Category Archives: Artwork

Feb29

Tile Parade Part One

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

I have a quite few tiles to share with you. If you’ve dropped by, please leave a message to let me know. Comments are golden!

I’ve been going through my tangle book (more on that soon) and tangling some early patterns I learned before becoming a CZT. You’ll see a lot of similar tiles yet different all together. One of the many joys of Zentangle is that you can do the same tangles with no or only slight variations (“tanglations”) and never have the same work of art twice. That is never so evident as when I teach a class and the students’ tiles are placed into a mosaic!

Here are the start of the Tile Parade (click to enlarge):

First off, I participated in an ATC (Artist Trading Card) exchange with some people mostly located in The Netherlands. Here are some of my contributions…

I used Distress Ink to add color to the tiles before tangling on it.

Some of my “mac n cheese” tangles — old standby favorites.

The next entry will be my newfound love — ZenGems!

Kat

Oct14

The Mind is Astounding

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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This is a different kind of post… As a retired psychotherapist, I know the advantage of drawing and allowing the subconscious to express itself. The same can and does happen with Zentangle-type art if it is not planned out or forced in any way. I often pull out a tile if I’m feeling strong emotion (including anxiety) and lose myself into this wonderful meditative activity.
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Yesterday was my son’s 24th birthday… The infant son who only lived thirty days and never got to come home from the hospital. I was amazed how my body reacted to the date in spite of not feeling great sorrow. My body remembered what my mind tried to forget.
I sat down with my trusty pen and pulled out a tile. This was the result. I didn’t realize it was heart-shaped with an empty section until I was through. I have two other biological children who are reflected as sections of the heart. There are even more remarkable revelations that I’ll not share here, but how amazing was this tile?! I felt so much better when I was finished… The feelings were expressed without words.

Jul16

Some recent Art and News

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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This is a tile and tangle we did at seminar CZT-20

Well, once again I am playing catch up! Since I was last here, I’ve been keeping quite busy drawing tangles daily! I am also scheduled to teach Basic Zentangle Art 101 at our local art center on July 25th! Very nervous but it will be ok after the first 15 minutes, I’m sure.

I have taught a private class to my adult daughter and husband, and here is a mosaic of their work (mine is on the left). I must’ve done something right because their tiles are Beautiful!

I have also been dabbling at larger non-stenciled works – just free-flow tangling.

Here are two examples:

A few more pieces I’ve completed…

I would love to read what these look like to you, or what they remind you of… Which is your favorite?

Comments make my day!

Keep being creative- the world needs YOUR creativity!

Kat

Jun15

Diva Challenge #222

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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“Colours of the Rainbow” is this week’s I Am The Diva Challenge , and I couldn’t be happier! I love color. No, you don’t understand- I looooooove color! I love it so much that I started an Instagram hub (group) called @jj_colorful… Do visit. (Also one for Zentangle @heart.tangles )

So, without further delay, here is my entry- it is a bookmark (my first ever) that I made for my very dear friend of 31 years (can that be right?!?!? Yep it is!) in Illinois who always gets my “firsts.” It was her idea that I Google “Zentangle” as I was frustrated and stuck in my creativity – or lack thereof. By far the best Google search of my life!

She even received and even framed my first attempt, which wasn’t an official Zentangle® tile but something entirely different. I forgot to take a photo of it but she sent me one:

Not very Zentangly but I gave it a serious try! And this pitcher was an accident! I simply closed my eyes and made one line. I close the line and started… And in a short time after turning it all ’round to tangle it, the pitcher emerged. It was quite apropos and a good symbol for our friendship.

So, without any further ado, here is my bookmark:

I’m sorry if it is too big! I can’t figure out how to make it smaller.

I thought I’d better get this completed and posted today since I leave early Saturday morning for RHODE ISLAND! I’ll be attending and hopefully graduating the CZT20. That’s Certified Zentangle Teacher training number 20. It is a 12 hour drive and complicated due to my disabilities and medical conditions but my friend of 5 years here in Appalachia will act as my assistant. I’m so excited I can’t even sleep more than 5-6 hours a night!

Happy Tangling,

Kat

Jun9

My First Diva Challenge!

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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I am so excited because my trip to Rhode Island to attend the 20th CZT session is less than 2 weeks away! When it’s over, all being well, I will be a Certified Zentangle Teacher. I’m a retired grief and trauma resolution therapist and have lots of ideas brewing about merging the two (therapeutic drawing).

I recently discovered an Instagram page @iamthediva and subsequently found out about her challenges. Go to I Am The Diva website to see what I mean. This week is #221 Beads of Courage, and my Zentangle tile has three patterns that contain “beads.

Do go to the site and find #221 and read it all the way through.

One of my “bead” patterns is one I created but I’m sure it already exists. It is called Beanz because the core looks like a coffee bean within a bead, with a black small bead between them on a strand. It’s at the bottom of this photo.
Hope I did this right!

