking HAHA!

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  5. I am such an admirer of your work! Totally awesome! Someday I may have to try this...I'm lost on all the terminology!

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    1. We just have to find a way to get together someday, Janet. It's a long walk, but I would love to actually meet you in person some day. Thanks for your constant support :)

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  6. Gorgeous velum artwork! I will get around to drawing/tangling again, I know it. Good one for the inchie - ha, ha. I shell out and fork out thousands. And loving it - 'cause look at what we make. Love your work!

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    1. I think we all can relate to our crafty spending habits being just a tad overboard sometimes LOL!

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  7. Fabulous art work. Your inchie makes me smile - did I write this before? You have so brilliant ideas.

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    1. You know my main goal is to make people smile, so I never get tired of hearing it. Thank you!

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  8. all I can say is WOW! I love the take on the inchie, great way to think outside the box and I dont want to think about how much I shell out for my beads LOL. Prolly just a little less than the national debt LOL. But I have to say that the lady at the top was tops with me! beautiful work this week!

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    1. Thank you, Freebird. I have a ton of beads too. They are hard to resist as they are just so pretty. You make such nice art work with your beads :)

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  9. love the take on the shell theme. Very beautiful artwork on the other pieces

    Chrissie xx

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  10. I found the labyrinth challenging too. I love how you executed it! I haven't tackled Square One in a while, but your entry has me inspired. Love the interwoven Paradox!

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    1. Thank you, Cari. I like being part of the different challenges because it pushes me to do things that I might not do otherwise. Having a blog means that I HAVE to do what my readers expect. Kind of like being back in school!

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  11. Your cross-country vellum piece is beyond awesome. I love everything about it, from the beautiful face to the choice of tangles, to the fantastic linework and shading!

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    1. Well, I never would have done it if it weren't for you, Sandra. You have been such a positive force in my creative journey, and I thank you!

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  12. Great shadowing in your labyrinth, nice tile!

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  13. Your princess is beautiful, (I think she's a princess anyway!) I'm again inspired by your work, so many great tangles done so well! And everything else is just so awesome too!

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    1. A princess, huh? Well, I hadn't thought of that, but I think I agree. She will indeed be a princess. Thanks!

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  14. Your 'shell' made me smile, great idea for this word. The woman is beautiful, Jean, so well done and lovely. I also like your 'simple' maze; less is more!

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    1. Glad you liked the "simplicity" of my labyrinth, Annemarie, because that's just all I could do with it. At least it is a real labyrinth and that was a challenge all by itself. Art, hobbies, and crafts certainly can become expensive, especially if you like to play with every new product that comes out. I really need to get off the computer so I don't keep getting whiplash as I see some new idea that I must try NOW! :)

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  15. Wow! It's so nice that you got to do a page in one of the books - and your tangled vellum lady is gorgeous! She'll fit right in. I always like your work...thanks for sharing it with us :-)

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    1. Yes, I am very happy to be a part of something like that. I was surprised because I had signed up on the waiting list so long ago that I didn't even remember it anymore. Thanks for the kind words!

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  16. Wonderful work Jean! Your lady has such a medieval flare with a contemporary garb! The labyrinth was certainly an educational endeavor for some of us, I learned a lot about these structures and what they "may" have been used for...so interesting.

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    1. Yes, Lynell, interesting for sure. I love being pushed in this way. But, I think I am done with labyrinths, for now anyway :)

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  17. Amazing, Jean! Your inchie ideas always prompt interesting thoughts and a good dose of smiles. And you tackled a labyrinth before anyone else, even with a few attempts beforehand! The lady on vellum is absolutely lovely; it almost makes me want to sign up for a FB account just to be able to participate in the book project. Almost.
    Have a brilliant day! You can call me Cheryl

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    1. Ah, Cheryl, I love having a real name for you :) I'm sure that I am not the only one who had to go on an Internet search to find directions that really made sense. We each learn so differently. And, no Facebook account necessary for that project at all. Check out the link above and get yourself on the wait list (if they are still accepting names). You do such nice work that I would love to see you in there too!

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  18. what a beautiful woman! and such amazing choices for patterns, in her hair and clothing and all. Very nice!

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  19. Great take on the challenges as usual, Jean! Your lady's face is so peachy!! And I understand exactly what you mean about getting the labyrinth to end up in the right place.....I had a few false starts myself!
    Don't like to think about what we shell out though...scary!
    Axxx

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    1. Thanks, Annie! Those labyrinths are certainly tricky!

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  20. I swear, Jean, you must sit there in the wee hours just waiting for the challenge to come out! I love your labyrinth. It looks like one of those little plastic pocket games we used to have with the little silver balls that have to rest in the dimples on the bottom. Very cool!

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    1. Oh, I do remember those. What fun the were. Thank you :)

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  21. Oops, I forgot to comment on your beautiful lady. She looks so serene! I love that all the tangles are black and white, leaving her lovely face as the focal point. Very nice!

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  22. wow! Jean, I love your beautiful lady and her tangled hair and outfit, so cool. The labyrinth is super.

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  23. A different take! I was thinking of cowrie shells that were used as money lol.

    Sally

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    1. It is amazing how many different directions a word can go!

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  24. All so beautiful. The labyrinth is incredibly peaceful and balanced. And the shell Inchie was too fun. And so true!! Sarah.

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    1. I found it relaxing to do...after several that weren't relaxing. It took a while to really understand how a labyrinth works. Thank you :)

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  25. I love your tangled lady....so many wonderful tangles and the look very nice together. I know what you mean about the labyrinth. I just barely posted mine because it has taken me all week to do...lol. Yours looks nice and relaxing and I like simple so that i can follow the lines. I had to laugh at your inchie because the first thing I thought about when I saw the word shell was exactly what you did! Your Diva Dance is gorgeous...that's one tangle that I just really can't seem to feel comfortable with, but i keep trying with it. I can see that I need to practice to get to where you are with it. Nice work!

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    1. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment, Lezli. Do go back to Diva Dance. Take a good look at the step-outs. It's not hard if you take your time, and that's the Zen way to tangle anyway. I think it's a great tangle.

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  26. Nice drawings---wonderful inchie!

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  27. A lovely week of challenges for you, Jean. Beautiful work. Love the beautiful eyes on your awesome Clearprint Vellum piece.Your Shell interpretation of your Inchie is spot on. All of your Tiles are Fab.

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    1. David, how nice to see you again. I know it must be difficult, but you are doing the right thing in getting back to doing something you enjoy. Thank you for the kind comments.

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