Zigzag Card

I trotted off to a craft stamping group yesterday and was surprised to hear it's been around six months since I last attended. I know I went into hiding at the end of last year but hadn't realised it had been quite that long. Time flies way too quickly as I age.

Anyway, I had the opportunity to craft away with a project set by someone else. There were two different styles of cards for the day but whereas most of the group finished both, I barely even made one. Not even half of one.

By the time I came to pack up and go home, I had cut out the black card pieces and the white ones and completed the tallest doodled design. That was all.

So this morning, I endeavoured to finish it off by doodling the remaining six pieces and sticking all the individual component together, to finish up with a ZigZag card.

It might not have taken so long if I hadn't tried to be so clever, by continuing with my doodling spree of recent. I love that the group's projects allow you to interpret and create in a way of your choosing but this can be my downfall. Whilst others merrily stamped and inked away, finishing both cards, I was sat with pen in hand and straining eyes. When will I learn to take my reading glasses around with me?

However, I'm pleased with how it's turned out and I feel the time invested was worth it.

Right, I will finish up, as I am off to shop for some treats for tomorrow night's dinner (with a detour to the less-than-romantic dump). Nick & I will be celebrating 15 years together. As it lands on a Monday and restaurants more usually close that evening, we are going to dine in. Therefore, goodies need purchasing.

Until next time, hope you enjoy the remains of the weekend.

h&k

Pxx

Zentangle A Day - 9

Crikey, I can't believe I've done nine straight days of Zentangles. They're great fun to draw but I'm feeling a bit Zenned out. I sense they will now be something to dip into every so often, rather than every day. Well, until I've finished the book that is. I'm beginning to start itching to do other things. I'm a slave to my ceaselessly restless nature. Anyhoo, here's my latest.

A bit easier than the previous ones but I did make a tiny boob. I was halfway through drawing the doodles when I realised I hadn't created a string to contain them. I filled the 3.5 inch square instead. Shows I need a break, methinks.

So instead of pulling out my journal, I have a bundle of craft magazines and books which I haven't even opened yet. I can see from here that they're beginning to gather dust. I'm going to use my spare time differently today, give my pencils a rest and indulge in looking at pretty photos of other people's creative talents.

Until next time, my lovely

Pxx

Zentangle A Day - 8

Something a bit different with the Zentangle today as you can see. It's all gone a little bit tubular, in it's design.

I had no problem drawing the tangles. It's more in the execution of them into the string shape, that I struggled. I roughly based my design on the one supplied in the book. It might have turned out better if I'd gone with my own string instead. But it's all new and therefore I'm learning as I go along. Some days go better than others. They're nice tangles though but they need a bit more practice to look really good.


Px

Zentangle A Day - 7

Well blow me down. I've kept this up for a whole week so far. I've been more committed than I thought I would. Bu with another five weeks to go, I'm not sure i can keep this up. It depends if the daily exercise start requiring a bit more time or practice.

And the final page of the week isn't as quick and simple to generate as it may look. You may have also noticed that there are no tangles at the top of the page either.

Well, that's because today's task was to select some of the tangles we've already learnt and alter them, to make a different tangle. We had to modify them in any way we wished.

I did as instructed, but it wasn't quick and simple, thinking up new ways to draw an existing design. At a guess, this took me double the time it normally does. It was a useful lesson though. And I like the idea of doing something fresh with a previous idea.

And as for the old ear trouble I've been having. Well, it's the last day of my antibiotics and the pain has completely gone, along with around 95% of the inflammation. However, I still find myself hitting the subtitles on the TV shows for the odd word or phrase.

Can't promise myself that I'll sit and draw tonight. I have a sneaky suspicion I'll be blog hopping and catching up on all the CHA news instead.

Pxx

Zentangle A Day - 6

I managed to knock out yet another Zentangle. It means, I've nearly completed the first week of lessons. It's certainly an interesting way to doodle and best of all, it's a great warm up exercise before drawing.

Todays three tangles and the lesson, revolved around designs which can be created without lifting the pen off the page. The resulting Zentangle using Mooka & Flux doesn't look like a typical design but nonetheless it's fun to create. Amaze feels more like a normal pattern filler however i'm not sure I managed to create my lights tight enough together. Needs practice.

I'm hoping for a trip out today before the snow hits us. You just know that the country will come to a standstill once the white flakes begin to coat the land. Right, off to find my thermals and give them an airing before the temperatures drop.

Pxx

Zentangle A Day - 5

On a roll here. Day five & I've managed another Zentangle drawing in my journal. It's not my best effort but then, the patterns weren't my favourite either, which probably had something to do with it.

Only two tangles to practice this time around along with the lesson of adding "sparkles" (or highlights) to our doodles.

I gamely had a go but my heart wasn't really into these particular doodles. I don't know why. Maybe it's  the mood I'm in. Or maybe, some days, it doesn't flow as well as others. Whatever the reason, this is that day for me. There was more 'tangle' and less 'Zen' going on with this page :).