Take care,

Kat

PS I made a second tile, and it is the next post. Please visit and see it! It is for http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com challenge.

Mar15

What I’ve been up to

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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I have been drawing every day… I go to sleep thinking about art and wake up with drawing on my mind.

So without further ado, here are some of my projects.

This is a Zentangle tile. If you go to Zentangle.com you can read all about it. What do you see in these two?

I’m a bird watcher and I photograph them nearly every day. Time to tangle them too!

A colorful Mandala

Here is another tangled tile. What do you see?

A tangled mandala, in pastel colors

And last is another mandala, simple but cheery.

Hope you are well and are creating from your heart!

Kat

Mar1

And Another Mandala to Share

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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Hi everyone!
I can’t tell you how surprised – and Pleased– I am to have so many followers! I thought only 5-6 were following and then the stats say that over 280 are following! Could’ve knocked me over with a feather, and that’s saying something!

I used to live and work professionally in the city of Houston, Texas. It was the 4th largest city in the United States of America and 4 million strong. I led a fast-paced life as I worked as a psychotherapist with several agencies, had a private practice (but was non-profit) and had four dependant on me at home. I now live the complete opposite life in Appalachia, in a county of 4 THOUSAND, and have no dependants, and live with my wonderful, retired (and disabled, like me) English husband. Our lives have little stress compared to before, and the town is much like Mayberry. In fact, the real Mayberry is not too far away!

I wish so much that I had discovered Zentangle when it first came out! I would have loved to have experienced the reduced stress, the increased focus and concentration, and flow of creativity back years ago when I worked in a state prison!

But back to now… I love the time I spend with my photography and art. When my husband had open heart surgery this year (bypasss), I sat alone in a distant city in a waiting room, just waiting to hear if he made it through the surgery that we didn’t know he was having the day before! The ONLY THING that got me through besides my faith was working on a ZIA heart (Zentangle Inspired Art). I was thankful I’d brought paper and pen with me!

Here is what I’ve been working on … Read the rest of this entry →

Feb15

I’ve been very busy!

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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I have been drawing so much, and getting ready for the Honeybee Festival. Not only that, but I’ve registered to be a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT)! The founders, Rick Roberts & Maria Thomas, personally train each CZT. This is a big deal, as it is the ONLY place people can gain this certification. It has attracted perspective teachers from all over the globe. It is held in Providence RI so I will finally get to see the ocean, and go up the East Coast. As a result of being a CZT, I can teach classes anywhere in the world, and build a business doing what I love to do!

I have started a business called HeART Tangles Studios(R), which not only covers my art but my photography and fabric arts…anything I want to do. I have an Etsy store but I am asking to change the name to HeART Tangles.

Okay, let’s get caught up on my projects (most for sale).

Keeping with the butterfly theme, I did one that has a butterfly on top and moth on the bottom.

Bottom of duo.

We got both the first large butterfly and this one framed by a great business near our town. Beautiful work on the matting and framing.

butterfly on top, moth on bottom

I will post more in the next few posts, but I want to share the two framed works.

Love how good the yellow mat looks on it- It looks better than I even hoped!

I hope you will let me know you were here, even if only to say hello and tell me what country or state you are from … comments are so lovely, like my readers!

Be good to yourself and let your creativity flow!

Kat

Feb1

This Butterfly is Ready to Flit

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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Hi Everyone!

I’m one happy artist because my butterfly is finished and looks good to me….a rare thing!.

I plan to have this framed and put up for sale in Etsy if I don’t sell it beforehand. I don’t think I repeated any patterns within the whole piece. It was drawn on 98 lb mixed media 7″x10″ paper.

Now, I have to decide what’s next! I think I’m going to work on some mandalas, but you never know until you put pen to paper, really. By the way, I’, so frustrated because I ordered a bunch of art supplies on Jan3, and they have never shown up. I called the company but it seems the package has gotten lost in transit. The company (small) tells me they will make sure I get another one sent, but I’m still waiting. Grrrrr.

More soon,

Kat

Jan27

Working on a new project

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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I’m now working on a large butterfly. I just have the outline so far, but I’m chomping at the bit to start the doodle patterns (ZIA), so I should have good progress tomorrow. Today I spent a lot of time sorting through things from my desk in my studio. I’m moving my art center to my desk in the bedroom, where my computer was. The desk is in the corner, and two windows surround the desk. Much better light! I am moving one room to the other, basically, though all the furniture stays put. My sewing area remains.

Are you like me in that your passions are fickle? By that I mean this: I will be intensely quilting for months then POOF! I start thinking of another craft (new or an older one) go full speed on the new one and it’s awhile before I get back to quilting. I hope you can follow my crazy explanation 🙂

Time for some photos. Please let me know you were here- just say “Hi! if you don’t have time or more words. Thanks.

I created this Mandala from a paper snowflake I made and traced. During a chat with family members in England and in the USA. We talk every week, and I have started drawing while everyone talks.