Summer Tangles Challenge 2019

It's the second annual Summer Tangles Challenge!!  

Like last year, I've drawn the tangles from the current TanglePattern's 2019 Tangle Guide so that everyone has access to the step outs; the list of tangle creators is included in this wonderful resource (I highly recommend supporting Linda Farmer's efforts by purchasing the guide.)  Some are old, some new; some "official" from Zentangle HQ, most not.  There are grids, organics, fillers, borders, and more.  For the most part, I chose tangles that I have either rarely or never used so that I can add to my comfort repertoire.  I've also chosen a few techniques, or trends, popular among CZTs (Certified Zentangle Teachers) and other tanglers, such as marginalia, inkless tangling, and Zentwining.  I'll post my tiles here, on my FB page, and on Instagram ("yankeetangler"), and encourage others to post their own, using #summertangles2019.  Below I include an explanation of some of the terms, with links and examples.

The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.  It was originated by Maria and Rick Thomas.  For more information or to find a Certified Zentangle Teacher near you, visit Zentangle HQ.

Have fun experimenting and spread the word!

July 4:  Ellish

July 5: Icantoo

July 6: técnica seca*:  María Tovar's inkless tangling

July 7:  Bilt

July 8: Counterpoint

July 9: Surf’s Up

July 10:  Wholly Hollibaugh

July 11:  Marginalia*: decorative borders or embellishments

July 12: Andante

July 13: Enthatching*:  Hatching technique described in Twelve Days of Zentangle video

July 14: Ticking

July 15: D’eneh

July 16:  Ribbon Rose

July 17: Cindyer

July 18:  Cartouche*:  A decorative frame highlighted in Zentangle Project Pack #5

July 19: SlowPoke

July 20:  Antique

July 21: BRRRST

July 22: A-frame

July 23: Copada

July 24:  Beadlines

July 25:  Sproing*:  A tendril-like aura, introduced in Twelve Days of Zentangle video (around 5:40)

July 26: 1 2 3 O’Leary

July 27: Fe-ba

July 28: Dewd

July 29: Frunky

July 30:  Cirquital

July 31:  Ratoon

August 1:  Zentwining*:  See Lynn Mead's tutorial

August 2: Mazorito

August 3:  Tamisolo

August 4: Avreal

August 5: Dooleedo

August 6: ½ Orbs

August 7: Scarabou

August 8:  Cookie Cutter string:  see my upcoming post

August 9:  Double Double

August 10: Knyt

August 11:  Gutz

August 12:  Barquillos

August 13:  Well Well Who

August 14: Eleganza

August 15:   Rose Window*:  See Melinda Barlow's video

August 16: Narwhal

August 17:  Caracole

August 18: Zig Zag Track

August 19: Alaura

August 20: Crezendo

August 21: Loop

August 22:  Dingsplazt*:  See this Kitchen Table Tangle video

August 23:  Hexonu

August 24: Konked

August 25:  Pendrils

August 26:  Blankett

August 27: Swimz

August 28: 8C

August 29:  Roscoe

August 30: Vea

August 31: B-Leaf

September 1: Romanancy*: a technique now named for the late Nancy Sampson

September 2:  Courant

Sending Love

Gratitangles

Like last year, I engaged in the #Gratitangles2018 challenge this year, creating a tile a day.  I definitely enjoyed the month-long event, even if I knew most of the tangles already.  It's nice to play and, having a prescribed tangle and a daily goal, kept me practicing.

Some of my favorites from the month:

Day 8: Tripoli

Day 4:  Jetties

Day 9:  Marasu

Day 20:  Btljoos

Day 22:  Zinger

Day 21:  Meer

Day 29:  Pokeleaf and Pokeroot

#InktoberTangles 2018

I'm participating in another challenge, Stephanie Jennifer's Inktober Tangles 2018, one of the Zentangle versions of the popular Inktober drawing challenge.  I did it last year, too.  This time around, I've been doing my "tiles" in my Tangle-A-Day calendar.  It's a great place to keep everything together, but I have noticed that it doesn't take the ink the same way a Fabriano paper tile does and, in consequence, I find myself a bit sloppy; it's also hard for me to shade so I've been experimenting with shading with markers.  I think the larger .08 microns work better than the .01s, creates a steadier line.  In all, I imagine it's more me than the calendar. 

Less than a week of the challenge to go, and then it'll be time for all of the Thanksgiving-themed gratitude challenges!

