Challenge 22 - A Little Help From My Friends

This week I was able to do my Challenge piece on Monday - YAY!!!!!  Before Mr. Thisorthat left for work, I had him draw out a string for me. It is a fun challenge because it's like meshing two peoples ideas together.  Great concept!  Anyway while I was doing some repair/service work on his computer (I'm not a professional at this but when it isn't working right I'm the go-to person - scary huh?) I had time to do a little here and there and before I knew it - Ta-Da it was done.  It started out strictly as the Challenge but after I got started I remembered that I had told one of my flickr friends I would try the half pinwheel flower from LeeAnn (ledenzer) and so it turned into a piece for Jeanet (Rooike1) as well as the Challenge.  So today my challenge for you is to do something unexpected for someone you care about! 

A rose is a rose

A while back I bought some Pitt markers and rushed home to try them.  Boy was I shocked!  The color was so bright (after everything being black and white tones) and not transparent at all (which you all know how scared of color I can be) so I promply put them away. I was straightening up and organizing my art supplies when I ran across them again and decided to give them another try.  I had some input from my flickr friends about how to use different types of pencils along with the markers (to soften the bright color down a little) and this is the results.  I wish I had put the white pencil down first so I wouldn't have had to drag out my not so reliable gel pen, but this like everything was a lesson and next time I'll know better.  I'm happy enough with the results to give the markers a try on another piece. I do have to say the markers were very easy to use and having the brush tip they allowed me to do very fine work as well as getting some bolder color with thicker lines.  I don't have alot of different colors (eight I think) but it should be enough to practice with.  If you have any thoughts that might help me, feel free to share them.  I love hearing what little secrets you've come up with!  Well, whatever you're doing today, throw yourself into it and you never know what the result will be.  Enjoy the day!

What's inside?

I did this tangle a while back and those of you who look at my Flickr photostream will recognize it I'm sure.  It was even featured on Explore (which is part of Flickr that randomly selects pieces and displays them) before I ever knew what Explore was!  I was totally thrilled when my Flickr friends started congratulating me for having this piece selected on Explore (especially when I had no idea what they were talking about at first).  I have to admit that it made me a little silly inside and proud that something I've drawn was selected.  It was a feel good moment for sure!!  Since then I've had two others chosen so there's been three all together.  It still makes me feel good and as always the Flickr comments are so encouraging!!  With all the layers on this piece it left me with a question of what's really on the inside of the big circle?  Of course everyone has their own imagination so the possibilities are endless.  Maybe we're all a little like that too.  Pulling back the layers and finding the surprise on the inside of ourselves - the person that we really are meant to be.  Sometimes it's still a surprise even when we get to that layer but nevertheless, it's us - we all have that part.  Some people have already experienced various struggles and overwhelming good times pealing their layers back, while there are others who are still on that road longing to get to the end and even wondering if they will ever get there.  No matter where you are with your journey, there is a beautifully talented and awesome person beneath all the layers!  I just know it!!

April Showers???

Since the saying goes "April showers bring May flowers", I think we're going to have a bumper crop of flowers this year!!!  April has been a wet and cold month but I see next week (the first week of May) that we're suppose to have sunny days in the 60-70's and did I mention SUN!!!  I don't know how your weather has been, but I know I'm ready to get on with some Springtime weather.  I even bought seeds to plant with Little Miss Thisorthat when she comes over later this week.  As I look through Flickr I see more and more floral patterns popping up, so I think we're in the full throngs of Spring (it just isn't acting like it here).  I love when the sun is shining and feels warm to your face, the sky is blue with white puffy clouds, when the flowers grow and the birds are chirping, when someone (not me but SOMEONE at my house) mows and the grass smells so fresh, and when the squirrels are running around everywhere - its wonderful!!  I hope you're having a fabulous springtime day and are finding ways to enjoy each day!

Growing and changing

You would think that Zentangles was something that I found yesterday the way I tend to go on and on about them.  I am not a CZT but trust me when I said that I love, love LOVE them, I wasn't kidding.  I'm finding that the more I pay attention to Zentangles (the patterns, the options, the color, the shading), experience the pieces of art that others' produce, and experiment with different techniques, I find that the end result of my pieces is constantly changing and I love doing them more and more everyday. Now I have been accused of being a little over the top (or obsessive) about this, but since I'm enjoying it then I keep plugging along.  I do have to say that if it wasn't for the encouragement of my Flickr and Blog friends that I could have easily put this away months ago. Of course Mr. Thisorthat and my family have been a huge support too.  I feel like I'm doing something I was always meant to do and exploring all that is involved with tangling is not only the challenge but the reward.  My wish for you on this Saturday is that whatever it is you're doing, thoroughly enjoy it!!

So much talent!

I was looking through patterns over the weekend, and noticed that Sandra (molossus, whose life imitates doodles) has a TON of them!!  I didn't actually count them but there were SO many of them.  It amazes me how she can come up with all of her ideas, puts them to paper, and still makes them all look so easy. She makes everyone feel like "hey I can do that".   When I see what she's done I have one of those "duh" moments and think I should have come up with that.  Even the little animals she makes look so easy.  But the more patterns I looked through, the more I wanted to try them out. I had little scratch pieces of paper everywhere with her stuff on them (some turned out pretty good and some not so good), so I decided to try some out officially and do a page filled with patterns from her.  So all of these patterns on this tangle are from Sandra Strait (except for the bubbles I came up with those by myself - he! he not really cuz I don't know who really invented little circles!)  You will have to take a look at her flickr page if you haven't already because she is one talented lady.  Here's the link if you have time - I promise you won't be disappointed.  (http://www.flickr.com/photos/aceo/)     Sandra has a wonderful imagination and can put that to paper, but she is also humble about her talent, is kind and encouraging of everyone (I have the comments to prove it).  So if you're reading this, thank you Sandra for ALL of the many ways you have helped me and well, all of us!!  The Zentangle community is a warm and welcoming place because people with like interests aren't afraid to reach out to each other.  It's been a wonderful surprise for me (which I was in desperate need for).  Happy day to all of you and share your sparkle someone!!

Get Inspired!

If you haven't taken the time to look through the flickr Zentangle photostream, you're really missing out on a lot!  There are some awesome tanglers and even some things you scratch your head and wonder how the human hand could draw such a masterpiece.  I've been struggling with ideas lately so I've been looking for inspiration.  I got this idea from Mariët Dronten's photostream.  She had some patterns I've never seen (but that's not saying much since I've only been doing this since December) and does beautiful work.  I like the idea of this one being a picture instead of just a design, but you should take a look at her work and see what she's done.  There is a poem on Mariët's picture and she has graciously translated it.   It's just lovely.   I hope there's sunshine where you are and today brings you smiles and happy thoughts!