Tag Archives: ZIA

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

Jan30

The Butterfly

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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I’m not done but wanted to share the WIP so far- not much longer now. Each section is intricate and I’d guess 95% of the patterns were drawn using a .005 Micron pen- tiny, tiny tip. This is approximately 9″x7″

Here are some photos:

I really was unsure about adding color- adding just one color seems to be my style. I have a style! Who knew?

Right now I’m writing this (how’s that for a now inappropriately used word… We aren’t writing as that involves using a pencil, pen or marker, etc o paper, chalkboard, even skin. Hmmm. I’ll come back to that!) on my phone and it hinders me from writing (sigh) fluidly.

And for those who wondered- I did not use color in the hummingbird but plan to copy it so I can color that one.

Enjoy and keep expressing yourself!
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.

On this one I used a stencil for the Celtic knot outline. We had this printed onto canvas and it turned out beautifully!

Keep expressing yourself!,

Kat

Jan26

So Much to Catch Up On!

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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I’ve been so busy making art that I haven’t been able to write about my art in my blog!

First of all, my fascination and appreciation of mandalas has increased exponentially. I have been attempting to make a mandala every day, but some are so complex/busy I haven’t been able to get one done in a day. I am very much enjoying the book <U>Creating Mandalas</u> By Susanne Fincher, which teaches the reader so much, including how to interpret mandalas.

More on this subject soon! I plan to interpret for you my first mandala here in a future post. Until then, here are some photos…

I decided to show what I finished (?) tonight. It is a hummingbird on a 7X10″ watercolor paper.

Thanks! Comments are so welcome! And hoped for, to be honest. 😄

Jan12

Free To Be Me

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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For my entire life I have had an inner TaskMaster who has kept me from doing the things I love. If I wanted to paint, that voice came loud and clear telling me that I needed to do XYZ before I could paint. Have you ever experienced this?

Recently, I had an epiphany and I am going to fight that cruel TaskMaster. Here is the Mandala I made today. I’m new to drawing figures but at least I’m trying! LOL!

Jan8

5-6/30 (5-6/365) Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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5-6/30 (5-6/365) Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

I got behind! I knew it would happen but it’s okay.

QUILTED ZEN

This Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA) is a 4″ tile that I applied watercolor paint to then I drew a quilty grid. I wanted it to look like a quilt with individual patchwork squares of zentangle.

I planned to put color on the grid, and still might. Here are all four views.

And one more photo:

Have any of you read these? I am serious about listening to/being inspired by my two muses this year. I am going to CREATE this year! I always put that part of myself last- because i want to do it so badly. like not opening a present right away, or feeling like I have to somehow earn it. Like not ever eating desert because I’m saving it until the dishes/kitchen/floors/everyroom in the house are clean! Anyone elso put off having/watching/going/doing the things you like because of internal task master says “WAIT! Do THIS first…” ? This year I am going to lick this thing or die trying!

What books have helped you?

Jan3

Day2 30 on 30 and Doodleaday

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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I finished the work I had listed early on the 2nd. Here it is. Frankly I liked the center white. Live and learn!

4″ tile, Zentangle and ZIA

Jan2

Art in Progress

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Kat, aka "Arty_Kat"

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I am committing to doing one Zentangle Inspired Art (ZIA) per day, and most will have color. I started this earlier when it was still Jan 1. But now it is past midnight so it’s the 2nd.

Every year I have a word for the year. This year it is RELEASE. It is most appropriate in my art because I always want it to be perfect, and I make the art with marketability in mind. That HAS to stop! Especially with the Zentangle style work… ZEN. Not uptight but enjoying the journey, and making art for me, today. Here. Now.

The work below is definitely out of my comfort zone! And since it is a WIP (work in progress), I’ll tell you that more color will be added. Feedback more than welcome!