Cool WiP & Fi di Pi & Cintronica

WiP: Work in Progress. Need I say more? Of course I do. Even if I don't need to, I will.  After all, that's why I have a blog: to elaborate on my ideas with anyone who cares to take the time to read them. :-) If that's you, then thank you for reading!

I have just returned home from a delightful family vacation...I thought I'd be blogging from the beach condo, and tangling up a storm, but that didn't happen. Instead I read...and shopped and dined and slept, and took in a show (SHOUT! The Mod Musical), and enjoyed time with my inlaws and nephew as well as my husband and kids. So now I feel very relaxed, but also waaaaay behind on Diva challenges and blog posts, as I was already behind before I left on vacation!

My next few entries will feature unfinished tiles--ones that I started for various Diva challenges, including this week's challenge, UMT v. VI: Fiore di Pietro (Challenge #77). Fiore di Pietro is a new tangle by Rho Densmore, CZT, in memory of her brother-in-law who passed very unexpectedly a mere two-and-a-half weeks ago. It's a beautiful tangle, full of possibilities to explore. Click here to link to directions. This first tile in which I've utilized Fiore di Pietro is incomplete in that I haven't yet shaded it...but I am so eager to get a post up, after skipping a few weeks, I want to go ahead and share it! I'll post it again after I've shaded it. (DONE! 7/10/12) I love seeing other people's work mid-process, so I hope you can enjoy mine in stages.

Tangles used: Fiore di Pietro, Pweeko, Ving, Tipple

And here's the finished tile. Rho, you are welcome to use this, if you wish.

Also in the WiP category--make that the Cool WiP category; I wouldn't post something if I didn't think it was cool--is a glorious new tangle from Zentangle! It is currently nameless. (!!!!!!) Rick and Maria posted it to the Zentangle newsletter and blog last week and challenged us to name it and draw step-outs (the diagrams that break down a tangle into simple steps). 

My proposed name is Cintronica, after Tina Cintron (see explanation below). I completed these step-outs super fast on vacation at Hilton Head Island on the coast of South Carolina last week. I jumped right to task as soon as I saw the newsletter about the new tangle and the name/step-out challenge. I had to rush through them for fear that I'd peek at directions if someone else posted their version before I'd finished mine. I allowed myself very little time to do this, as our family was about to head out for an afternoon of kayaking. (Our first ever kayak excursion...and it was WONDERFUL! Our tour group enjoyed the presence of a lone dolphin who surfaced in our area numerous times...once a mere 15 feet or so behind me!)

My step-outs, messy thought they are, and crudely photographed with Caroline's iPad, are as follows:

About the name I propose, Cintronica, and it's origin: Tina Cintron has an instructional DVD that I purchased for use in my classroom. The DVD's focus is on watercolor resist techniques, but a bonus feature is that she shows how to draw basic Celtic knots using a configuration she calls "Headless Dancing Man." Headless Dancing Man is a square whose sides are extended in four different directions, as seen in the first diagram of Step 2 of my step-outs above. If that figure is turned diagonally, it really does look like a block-bodied stick man that is missing his head and doing the can-can. Or about to do a cartwheel.

Headless Dancing Man is a great way to start an endless number of Celtic Knot design variations...and as such, has become an important figure in my teaching. Thus, when I saw this new tangle that utilizes the concept I learned from Tina Cintron, I wanted to propose a name that honors her. The "ca" I added at the end of my proposed title is short for "cabin," as in "log cabin," the tradition quilt block construction method that utilizes strips of cloth. My daughter Caroline has a tangle that we call DecoLoCa (see it used here on the egg), which is short for Deconstructed Log Cabin, which is also inspired in part by the log cabin quilt block.

About my Cool WiP concept: This past school year our PTA adopted a food/cooking theme for the annual back-to-school activities and membership drive. It was a fun theme; I thought of our art room as "Smorgasbord Studio," though I never officially named it that by making a sign. I also tried to think of unusual ways to work the theme of "food" into the art curriculum. I  had a lot of ideas that never made it to fruition (note the pun I worked in there? FRUITion?!), but one of my ideas that I did bring to life is the Cool WiP board: Cool Work-in-Progress. I had a bulletin board that I would occasionally post impressive artwork-in-progress by my students. Sometimes I even gave out a Cool Wip wristband that I made up as an award that students could wear home to show their parents that their artwork had been honored. I didn't get it going until late in the year, though, so it wasn't a main feature of the artroom and class routine...but next year I want to carry on with it and make a bigger deal about it to get the students excited.

Thanks for reading if you made it this far! As always, any comments you post are cherished. 

Happy tangling!

Eccentric Vergecho...plus ZEWM & VING

This week's Diva Challenge (# 74) is entitled "String Theory v. X: Eccentric Circles".
Here's the prompt she gave us: "For this challenge - draw a string of eccentric circles ... and get a-tanglin'."

