STUDENT WORK IS A DELIGHT

Can I just say how much fun it is to watch someone take off and really begin experimenting with art?  It's why I enjoy teaching Zentangle® so much.  People who believe they are non-artists and then learn to tangle often end up, slowly but surely, beginning to realize that they can make art, "one stroke at a time."

Witness the following huge piece by Mark Bradshaw, who was introduced to Zentangle only two months ago at one of my beginning classes.  As far as I know, he had little or no art experience or training, but he knew immediately that this technique would be very relaxing for him, and he's kept at it.  This piece is 2 feet by 3 feet.

Way to go, Mark...!

ZENTANGLE INSPIRTED ART BY MARK B (2'X3' ON CANVAS)

Beautiful line work and wonderful shading.  Here's what he says about his experience drawing this:

"I actually broke all the rules of tangling with this one, but I liked the rule that there are no rules.

"That was actually done on one of ArtLounge's 24x36 canvasses, with a combo of Sharpies and the thicker Sakuras (0.8)!  It wasn't nearly as relaxing as the nice Zentangle cotton paper squares because the canvas is rough, but it was my pre-bed ritual for several days nonetheless! 

"I'm a perfect example of someone who has no artistic talent, but can, like everybody, draw 'one stroke at a time.'  It's definitely a calming thing for me, because I'm in no hurry to move on to anything else right now.  Just happy with the little 10 minutes surprises with each new tangle attempt."

He makes several great points here:  In an intro class you learn the "guidelines" for basic tangling--and you also learn that once you understand the guidelines, you can opt to toss them out the window and do whatever you wish.  You can tangle on anything--sneakers, t-shirts, cell-phone cases, walls, cards, china, and canvas as Mark has here.  (No surface is safe.)  You can use any media you wish.  And as long as you take it one line at a time, you will find it utterly relaxing.  A quick ten-minute session will always surprise and refresh you.

THANKS, MARK, FOR LETTING ME POST THIS AND BLOG ABOUT IT.

I was practicing late the other evening and was trying out the tangle Jesterz.  It's based on a triangular form, but as so often happens, my triangular forms developed a mind of their own (I did start out with a triangle) and began to spiral.  This was my highly experimental result.  I enjoyed playing with this one and can see using it again, both in this format and in its original form.