TWO NEW ZENTANGLES

DIVINE HOPE

This is my latest ZenTangle I call Divine Hope.  It was one of two that I did this past Friday while I was substituting for the art teacher at the local high school.  Students were very interested in what I was doing as I explained the concept and gave them the url where they could find out more.  For those who are interested in the concept conceived by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas click on the link above.

Yesterday I attended our monthly meeting of the Capital Region Textile Artists.  We are a group of Art Quilters always exploring the world of art quilting by learning and sharing new techniques and providing feedback to each other as we progress in our art.

BLENDING TOGETHER

I forgot to bring my newest ZenTangle to share during show and tell but I did talk about how it has helped me open up new and exciting creative ways of thinking and how I want to translate some of my tangles into art quilts.  Members listened attentively, some commenting on how they did not see the difference between doodling and the process I was explaining to them.  I explained that for me the difference was simple; doodling is mindless meanderings we tend to create while we are doing something else, like talking on the phone for example.  I think of doodling as mindless meanderings and mindless meandering is what I was very good at.  Doodling did not teach me to do anything except reinforce my lack of focus during times when I should have been quite focused.

The principles behind ZenTangle is quite the opposite.  It is purposeful, ceremonial, mindful, and extremely focused.  It is calming and a wonderful meditation practice.  When I am creating these the results are quite astonishing.  It is interesting how while I am creating a ZenTangle I don't make mistakes.  One of the key principles of ZenTangle is that there are no mistakes, just opportunities for your creation to take yet another turn that was not expected and yet belongs somehow in the overall design. It is clear to me that ZenTangle as a daily practice will raise my awareness of my art and its possibilities to its highest form possible.