Zentomology Today

I spent a rainy, chilly day in the glorious mansion, Ochre Court, in Newport with Zentangle founders Maria and Rick Thomas and daughters Molly and Martha and about 40 of my fellow Zentanglers.  We were there to learn about classifying and deconstructing various tangles--"Zentomology"--along with an exploration of the mansion looking at all the craftsmanship--and patterns--in wood, ironwork, gold, stone, plaster, cement, and paint.  It was a wonderful afternoon with great people and inspirational practice.

Because Zentangle HQ has asked us not to share certain details, I'll focus on the patterns I found.  I believe they will be publishing aspects of Zentomology soon, as well as some of the patterns they deconstructed.

Look at the inside--gorgeous materials, intricate patterns, huge space; it's the second-largest mansion in Newport, just behind the Breakers.  It's now the administrative center of Salve Regina University, which has preserved it beautifully.

The grand staircase at the entrance

The main foyer

So many patterns to work with! This is the fireplace in the room where we worked.

A variation of Florz, with squares at the intersections and auras.

The braided beard of a figure on a mantelpiece--looks like Ragz.

The dragon in this medallion seems to be sitting on Spoolies!

I liked the tri-partite medallion in the balcony. I think those are the windows into the room where we were.

I liked that the entwined strands in the upholstry are different.

Looks like a Bales variant!

This ceiling decoration looks like the current Dingbatz Doors trend, with its subdivisions.

Florz with fire and a wonderful slinky-esque design.

Can you see Cadent?

This grate with its Green Man and multiple patterns covers a heating vent!

And these are just some of the photos I snapped.  Literally every surface was decorated, the exact opposite of our modern love of minimalism.  And that doesn't even include all of the housewares and decorations long gone, much less the clothing!  Quite the horror vacui.    I can't imagine living in such luxury, much less this just being the beach house for summers; I wonder if the occupants, used to such extravagance, even noticed the details.  As we wandered around--looking closely, even touching! so much better than your average docent tour--and I had a chance to sit by myself, I could take it all in.

As much as I can admire the craftsmanship and luxury and be intrigued by the history, another part of me is fair disgusted by the excess and equality gap. (And politically and economically, I think we are returning to this time of robber barons and poverty.)  But I put some of that aside in my study of the patterns, which I have been playing with.  We'll see what it amounts to, besides lovely memories.

Tangles from Ochre Court: Beaucourt, Alexem, Romo, and Magong

Summer Tangle Challenge 2018 Wrap-Up

Whew!  I've been tangling a tile for every day between July 4th and Labor Day.  It's been a glorious 60 days, which I'm finishing a bit early because of the chaos of the beginning of school.  I've tried new tangles, learned more about social media posting, joined Instagram, met new people on various Zentangle forums, completed a presentation Opus tile of all the tangles (but not the techniques), and expanded my practice.  It's been a wonderful experience.

And I will do it again!  Next year, I'll design the second-annual Summer Tangle Challenge.  I've already started a list of tangles and techniques.  I liked that it was not only patterns but trends in tangling.  I'll be more careful creating the list, though; this time, I had some duplicates.  I also realized I had more "ribbon" tangles than "fillers."  I'll keep the FB page and Instagram going for the challenge and get the list out earlier so more people can participate.  And I might do mine in a Tangle-A-Day  (TAD) calendar, as so many do. 

It really was rewarding and inspiring to see people embrace the challenge and make it their own--so much creativity!   Check out facebook.com/summertangleschallenge or search using the hashtag #summertangles2018 to see some of the amazing artwork.

Some of my own favorite tiles (due to intellectual property, I won't post other people's tiles here):

I liked the shading of this tile, which made it looked rounded.

Inspired by Marguerite Samana's Delft Delights, this tile has a Gingham background,
one of my new favorite tangles.

Spoolies, sandswirl, and printemps

Zenith is the tangle of the day, but I liked the whole thing.

A Zen Gem Zendala

This Zendala has a Maryhill center.

Dex and Diva Dance, with dewdrops

I liked how this turned out, a bit of a different style for me, with contrasting
large and small tangles.

 I don't usually use color, but when I do, it's a rainbow.

I had rushed to set up the schedule and accidentally repeated some tangles;
those days became choose-your-own.  For one day, I did a quilt-inspired tile with favorite
tangles I sometimes forget to use.

All of the tiles (in an un-water-marked photo, because the mark
somehow reduced the clarity of the whole thing.)

My 10.5"-square Summer Tangle Challenge Opus tile

Happy Tangling!