On a more positive note, the antibiotics are working and my ear & corresponding jaw are pain free. I still have to be good. The inflammation hasn't fully gone down yet but it's going in the right direction. The absence of a stabbing pain at night means I've also caught up on sleep and I'm feeling much more human.

However, it does mean I have to catch up on my work, given that I gave myself a day off. Better go and lock myself away for a few hours.

Px

Zentangle A Day - 4

Well Lindsay was correct in her comment yesterday :) When I had something to do, the time in the waiting room wasn't long at all. I arrived at 10.00am for a 10.10am appointment. And blow me down, I was called in to see the Doctor at 10.15am! At this stage I had my book in my lap and my pens and pencils all around me, scribbling away. I had to quickly squirrel it all back into my bag and run along to the Doctor's room, hoping I didn't spill my art stuff all over the floor in my haste.

But I did manage to start the drawings off but it did mean I forgot to put the tangle names on top of the page. I've since corrected this oversight but only after I scanned it in. From left to right they are, Shattuck, Nipa & Jonqual.

The added lesson for today was around the subject of shadows. We've been shown how to add them already but I guess it was to highlight the idea a bit further. And as you can see, I've used all three new tangles within today's string. Fairly quick and easy this one. None of the doodles were particularly difficult to draw. Shattuck needed a little bit of concentration to ensure I was drawing the lines in the correct directions. But the other two could be done without having to engage the brain.

Which, at the moment is a good thing as I'm tired through lack of sleep and a bit woozy. What little brain I have, is certainly not functioning at it's best. My newly-cleaned ear picked up an infection, hence the trip to the Doctor. My fault, as my habit is to wash my hair when I'm taking a daily bath, which involves dirty water sloshing around my lug-holes and well let's just say that this isn't the best way to treat the newly-sensitive skin within the ear. I've been told that my scraggy grey mop has to be washed by shower head only. In the meantime, I'm on a short course of antibiotics which are making me ever so slightly nauseous. But the effects should wear off in a day or so.

I'll try and draw again tonight but we'll just have to see. I may just find myself falling asleep in front of the TV instead :)

Pxx

Zentangle a Day - 3

It's day Three for my "One Zentangle a Day" and I found some time to have a play and create something in my journal...

There were three more tangles to learn, around the theme of designs which overlap each other. I drew a loose square swirl and looped some lines within, to create my string. As I said yesterday, I much prefer curves to angles. Then I filled the design with the three new patterns.

I may find a use for these doodles this morning too. I'm off to see my Doctor (nothing serious) and it'll be the perfect distraction whilst I'm in the waiting room. It's a lottery, I could find myself sat there anywhere from 10 short minutes to a tedious hour, or more. The great thing about doodling, is that time flies whilst you're doing it.

Until next time

Pxx

Zentangle a Day - 2

Well, I've been very good and managed to draw another Zentangle for day two of One Zentangle A Day. It's a bit different to the first as you can see.

There were three more tangles to practise which we were instructed to use along with those previously taught. However, today I tried a more angular string, with straight edges. I'm not as keen as the more fluid, circular designs but as I'm learning, it's only fair to try these ideas out.

Am I finding them relaxing to do? Yes. But no more than when I'm sat drawing, sketching or doodling anyway. The main difference I'm experiencing when trying to practice the "Zen" side, is in drawing much slower and with more focused attention to the detail. I prefer looser, quicker styles of drawing. Ones that capture the essence and look rough around the edges. It doesn't feel natural to draw slowly and carefully. Especially for a doodle. But I'm happy to keep giving it a go.

If I can find myself another half hour, I'll eagerly try out exercise three tonight

Pxx

The Book of Firsts 2013 Begins

If you saw yesterday's post, you'll probably have a sneaking suspicion as to the first entry in my Book of Firsts 2013.

It's a zentangle...

Yes, I've doodled before now and I've even drawn some tangles in my art journal pages but I've never produced a proper Zentangle. Officially, they are created within a 3.5" square format (normally on a piece of good quality, thick card) and incorporate a String (a random shape intersected with other lines). The shapes inside are then filled with tangles (doodles).

The Zen part comes from deep focused breathing and relaxation as well as the slow, careful deliberation in the creation of the doodles.

How do I know so much? Well, one of my presents, over the festive season, was "One Zentangle A Day" by Beckah Krahula. And I've gleaned all this from her introduction to the practice. And the Zentangle above, is my creation for Day 1.

Rather than on pieces of card, I'm drawing mine in a moleskin journal. I'm hoping, as time goes on, to completely fill my book with all the exercises. Not sure I'll do it in six weeks or manage one a day, but I hope to complete all the chapters eventually. It's a six week course, so only another 41 to draw. As if I need to give myself any more challenges for my self-discipline lol.

Pxx