Less Shading

Sometimes after I have finished a tangle and start to shade it, the shading seems to almost overwhelm the picture.  Other people looking at it might not see it that way, but it's different when you're the one doing the drawing because you know (in theory) what you want it to look like.  But for me, like holding a death grip on my pen, I get heavy handed with my graphite pencil.  I thought today I would see how I like the softer shading.  I've decided I don't have a preference!  So I'm either indecisive or I just like ALL my work (which we know isn't the truth)!  But either way it's nice to do something that doesn't look like everything else that I do.  Try to change up something you normally do and see how you like the results.  You never know what you'll find.

Shading Rules???



Sometimes when I get done with a piece I'm so excited to get started on the shading!!  It's like putting the frosting on the cake!!  Some people shade as they go - which I do sometimes, and others wait until they finish.  I usually like to look at the entire piece when I finish and try to get the feel of it.  For me, it makes a difference on my shading.  Other times I like how a pattern turns out and I can't wait to shade it and see how it looks completed.  I can't believe even with all of the tangles I make, I still get excited about them.   In case you have forgotten, I love, love, LOVE Zentangles!!  I don't think there's a right or wrong way (after all it's still Zentangling) but to be honest I haven't seen alot of dark shading on a lot of tangle tiles.  Of course I have to admit that I'm not a CZT and I haven't had any formal training so I really don't know what they teach you about shading (if anything) during the class.  I would love to take the class but circumstances won't allow it right now.  Maybe sometime down the road.  Hope you do something that YOU totally love, love, LOVE today!!

Smooth and Deep

No matter how hard I try to create angles in my pieces, I usually end up with nice rounded curves.  I don't know if my pen likes the flow of the curved lines when I'm making my strings or if in the back of my mind I like to fill rounded pieces better.  I like to think I can get more depth out of the curved pieces.  Shading has become something that I love playing with.  I am surprised at how different some pieces look after the shading has changed them and given them depth and dimension.  And to think it all comes from a flat surface.  Who would have thought???  I hope today you have a day full of dimension and depth - enjoy a fabulous Saturday!

New Pattern - Rouleau

If you haven't seen this new pattern by Sara Mitchell then you have to check it out!  Obviously I liked it and couldn't get enough of it.  It's an easy pattern to make but you can still put a lot of detail into it - which sometimes I like.  I have to say that I prefer the top piece over the bottom (ha ha the top one IS over the bottom) as I have started to play with my shading some.  On the top piece I added some black Prismacolor pencil to the outlining which gave it a different look.  I'm not sure if you can see it on the screen, but in person it really pops!  I'm really used to softer shading but I'm trying out some new things.  Wait until you see what I have for you tomorrow! 

Home at last!

I decided to show you the two best pieces I did while traveling.  I keep forgetting that trying to ride in the car while drawing is almost ridicules.  As you can see, there is no such thing as a straight line - even those that are supposed to be straight!  Between the wind blowing the car around, the traffic (I'm a victim to the weaving in and out of traffic) and the worst is the horrible roads, it's a wonder that I even managed to get anything that resembled a completed piece.  I have to admit that most of the shading I did when we were stopped.  Life seems to be that way too - overcoming obstacles to get to your final goal.  Today I hope you reach whatever goals you have set for yourself.  Enjoy!

Shading makes ALL the difference!

I've been trying to work on my shading so this time instead of doing all of my shading after I'm satisfied and its all "done" in my mind, I tried  shading as I went along.  At first I was a little scared because it felt like I was scribbling on a perfectly good piece but then the more I did, I could see it really coming together and I was really pleased with it.  I was honestly surprised that I could accomplish this look.  After I was finished with that part, I touched it up with a little pencil for some extra shading.  Ta-da! A finished product!!!  We're having a terrible rain storm today but I hope wherever you are your day is full of sunshine (even if it's just inside your heart)!!

Unorganized

I have been trying to perfect my shading and I like how this piece turned out.  There is also a new pattern I tried from Sandra that I'm not sure I got exactly right.  Sometimes my eyes see something different from my hand.  Or maybe the electron thingys that go from my eyes to my hand are just tired.  Even I get surprised when I see how things turn out sometimes.  I have tangles that I haven't shaded yet, but I almost feel like the shading finishes the piece.  It gives it the depth that you don't see without the shading - like it's calling out to be finished.  I got some new oil pastels so I've been playing around with those.  I really love how some people color theirs' and how great they look but I won't post anything until I perfect it a little more.  I'm such a perfectionist!!  That's such a silly thing to say when you're doing tangles because there is no structure to it so how can anyone be a perfectionist when doing them????  I guess sometimes I forget about the Zen part!!  He!He!!   Have a fabulous day and draw something that makes you smile!! 

Where did it go???

I actually had this one posted before I had a chance to shade it.  This is the shaded version.  Let me know if you can tell a difference. 

Last week we were having such great weather and this week - cold again!  I guess at least it's only cold and no snow covered streets like we've been used to.  I'm so glad the ground hog didn't see his shadow and Spring is right around the corner.  I spent most of the day yesterday on flickr looking at tangles and ideas of tangles.  I have been super busy making new drawings and I'm so excited to share with you.  I think because of that, I'll show you two of them today (mainly because I can't wait to post them for you to see).  I can't believe I never heard of Zentangles before Christmas and now I think about it everyday.  You would be amazed at the ideas you can get by just looking around your house.  There are textures everywhere that could be in a drawing someday.  You just never know.  I hope you enjoy!

Something different

I was at the art supply store and saw this black paper so I bought it along with several white pens and pencils (which I never thought would be THAT difficult).  You would have thought that anything white would work perfectly on black, well not so much.  The chalk pen didn't show up, the paint sharpie pen just ran and bled.  The white and grey pencils were great for shading but I'm still looking for the perfect pen.  I hope you like the change in paper.  It's 8 degrees BELOW zero here today (and a wind chill of 32 below).  It's bad when the news is telling you what to do if you get frost bite, so wherever you are, STAY WARM!!!!