Spontaneity

I am not spontaneous.  I love lists.  I organize things to other people's distraction.  I like organization, which I suppose is not a bad thing ( in moderation).  I guess that is what zentangles has brought to me - spontaneity.  Instead of having to have my art work laid out and orderly, I now draw the string, and simply let that speak to me.  It has become so relaxing and FUN!  I still have some organization (that's just me), but even the organization is more playful.  I wish I had discovered this years ago. 

My next "project" is to investigate the on-line retailers like Zazzle and Cafepress.  I would love to put some of my ZIA (zentangle inspired artwork) on some shirts or mugs or something.  Obviously it would be nice to earn something but more importantly, it would be a challenge and fun.  It also would be nice to have an additional income in case I ever do decide to retire.

I really love trying my hand at mandalas.  It kind of appeals to the "organized spontaneity" that is creeping into my life.  The one above is not really so off center - blame the photographer (me).  All this mandala craze though has had me wishing I had been better in geometry.  At least, I should have paid better attention when Dad was trying to get it through my head at the kitchen table.  Forty some years later it matters.  Good grief!!

Challenge #55

It is so much fun to check out the new challenge each week.  But this week's challenge - use the symbol for the Moebius Syndrome Foundation ( a Moebius strip) - was a real challenge!!  First I had to draw the strip and being a mega-perfectionist that took forever.  I still don't think it looks quite right, but I gave in to what I had and decided to just get started tangling!  I am pretty satisfied with the results.  I have loved looking at the other submissions to the challenge.  They are all so awesome.  I have the Tangle-A-Day calendar and on each Monday, I am doing a version of the challenge.  I won't post the one from the calendar as I used another entry to inspire me.  It's not exact of course, but it definitely shows the inspiration.  : )

Challenge #54

I love purple!  It is my favorite color.  Several years ago I read about a lady in our town who had a purple house (inside and out), a purple car, and wore only the color purple.  Now that might be going a bit too far - maybe. 

This week's challenge was to add the color purple to a tangle.  I really am more fond of the pure black/white/gray tones of a tangle, but like the idea of adding a bit of splash!

After playing with a blank mandala pattern, I decided to put together my own tile.  Then when I received Carole Ohl's Tangle-A-Day Calendar, I had to try the purple there too.   I am not sure which I like best, but all three sure were a lot of fun. 

I can't wait to see next week's challenge.  I also can't wait to see if I can figure out how to post this on the challenge site.  I hope it goes smoother than last week!!  But I did make the slide show after all the hassle. 

Computer not-so-savy

Okay, yesterday I did the blog.  Thought I was so clever to set it up and then promptly had several issues with getting in and arrangement, etc.  Oh well.  We appear to be moving smoothly this morning.  I hope I can this work because it sounds like a fun place to write - which I love to do and also to share my art work.

I am putting the Zentangle of the week challenge on this post.  It was the first challenge I have tried and I really loved doing it.  I wanted to submit it, but again I couldn't get the computer to cooperate.  Maybe next week.  However, even though I didn't make it, I am so impressed with the helpfulness of the diva from iamdiva.blogspot.com - the person who does the challenges.  She really was prompt in her response and help.  Thanks a bunch, diva!!

Let's get started

Okay here I go - off into the world of "blogdom"!  I can't believe I am really going to give this a try.  I would love to have a forum for showing some of my artwork and doodles, so this seemed like a good thing to try.  We will see how well I can do this . . . .

Might as well introduce you to my handsome lab mix.  His name is Lakota and he is the ruler of our house.  He came into my life as a 6 lb. pound puppy.  We had just lost our other rescue of 19 years!  That was a devastating loss.  To start again with an energetic puppy after losing a very calm 19 year old dog was an eye-opener to say the least.  But we did it!  Of course, to complicate matters 4 days after we got him, we discovered he had parvo.  Prognosis not good.  After a long time in intensive care (5 days), he was pronounced well enough to come home.  He is now 101 pounds and a bundle of love and energy - so I guess he recovered.