cloverfield

I only discovered Erin the Bright Owl shortly before she flew away for a short break.  But this week she's back on her branch, with a new challenge template for us to play with.

Her suggested theme is Happy.  Well, obviously tangling makes me happy.  But this week summer seems to have properly arrived and that's filling my thoughts, my writing and my tangling too.  Everything I tangle seems brighter, looser, more airy.

And again I find I like the different approach that Zendala asks for.  The decision as to whether to join or subdivide sections.  The choice of what tangle will work in these small spaces.  The repetition through each section of the tile.  The symmetry.

When I read I like to shift between books.  When I write I like to work a bit on one project, then move to another. I find it is at these junctions and shifts that the sparks really happen.  And so it is with Zentangle.  I wouldn't want to focus solely on Zendala, traditional tiles or ZIA.  But shifting between them, picking up ideas from one and trying them in the next place - that's where the magic happens.  That's when I'm happy.

And so to my take on Zendala #94 -

Only a few proper tangles appear here.  Some Flux, Eke, something a bit Aquafleur-ish round the edge.  I've been playing with Meer lately and that influenced the lined parts which look like clover now they're finished.  It's definitely got a summery vibe -  I feel like I could lay back on it and watch the sky spin on forever!

multi-tasking part 2

Whilst waiting for the Glaze ink to dry on this piece I picked up my first ever Zendala.

I had printed it off as a test more than anything - I'd been playing about to see what papers our old printer might be willing and able to accept and was thrilled when it decided it could cope with a thinnish water-colour paper (200gsm). I didn't want to print off a test sheet just to throw away - I'm far too frugal with paper for that - so grabbed a Zendala from The Bright Owl (Zendala Dare #92).

I'd noticed Zendalas early in my Zentangle adventures, and see that we do get to them later in One Zentangle a Day - but ever impatient I couldn't wait to give it a go. I hadn't really seen any 'instructions' as to how I should do it - and knowing how wonderfully forgiving this whole Zentangle world is, I just dived in.

I found myself sub-diving some sections into smaller areas. And having since looked through others results I see that is accepted practice! Making a Zendala feels quite different from making a Zentangle tile, in that symmetry and repetition seem suited to the Zendala look, whereas the square tiles encourages us to go anywhere. It's not a better or worse approach, it's just different, and I enjoyed it very much. I found myself coming and going from it - adding a bit, then a bit more. The end result is clearly a first attempt but I know I'll be back for more.

The Sampsons I used on my other tile crept up again here, as did the 'nzeppel. Together they seem to create the impression of a derelict church, with the wilderness breaking through the windows to reclaim the space. Perhaps the building is round and the wooden parquet flooring (Paradox) is all that is still intact - but not for long!