Thank you dear ZT friends

Sometimes you just don't have the energy to do anything besides your job, being there for your kids and doing the household. And then all of a sudden you get the urge of expressing yourself by creating something. The energy you seemed to have lost comes back during this creative process. 
Zentangle has always been a very dear friend to me, especially in times when things got rough. You just draw these wonderful repetitive patterns and your mind gets in a calm and meditative state. We are programmed to always strive for results, but with Zentangle it's all about "one stroke at a time" and your state of mind while doing this. 
The Zentangle community is a "family" like I've never met before online. Helpful, open-minded, respectful, supportive....only positive features describe the members of this wonderful Zentangle group.

Thank you all for your support and positive feedback.

Claudia

Do you remember me?

You'll probably think: "Who is this? I don't know this Claudia person in Zentangle land."
No wonder, since my last post here dates from more than 2 years ago.
This doesn't mean I haven't tangled since 2013, but just not that much as I used to do.

So I think it's time to show you some of my latest "work".
I hope you'll like them.
(Maybe some of you will recognize these from my Facebook page)

I am the diva Challenge no. 103

It's been quite some time since I posted something here.
The past 18 months have been hard and emotional, moving to another house together with my daughter and finally the divorce.
I did try tangling but I wasn't satisfied with any of them. Totally forgetting that Zentangle isn't about creating something beautifull or perfect, but all about finding yourself and that "one stroke at a time" is like real life.

Challenge #103 of the Diva:
"And now on to the actual challenge. To raise awareness for this disorder, use the Moebius Syndrome Foundation's logo as your string, or create a moebius strip out of paper and tangle that... or some other awesome creative thing that i haven't thought of."

And this is my entry:

 

I must be honest.... I printed and then traced the MSF logo.

 



Aboriginal "Dutch" dot painting "Dutch Glory"

Another experiment with Aboriginal dot painting...in Dutch style, named "Dutch Glory".

I used some cheap paintbrushes, which I saw in two pieces for the 'dotting'.

This is so much fun....!!!!!!!!

Aboriginal dot painting

I doubted whether I'd publish this on my Zentangle blog or not...
Since the aboriginal dot paintings also have repetitive patterns like Zentangles I thought it was okay...

Just a while ago I saw the aboriginal dot painting "Dream Sisters" made by Colleen Wallace Nungari, while I was googling for some inspiration. 

I was captured by the "simple" beauty of this painting. And I'm always in for trying something new...that's why I wanted to give it a try.


This is the result:

I'm experimenting with acrylic paint at the moment and this was so much fun to do that I know for certain more paintings like this one will follow....

With thanks to Colleen Wallace Nungari!!!

I am the Diva - Challenge #32

The challenge on the I am the Diva blog is to use a 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 inch tile, if you still have any left...which I don't. So that's why I drew this one in my A5 notebook.

Use any string you like with these four tangles:
Pais (by Mikee Huber),
Zedbra (by Laura Harms and Margaret Bremner),
Keenees (by Donna Hornsby),
Baton (by Laura Harms).

This is my first Zentangle since last April...and it felt great, fabulous, liberating...etc. etc.

So here's my entry for challenge #32

Today (31st July) I  made another one with the same tangles.... just wanted to show you...

A total ZT's block... It feels like I've lost a very very dear friend

Something really strange happened to me after having attended an official Zentangle workshop last May. I experienced a total Zentangler's block!!!


I purchased the official Zentangle tiles and pencil and I managed to make some ZTs the following two days. And then...I got stuck...not a bit, but totally stuck!!!


My precious Zentangles which had accompanied me during a very hard and difficult period in my life didn't give (?) me the mental peace and calm anymore. 


And today it finally struck me.... I tried to tangle according the Official Zentangle way. Using official Zentangle tiles and draw without a pre-planned intention....


I confined myself too much to the meditative part of Zentangle and completely forgot the creative part I like so much. And that doesn't work for me at all.


I will show you my ZTs here and I think you'll notice the lack of enjoyment, inspiration.

It feels like I've lost a very very dear friend..