Twinchies

The newest Swap due to be completed in April is called “Twinchies,” which are 2″x2″ card stock framed with a black border using only one tangle.  Here is my first batch of completed Twinchies. I used TanglePatterns.com as a resource for each of the tangles I drew.  I’d like to give credit to the creators of these tangles, so here goes the list of tangle names and the artist who submitted the pattern to the site:

(From Left to Right – Top Row)  “Paradox“, original Zentangle® pattern designed by Maria Thomas; “Palrevo“, by Karry Heun; “eez” by Judy Burkett, CZT; “Echoism, by Sue Jacobs, CZT.

(Second Row) “Geos” by Ronnie Szczerba (that’s me); “Celtic” by Deanne Stewart-Mills; “Centerfuge” by Sandra Strait; “Loopy” by Ronnie Szczerba;

(Third Row) “Bokbz” by Rita Nikolajeva, CZT; “Drack” by Helen Williams; “Ojo” by Laura Williams, CZT; “Makrahmee” by Michele Beauchamp, CZT.

(Fourth Row)  “Facets” by Nancy Pinke, CZT; “Maelstrom” by Linda Dawson; “Bwiya” by Suzane McNeill; “Loveline” Judy Murphy;

(Fifth Row)  “Quiltz” by Kim Barlow; “Sand Swirl” Karry Heun; “Sanibelle” Tricia Faraone, CZT; “Aqua” Christina Vandervlist, CZT.

The list of participants is yet to be released, so I’m not sure how many of these little beauties I have to make.  I plan to send one to each participant.  So, I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of the little cuties.

Thanks for stopping by.  I look forward to your comments.

Swaps

“Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.”
― Brian Tracy

I’ve been vigorously working on another Swap.  I’m creating Bookmarks to mail out to fifty other tanglers who live all over the world.  It’s a real joy, getting to share my work with others and then to receive their art.   Each one of us has our own unique style and the swaps I’ve received all show the beauty and variation of each artist’s style and talents.

I have already posted some of the Bookmarks for this Swap under the heading “Re-invent the Wheel,” so I hope you will take a moment and check them out.

Shown below is the finished 9″ x 11″ watercolor paper which I splattered with paint.  I also added a thin layer of glitter paint to give it some sparkle.  I then used a Micron .01 pen to draw the various tangle.  I used fine-line pens to color the tangles and shaded with a grey fine-line pen.  I’ve seen other tanglers use this method to create their ATC’s and other shared artwork.  It’s always a thrill to see how the individual cuts turn out and what tangles appear on each bookmark.

I cut bookmark size pieces which are mounted on a complimentary colored card stock.

As I’ve said, I’ve been drawing like crazy  to get these fifty bookmarks finished.  I want to share with you some others pieces I’ve finished.  Each of these are unique and drawn on individual heavy card stock cut to size.

I’m not sure which I like better — the individual bookmarks or the ones from the cutup original.  Love to know what you think.

I hope you enjoyed viewing my artwork.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Focus on Health

Diva Challenge #150, a photo by ronniesz on Flickr.

According to Laura at “I Am The Dive” blog: “Around the internet arting/crafting world people are talking about their one little word for the year. My understanding is that you pick one word that you want to be your focus for the year.” So, thanks to Laura, I’ve given this a lot of thought and came up with the word “Health.” The definition, when I looked it up is: “the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; especially : freedom from physical disease or pain; a flourishing condition.” I’m committed this year to bringing my health to the forefront by exercising, eating healthy, and taking good care of myself.

I drew this Zentangle Inspired Art on 6″ x 6″ beige card stock using Micron .01 pen.  I used Bic fine-line pens to color and shade this piece.  I decided to use the letter in my word as a way to choose the tangles:  Heartrope, by Bunny Wright;  Embellish, by Sandra Strait; AAs, by Judy Murphy; ; La Bel, by Sue Jacobs; and Telic, by Chrissie Framton.

Thanks for stopping by.  I look forward to your comment.

Sunday afternoon delight….

Zendala Dare #87, a photo by ronniesz on Flickr.

On this Sunday afternoon, from the template offered by Erin, at The Bright Owl, I drew this Zendala Dare with Micron .01 pen on white card stock (8.5″ x 8.5″). It’s colored with fine line permanent markers and shaded with graphite pencil. A new tangle, created by Cheryl at Artful Creations, called “Boho,” is used on outer rim. Be sure to check out the other beautiful Zendala Dares at Erin blog, The Bright Owl.  Thanks so much for stopping by. I do hope you have time to leave a comment.