She also let us know that, "according to wikipedia the definition of eccentric is:
Adjective. eccentric (comparative more eccentric, superlative most eccentric): not at or in the centre...not perfectly circular...an eccentric or elliptical orbit having a different center." (I modified the formatting a bit to take up fewer lines, as this is going to be a long post!)

She encouraged us to start with a drop shape and draw cirle-esque shapes radiating our around it. Lots of room for interpretation, though she did provide us with two great examples. Thank you, Laura! I love this challenge prompt!

"Eccentric Vergecho" is the title of my first effort to meet the challenge. (The "g" in "Vergecho" is a soft "g", like a "j"...in case you were wondering! And the "ch" is a hard "c" sound like a "k", as in the word "echo.") I decided to utilize only two tangles, and that they, despite the roundedness of the string, would be tangles that are composed of straightish lines. One tangle uses straight-ish lines that converge and the other utilizes straight-ish lines that echo the contrasting segment directions of a zigzag. VING and ZEWM.

If you have read my archived entries, you might remember "Ving"--a tangle that appeared in my non-dominant hand tile. It just showed up there, and I asked if anyone else could identify it. It's a little like Munchin, but is not so random. And it's a little like Sanibelle by Tricia Faraone, CZT, though Sanibelle is gloriously organic, and this tangle is more geometric...yet despite its geometric base, it conjures up seashell and plant structures. In a post entitled "Diamond Dance" I decided that I would name it "Ving" and provide step-outs. It's taken me a few months, but better late than never. Here they are:





And here is a little selection of ways I have played with Ving:

A few little Ving-balls and Ving-tiles I came up with today...
it was so fun I decided that I simply must draw up those
step-outs for Ving and share it with you!

I have also created step-outs for another tangle that I have never seen named. I have seen this tangle in other people's work, but have NEVER seen it identified! It is similar to Shattuck (an official Zentangle tangle, click here for directions by Sandy Steen Bartholomew)...but has a different personality. It doesn't feature the double lines that divide Shattuck into sections, though it could. This tangle works great as a border or in any long, narrow space. I struggled to come up with an appropriate name...and settled on Zewm. It does come together pretty quickly! But I didn't want a name with "O"s in it (zoom), as it is a straight line tangle. So I took a long hard look at all the letters that are formed with straight lines and selected "E," "M," "W," and "Z" because they utilized zigzags... and, in the case of the "E", parallel and perpendicular lines. Just like the tangle.

I really hope I have not missed anyone else's publication of a name and/or step outs! I know I didn't "invent" this pattern...but since I love to use it, and I know others do too, I thought it needed its own identity.

Here it is in a Valentine ATC I created for a swap in 2011:

Well, that's about all for today! I never finished the post I started last week...and I still haven't written up more details on my fabulous family vacation...or revealed how my son became a Greek god this spring...or mentioned the fun I had presenting Zentangle to Fine Arts Blount, an art guild in Maryville, TN last week...So much to blog about! So come back and visit me again!

Zambra! ZIA with Limonescent Crescent Moon

I completed a second tile for the Diva's Challenge Crescent Moon Challenge (#72). YAY!

On vacation this week in beautiful Asheville, NC, we dined at some incredible restaurants. Our first night in town, we enjoyed a fantastic meal of tapas at Zambra! (the exclamation point is part of the restaurant's name). There, I came up with an idea for another tile, and traced the base of my wine glass. Then the tapas started coming, and I put my tangle supplies away in order to enjoy every last bite.

A few nights later, we ate at Limones. Another fine meal! There, I traced the octagonal base of the salt (or pepper) shaker, thus completing my string. And then began one Crescent Moon variation on the outside of the octagonal shape, and another variation on the inside of the octagonal shape.

So, even though this looks very much like a traditional Zentangle tile, it is actually more accurately identified as a ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art) because I used tools while generating part of it...a true Zentangle tile would be 100% freehand drawn, in my interpretation. But traditional or not, I really enjoyed creating this tile. And I really enjoyed this vacation with my family. More details, including links, to be shared later! Right now I am wiped out and it is time to sleep!

Crescent Present

Crescent Moon is like a gift--a present from Zentangle, as it is so satisfying and so versatile. It is also a great tangle for keeping you in the moment--the present. You have to really focus on coloring in those half-circles and spacing those auras, but it's such a joyful focus. It's no wonder Crescent Moon is used by Rick and Maria and probably nearly every CZT in introductory classes. It's a classic.

And Crescent Moon is the focus on this week's Diva Challenge (#72). I am excited about this challenge, as it will give me a place to send students to see a ton of beautiful ways that Crescent Moon can be utilized and tangleated. Without further ado, here is my first contribution to this Tanglation Nation Crescent Moon Challenge.
 

Pea-nuckle Pasta Parfait

Molly Hollibaugh's new tangle, Pea-nuckle, does actually remind me of pasta--cavatappi, to be precise! Those hollow, ribbed spirals that I didn't even know about until recently. Such a cool pasta! I'm not sure what parfait has to do with it...but I liked the way it sounded. And Pea-nuckle indeed comes together in distinct layers.

