DRAWING FROM THE DAY
  • ...a blog on art, creativity, and mindfulness

MESSILY GOURD-GEOUS

11/3/2015

 
The tangle challenge from the Diva this week was a brand-new tangle called "Gourdgeous." 

I was not too interested in this tangle when it was published.  And now, having drawn it twice, I'm still not enamored.  But hey, these things sometimes change with practice.  Perhaps in a few months I'll view it differently.

After all, I didn't like meditation at first, either, and now I'm 40 years into it, still "practicing," and although it's as challenging as it ever was, I certainly am reaping the benefits.

But I don't see myself doing this particular tangle for the next 40 years, even with more practice.  Even though Zentangle® is a form of moving meditation, some tangles increase the meditative experience, and some don't. 

Which tangle works or doesn't work to increase Zentangle's meditative aspect differs from person to person, which is one of the interesting things about the technique...just like different types of meditation work for different people.  Neither process is "one size fits all.")

Here is Gourdgeous, drawn in my Tangle-a-Day calendar.  Since Maria Thomas (my idol) came to this tangle by simply using lines and spaces, I thought I'd add a few lines and spaces behind it.  This was my first-ever attempt:
Picture
For the actual challenge, I put it on a black tile, using Signo Uniball pens (broad and narrow), a General White Charcoal Pencil, and a Rainbow Lead Pencil.  So here you see attempt #2:
Picture
Meh.

I'll try additional practice with it, both black and white and in color, to see what develops. 

Right now I'm going over to the Diva's page to see what other folks have done with this.  Usually I don't look until after I've submitted my own work so as not to be influenced, but this time I've accidentally seen a couple of the submissions on other people's blogs, and they are truly stunning.  Looking forward to seeing what everyone else did.
MySpecialist link
11/3/2015 11:13:37 pm

What do you mean "meh"? The black tile is really beautiful! I just love how you achieved the shading effects. Love the hatching on the black & white tile.

Devin link
11/4/2015 05:55:58 pm

Thank you. I generally am not so self-critical, but you know how we cannot help liking some of our projects better than others. I am also aware of how I sometimes dislike things when I finish them and then a week later I look at them and think, "Hey! I like it now." Will see what happens with this.

Suzanne Fluhr link
11/4/2015 12:28:32 am

I agree that Gourdgeous takes some warming to. My theory is that it's so representational (even the name), that it doesn't feel as meditative as most of the other tangles that have emanated from the Mother Ship. Having said that, I think your black tile is very striking.(in a good way :) I've never before heard of a rainbow pencil. Is it literally a pencil that randomly lays down different colors?

Devin link
11/4/2015 08:22:02 am

Hi Susanne and everyone else: You may want to read about Rainbow Lead Pencils by clicking on August 2015 in the archives on the blog. I wrote a very long post on what they are, how to find them, and how to use them, on 8/30/15. I have also written about them many times since. To find those posts, go to "Categories" in the right-hand column of this blog and click on Rainbow Lead Pencil" but be aware that only about 10 posts will come up--to see any earlier posts you have to look for the tiny "Previous" button at the very bottom of the page that comes up. And thanks.

The Creative Miss L link
11/4/2015 12:57:44 am

I like the simplicity of your Gourdgeous. Very clean. I also like the cross hatching you did - makes a nice change from the black that most Tanglers have used for this challenge.

Ulrike B
11/4/2015 01:46:03 am

beautiful tiles, i like the colored one

Annemarie
11/4/2015 02:34:41 am

I like your post and the thoughts your share with us.Thanks for that. I also like your tiles.

joanne faherty
11/4/2015 04:29:49 am

I like your tile with the rainbow pencil makes it different to everything else I have seen so far!:)

devin link
11/4/2015 05:52:01 pm

Joanne, if you want to know more about Rainbow Leads, see my response to Suzanne above.

Dragonfly-Arts link
11/4/2015 05:22:54 am

Both tiles are wonderful! I love the cross-hatching on the first one and I like the Rainbow Colored Pencil. Very nice.

Annie link
11/4/2015 05:30:08 am

Definitely not meh!! I like both tiles but the one with the rainbow pencil is a gorgeous Gourdgeous...I have no idea what a rainbow pencil is but I can sort of imagine!! Axxx

devin link
11/4/2015 05:57:41 pm

Thanks, Annie. To find out more about Rainbow Leads if you are interested, see my comments to Suzanne above.

Simone link
11/4/2015 04:22:51 pm

both tiles are beautiful... the coloured one is amazing!

Devin link
11/4/2015 05:58:44 pm

Thank you ALL. It's amazing to me that people take the time to comment.

Annette P. link
11/5/2015 01:49:16 am

Both are wonderful! Especially I like the coloured one ... it´s gorgeous!

Ilse link
11/5/2015 07:03:15 am

We share the same feeling about this pattern, but I still like what you did with it.

michele link
11/5/2015 09:54:02 pm

Great work Devin! (not a favorite pattern for me either) Both are lovely, especially the colored version.

Anja
11/6/2015 11:17:31 am

Beautiful work! I love the rainbow-colored!

Donna Pilato link
11/6/2015 07:43:49 pm

I think it's better than you think, but it has taken me a while to feel just okay (one step better than Meh!) about this tangle.I really like the rainbow pencil effect so I'm heading off to read your notes now.

devin link
11/6/2015 08:58:25 pm

Donna, Anja, Michele, Ilsa, Annette, Dragonfly, Annemarie, Ulrike & Creative Miss, thank you all so very much! I think it's starting to grow on me. I appreciate all these comments.


Comments are closed.

    ABOUT ME

     I'm a textile artist (traditional rug hooking, punch needle rug hooking, and other textile arts), a long-time meditator, a certified meditation teacher and coach, and focused on learning about the interplay of art, creativity, and mindfulness every day. 

    I am also a Certified Zentangle® Teacher (CZT 11) and a student of drawing and of the tarot.

      If you enjoy reading this blog, input your email address here to get an every-other-month notice about checking for new posts.

    Subscribe to Newsletter
    Picture
    Certified, 2021
    Picture
    Certified Zentangle® Teacher, 2013
    Picture
    Certified by AmyOxford.com at The Oxford Rug Hooking School, 2016
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Black Tiles
    Bookbinding
    Broken Wrist Tangles
    Clocks
    Colored Pencil
    Creative Inspiration
    Death
    Diva Challenge
    Drawing
    Dyeing Wool Or Yarn
    Fans
    Frederick Franck
    Gellyrolls
    Gesso
    Gratitangles2018
    Gratitangles2020
    Gray Tiles
    Ims
    Inktober
    Inktober 2018
    Inktober 2019
    Inktober2020
    Iphone App On Tangles
    Joey Challenge
    Knitted Knockers
    Knitting
    Knots
    Mandalas
    Map Tangling
    Marathon
    Meditation
    Neurographica
    No Fail No Learn
    Other People's Work
    Poetry
    Portrait
    Punch Hooking
    Punch Needle Embroidery
    Quilts And Other Art
    Rainbow Lead Pencil
    Renaissance Tiles
    Rug Hooking
    Scratch Art
    Sketchbook-skool
    String Thing Challenge
    #summertangles2018
    Tangles
    Tarot
    Tarot Rug Project
    Truly Miscellaneous
    Watercolor
    Weather
    Zenagain2018
    Zendala-dare
    Zenuari2019

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    SITES TO WATCH:

    Insight Meditation Society

    Oxford Rug Hooking School


    Zentangle:  The Official Site

    Green Mountain Rug Hooking

    Massachusetts Tarot Society


    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • ...a blog on art, creativity, and mindfulness