Wednesday 26 September 2018

all the difference

Good things come to those who wait.  The new tangle I'm about to share with you appeared as a mere inkling a couple of months ago.  I've given it time to grow, to develop, to change and truly show itself to me.  But now I think it's ready to see the light and to maybe hop from my page to yours.

It arose while planning how to fill a couple of leaf shapes on some stunning eco-dyed tiles that a Travelling Tangler in my swap group sent to me.  This is not one of those tiles, but looks similar - and seems a good place to start as autumn begins to comb her fingers through our days. 

Looking leafy - filled with other tangles and wrapped and surrounded by dark auras.
On pastel paper with white highlights.


The tangle is based on a series of Y shapes each fitting into the next and growing smaller as they go.  You may see Y shapes, you may see forked branches or paths, or turned upside down perhaps even wishbones.  I call it Divi because of the nature of it constantly dividing itself.  If the forks of Divi were in Robert Frost's road in the woods there'd be plenty of choices ahead of you!

The step out is really quite simple.  Divi is very forgiving of wobbles and inconsistencies.  Your Y shapes can be curvy, or straight, or really wavy, or looping upwards or downwards or any which way. I've also shown how it can be drawn along a band (which you could pencil in first).


In this next example I've mirrored the starting Y shape, and filled the spaces between branches with Shattuck.  I've then put more thick auras down both sides, and then a few Fescu.  The bands looked a bit too stark so I added some black dots to break them up.

Looking like wings and beaks and feathers and all that flies in the night.
Black tile, while Gelly Roll, white charcoal.


If you draw Divi along a band it can then be embellished in multiple ways.  Tangled like this it has similarities to Chainlea, but is different enough too I think?

Looking beautiful in shades of blue.  Endless potential for variation. 
I even weaved Fescu through the holes in one of them!

I can be drawn without much additional ornamentation - and take on another look entirely.  This version nods to Ruutz and also to Wind Farm - but again, it differs significantly too.

Looking tumbled - each Divi section jumps off from the one before. 
I darkened some of the lines and added touches of Tearce. 
On a Brusho coloured tile - pigment ink and graphite.

Lastly it can transform into something far more geometric.  You can also fill the bands of Divi itself rather than the spaces between.

Looking shiny and new.  Divi with corners instead of curves. And filled with Clob.

Sometimes I think that the measure of a good tangle isn't just how it looks on the tile, but how it makes you feel when you tangle with it - and I know I'm biased but I'm really enjoying the diminishing divisions of Divi and I hope you do too.  I'd love to hear how you get on with it and to see your creations.

As always, if this tangle appears to be too similar to any others in name or style, please let me know. 

17 comments:

  1. Oh my! And just when I sat down to put my foot up...gonna play with Divi! It’s full of potential!

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    1. I hope you have fun playing and your foot heals up in the meantime!

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  2. Fantastic tangle that DIVI of yours, Jem! I never thought I would be BLOWN AWAY by a ribbon, but the look of your blue Divi with the woven in Fescu made me look twice...and closer.
    Also laugh your leafy tile.

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    1. Glad you like my new tangle Susie. And that I've made you like a ribbon too!

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  3. WOW - lots of lovely examples. Might have to give this one a go! LOVE what you've done with it.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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    1. Glad you like it Sarn. I like to offer lots of examples as A) it helps me get to know the tangle B) shows people a few alternatives.

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  4. Ohmigosh! This is so cool 😍 All of your variations are remarkable and I shall be noodling around with Divi in the near future, perhaps in my next Travelling Tangles tile😍 I'm especially drawn to the tumble. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. So pleased you like it Michele. And I shall look forward to seeing how you use it. I like the fact that different versions of it might appeal to different people.

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  5. Your tiles are lovely. I loved this phrase: ... as autumn beguns to comb her fingers through our days. Very vivid, well put line.

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    1. Thank you Sra. Lovely to know you enjoy my writing as well as my drawing!

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  6. Very nice tangle, Jem. Your line about autumn reminded me of a song by Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues that goes..."Through autumn's golden gown we used to kick our way..."

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    1. I forgot to mention that the name of the song is "Forever Autumn".

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    2. Oh yes, I know that song, it's beautiful. Thanks for visiting!

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  7. Lovely tangle, and so versatile. The variety of tiles you’ve posted as examples is stunning!

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  8. Hello from North Vancouver BC Canada !

    Ray, these are beautiful. I love strings that are "things" and then also are tangled in their spaces...Brilliant !! 😲😃✏✏

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    1. Hello Sharon, greetings from a wet and windy south coast UK!

      Thank you for your kind words. I'm pleased you like my tangle and tiles.

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  9. loved each but especially enamored of the diminishing ones
    Rita (aka 3grrrs)

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