Re-invent the wheel!

“What on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book, and a cup of coffee?”

– Anthony Trollope

I been seeing on-line in some of my groups that instead of making each bookmark individually, some artists are drawing an entire page and then cutting it into book mark size.  So, the copycat that I am, I decided to give it a try.  Why not re-invent the wheel.

I used watercolor paper that I splattered with watercolor paint, then added a few erratically placed lines.  I then sat down and tangled the entire page.  Here it is:

I used fine-line pens to add addition color and then shaded with a graphite pencil.  The page is approximately 9″ x 12″ and made ten bookmarks.  I was concerned that each bookmark might not contain enough of the pattern or the cuts would land in the wrong spaces.  Here’s how they look glued to a complimentary color that has a metallic sheen:

I didn’t try to arrange them in their original order.  I’m pleased that each bookmark seems to have its own character.

Thanks for stopping by.  I do hope you have time to leave a comment.

Gratitude

Zendala Dare #86, a photo by ronniesz on Flickr.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”

— Melody Beattie

 

This week’s Zendala Dare is the template which inspired these hearts. The challenge was to show what we are grateful for. I’ve featured my daughter-in-law (left), my daughter (right), my dog and my kitten. All of them bring me joy and love and I’m very grateful to have them in my life. Stop by Erin’s blog, The Bright Owl, to see the original template; and check out some of the other great renditions of this template. Thanks for viewing. Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.

The First Day of Hope

“Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
Whispering ‘it will be happier’…”

T. S. Eliot

Wow!  The first day of 2014.  I’m looking forward to the new year and hoping it holds good things for me.  I guess everyone feels that way.  One never knows what the future holds but it’s always good to be optimistic and hope for the best.

I’ve been working on lots and lots of bookmarks for an upcoming Swap with the Yahoo group “Zentangle Artist Trading Card Swap.”  They are posted on my Flicker page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/80288200@N03/ ) and also on the group page.  I would like to add them to my blog but I just seem to run out of time.  So, stop by and check them out and leave a comment.

I started this Zendala Dare last night and worked on it most of today.  It’s drawn on 8.5 x 8.5 beige card stock with Micron .01 and .005 pens.  I used metallic gel pens and Prismacolor pencils to color it.

Do hope you like my efforts and will take a moment to leave a comment.

 

Mistakes

“Mistakes are the growing pains of wisdom.”
― William Jordan

I’ve been participating in a lot of Swaps lately.  Seems I made two ATCs for the group Zentangle Inspired Art, mailed them off, feeling right proud of myself.  A few days later I was informed in an email that I had sent off the wrong size.  The Swap called for 3.5″ x 3.5″ Zentangle size drawings.  I had sent 2.5″ by 3.5″  ATC size. Oops.

So, rather than  beat myself up for not reading the instructions properly, I just told Cheryl, the hostess, I would prepare two more pieces.  Luckily the drawing are not due until the end of November.  Now I know why I like to get things done early.  If I do make a mistake, I still have a chance to correct it.

Here are the first two ATCs I sent:

Here are the two new ones I drew:

Actually, I like the second set I drew much better than the first.  Sure hope the recipients like them too.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I look forward to your comments.

Is This Cheating?

Diva Challenge #145-“Quib”, a photo by ronniesz on Flickr.

A new tangle from Zentangle.com called “Quib” is featured in this week’s Diva Challenge. In addition, at my group Zentangle Inspired Art, the TOW (Tangle of the Week) happens to be the same tangle. So, I’m posting my rendition at both places. Is that cheating? Should I have drawn a different one for each site? Truthfully, there are not enough hours in a day to make as many ZIAs (Zentangle Inspired Art) as my heart wants to draw. Hope you like this one. It’s on beige card stock and colored with gel pens. Your comments are appreciated and welcome.

A Bird In Hand

“A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wing in the orange suns rays and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.”
― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Ornation Creation-Bluebird -Ben Kwok, a photo by ronniesz on Flickr.

This little bird was tangled onto a template which I tranferred to (8.5″ x 11″) white card stock. The template was drawn by Ben Kwok, a member from Ornation Creation group. Do hope you like this little Bluebird of Happiness and leave me a comment. Thanks for viewing.