The Diva chose Pea-nuckle for Challenge #71 (click to connect to her blog post about it), and I am barely getting it in before the end of the week. It was the last week of school, for me as well as my kids, and was a doozy, but I didn't want to miss yet another challenge! I do plan to go back and complete #71, the Sepia challenge. But here is what I "knuckled down" to complete and submit this week:

It was fun, and I enjoyed the challenge of making
Pea-nuckle come together. My way of striating it in this tile makes the foreground shapes look like striped zucchinis or super long, skinny watermelons. (Such a food-focused blog entry this is!) So I think next time I will not do it quite this way. As I was working, I had several ideas for several other approaches I'd like to try with this tangle, but for the sake of getting the tile done, I forged ahead and just strove to be consistent. I did not even use another tangle...I just added auras to the background, with a few swirls and some weighting/rounding thrown in to keep things interesting.

Today I enjoyed a delicious lunch with my parents and my kids at the Tomato Head in Maryville--what a treat! In fact, though none of us had it, I do believe they serve cavatappi as the pasta on the kids menu! Mostly Tomato Head is known for delicious pizza and salads, sandwiches, and burritos. It offers a wide range of vegetarian options, and the food is always fresh and interesting, not to mention yummy.

Afterwards, a short stroll down the street brought me to an art studio where I met Cindy McDannel, an artist and teacher who had contacted me earlier this spring to do a demo in June for Fine Arts Blount, a non-profit artist association in Maryville. I'm all set up for the June meeting! Just a quick demo. Should be fun!

In other news...I stopped into the Knoxville Book Arts Guild's meeting last week to introduce Zentangle. Thanks to Louise Ragle for inviting me...Louise had seen my presentation to the Smoky Mountain Quilters back in  April, and thought her book arts guild would enjoy learning about Zentangle. I think they did, and I know that I truly enjoyed learning about this local group. I met some wonderful artists, and can't wait to go to future meetings. Zentangle and book arts are a fantastic match!

Groovy Grin

I'm smiling because I completed a Diva Challenge tile earlier this week!

Challenge #69 is the fourth UMT Challenge ("Use My Tangle"), and I am so glad to be introduced to a new-to-me tangle: "Groovy" by Eden in Georgia. Her blog is Cut'n It Up...and Sewing It Back Together.

This isn't going to be along blog post (how uncharacteristic of me!). Here's my tile using Groovy:

Groovy, plus Mooka, Udine, Tagh, and Floo.

Maybe I'll get a second Challenge design turned in this week! Time will tell....

Happy Tangling,
Amy

Two Tangles & Two Scout Events

This week's Diva Challenge (#68), a Duo Tangle challenge, had us utilizing two-- and only two--tangles: Hibred and Strircles.
I don't think I've ever utilized either of these tangles, so I had to step out of my comfort zone on this one. So here it is:

Hibred and Strircles

I goofed up so many times on Strircles...I just had to keep improvising variations as I went along. I had fun, though.

Once again I finished my tile and am posting and the very end of the week...maybe next week I can be a little less last minute! I did start this one much earlier in the week, though: either Monday or Wednesday afternoon. I began it while waiting in my van in the parking lot in the afternoon heat...not typically what one does for "fun," but I actually did not mind the wait at all since I had my Zentangle Kit with me and the weekly challenge on my mind! But alas, my parking lot wait time was not enough to finish, and I had to hunker down and complete it late Saturday night.

So that covers the two tangles.

Erin in the Center, her mom Jackie on the left,
and yours truly on the right.

Now for the two Scout events! I'll tell you in chronological order. A week ago Friday I had the wonderful opportunity to help a Girl Scout Troop earn their art badge. One of my former students, Erin, was coordinating this badge, and she contacted me earlier this spring to see if I could come to a meeting and provide an art experience. I was thrilled to say yes! I planned a more traditional drawing activity for the troop, but also offered Zentangle as an option. Guess which one she chose?!

18 Scouts attended the meeting, and a few Moms were there, too. Caroline was there to assist me (Thank you , Caroline!)  We had a fantastic time. I was so happy to see several of my former students (who attended the elementary school where I teach, but have moved on up to middle school), as well as several girls from Caroline's school. I brought in all my Zentangle books and lots of tiles to display, and some posters...and my computer so I could show them all the online resources that are available...but the majority of our time was spent hands-on, creating their first Zentangle tile.



Troop Mosaic

The second Scout event was with the Boy Scouts. My son and husband are at the Spring Camporee this weekend, and Caroline and I drove to the campground this evening to see my son Joseph get surprised with an honor: he was selected by his troop to be a member of the Order of the Arrow. The OA is like the honor society of Boy Scouts, so you can just imagine how proud I am of him! I don't think I've talked about Joseph in his blog before, as it's a Zentangle-focused blog, and he doesn't tangle (yet!), but since I was talking about Scouts, I just had to share the news. Proud mama moment!