Wednesday, January 13, 2016

"The Elegance of Limitations"


"Bringing it Back to the Old School"

This weeks Diva Challenge was right up my alley after weeks and weeks of bountiful new patterns, gems and other artistic eye candy I've added to my To Do list.
This week we're to get back to the basics of Zentangle~one white tile, one pen, one pencil, one ceremony~"The Elegance of Limitations" in the words of Rick Roberts. I love that. It's so much more Zen than "being crippled by choices", a term I use when I'm overwhelmed. I started by cleaning up the work space, purging my pen bag and putting all of my tools away into their multiple organizing bins and shut them up in the closet. Armed with my pen, pencil, tile and tortillion I hit the cafe.
I decided to approach all of this weeks challenges in this manner.
The most important part of the challenge was not to over think it. I created a simple string using Margaret Bremners "Rope" string. I focused on one section and started with Crescent Moon, one of my "Mac 'n Cheese" patterns. I took my time, being focused and deliberate with each stroke.
Continuing on:

This week "Made by Joey" provided the "sharp" string and Knightbridge. After a holiday hiatus "That's New to Me" is back with "Q" and Barbara Finwall as the artist focus. I love her pattern "Gnarly" I just need to get better at it.

It's a String Thing Challenge #127
Lily Moon's string #127
patterns: Puchong, (O), Zonked & Printemps

...and finally, this weeks string challenge. This was probably the most Zen of all the tiles. It's a little busy but I thoroughly enjoyed doing this one, mainly because I was treated to an official tile (they really do make a huge difference). There were several sections to the string and after a little practice with the two patterns that were new to me (Puchong and (O)) I picked a section and plunged in with Printemps.


Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Your thoughtful and generous comments make my day!



16 comments:

  1. The Diva tile is packed with interest and I love the string on the top tile of the journal page.

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  2. Great work! I love the shading. Very nicely done. :)

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  3. What wonderful tiles. I love your carefully drawn rope string and your original sharp string.

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  4. There's something so JUICY about your Diva Challenge tile - I love it! Your New To Me is wonderful, too. I didn't make it to that party this week, so it is nice to see what you have done with these curly, whirly patterns. Gnarly is such a fun one, and the dimension you achieved in your Quib is amazing! On the String Thing tile, I love how the Pushong pattern echoes the cone shape in the string. It's really quite wonderful!

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  5. I think the shading on the first tile is really nice. Great work!

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  6. As usual :-) they're all beautiful, but the last one does look most zen indeed. Nice!

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  7. I think we all love this challenge and it's message! You did well.

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  8. All are so beautiful! Especially I like your It´s a String Thing tile ... it´s gorgeous!

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  9. Oh yes, I love your DIVA tile!! The shading is outstanding. Many greetings, Simone

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  10. Ohh, your tiles are all fantastic!! Your Diva challenge is gorgeous! Greetings Esther

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  11. These are all good stuff! Thanks for being part of the TNTM challenge this week!

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  12. I like all your tiles, but the IAST 127 is absolutely wonderful.

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  13. I like all your tiles, but the IAST 127 is absolutely wonderful.

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  14. Your tiles are fantastic! I'm impressed about your creativity.

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  15. These are ALL so lovely! Your "sharp" string made me chuckle! Little pieces of tangle bits :) The rope string on your Diva challenge is beautiful. Must try that one! Your IAST is fantastic. I agree with you. Those ZT tiles really do make a difference in how we allow ourselves to slow down and appreciate the moment.

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