08 January 2011

Eyes Wide Shut

Yikes, I'm running late with my post for this week's challenge from I am the Diva!

This challenge was to draw our string with our eyes closed (*a string is the term for the pencil line that cuts up the tile into sections). There is already a fantastic slide show up on Laura's blog of the results - go take a look!

As for my attempt at this challenge:
  1. At our weekly Tuesday Tanglers' get together (coffee, desserts and tangling - what could be better?!), Melissa made sure I kept my eyes shut (while, unsuccessfully at times) trying to keep the pencil on my tile.

  2. My string!
  3. I forgot to take a photograph until after I'd added my first tangle, but you can clearly see my string in this photo. It was quite angular (which didn't surprise me), but also quite interesting (which did).

  4. As well as drawing my string with my eyes shut, I decided, in the spirit of the challenge, to use only tangles that I had never used before (without practising them first!). Tangles with my 'experience' eyes shut [grin].  There are two exceptions to this - and I'll explain the reasons as I go.

  5. So I started off with Margaret Bremner's Lilypads. (Hmm... I clearly need a little more practice with that one.) I thought this corner looked overly dark and heavy (too much pond, not enough lilypads), so I added a few white 'pond bubble' dots to the surface to break up the black (see next photo).
    Still with an empty centre!

    Tool note: I used a Sharpie Poster Paint, Extra Fine Point white marker for this - another tool I had never used before (because I didn't have my Dr. Ph. Marten's Bleed Proof White with me).  The Sharpie Poster Paint is a water-based opaque paint, water- and fade- resistant, and acid-free. It is beautifully opaque, but I would suggest that people don't add it over the top of their Pigma Micron until it is well dry, as it has a tendency to 'bleed' (or 'feather') otherwise.

  6. Then, from the top left corner and working around the tile clockwise in toward the centre, you'll see Carole Ohl's Coaster, Zentangle's Cirquital, Nancy Pinke's Facet, Criss and Cross from Suzanne McNeill's recent blog posting, and (one of the two tangles I've used previously) Melissa Hughes' Hatchpatch (be sure to check out her other tangle inventions while you're there - her pencasts are just brilliant!). 

    I used Hatchpatch (though I have used it before) in celebration of its publication on Linda's tanglepatterns.com this week!

  7. Then, after Lilypads, you can see Carole Ohl's Lots-a-dots, which I very much enjoyed doing. A tangle that particularly comes to life after shading.
     
  8. After I had finished Facet, I added some of Mary Elizabeth Martin's Laced (the other tangle I have used previously), because I wanted to draw everything together a little better... to give the whole design a more cohesive feel to it. I can't explain it any better than that - a lot of my design decisions are instinctual, not theoretical!
The empty centre still had me stumped, so I left it until the next day. Again, I wanted to give the tile a more 'united' feel - so I decided to fill the centre (all those small sections) with Zentangle's Drupe. This gives (I hope) the eye a central 'anchor' to rest on.  Finally, I couldn't quite resist the urge to put myself in the tile... you can see me peeping out from behind all the tangles... just my eye (wide open this time!).

And here is the finished tile! 
Thank you, Laura, once again for a fun challenge. 
I can't wait for the next instalment!

    18 comments:

    1. This is a really good Tangle Kit.Thanks for the info' on the patterns, and yes the eye is drawn to the centre with plenty of interest to hold the eye then wander over the drawing.
      These Challanges have been fun, and it's good linking up with people we wouldn't have heard about otherwise.
      Thanks Laura!!

      ReplyDelete
    2. Another great tangle Kit! I love how the lacing goes through Drupe. Also, the shading on Lots of dots looks fantastic.

      ReplyDelete
    3. Wonderful! I like the idea to use tangles you´ve never tangled before. Could be an interesting challenge for me too…
      Thank you for this inspiration – and sharing a beautiful ZT with us!

      ReplyDelete
    4. Very nice ZT, I love all the striking contrast you have used in some of your tangles. It is interesting to note that you changed the orientation each time you photographed the tile. It just goes to show how our perspective changes as we work.

      ReplyDelete
    5. Oh wow! So much to look at. Great tangle designs. My favorites are the dark string that is laced through and the eye.

      ReplyDelete
    6. Thanks so much for explaining step-by-step. I get so excited every time I see something like this (and say to myself, "Do you think you'll ever ....."). I love this one.

      ReplyDelete
    7. Kit you have created a bit of magic, drupe worked beautifully with laced! Great touch with the eye!

      ReplyDelete
    8. Thanks for the idea about the Sharpie White marker. I've been unhappy with some of my tangles because I made a goof and really wished I could undo it instead of making it into something else. Love the lace going in and out.

      ReplyDelete
    9. Fabulous tangle that keeps me looking at it...I love how you have laced through some of your patterns and how they respond to the lace.

      And Kit, I love what you are doing with your page!

      ReplyDelete
    10. @HeatherCheryl: I'm having fun tinkering with it. [smile]
      @Everyone: Thanks for all your lovely comments. Reading these is the highlight of my day! Feelin' the ♥

      ReplyDelete
    11. I am fascinated by your tile, b ut your explanation, one step at a time blew me away. What an excellent idea! And you did it so well! Thanks for sharing.

      ReplyDelete
    12. beautiful! I love that you named all the tangles you used! Great idea! You inspire me!

      ReplyDelete
    13. Absolutely gorgeous, Kit! I enjoyed reading your rationale as you explained your way through your drawing and agree that Drupe worked extremely well as a central, focal and unifying point of reference. Excellent!

      ReplyDelete
    14. This is wonderful - as are all your zentangles!

      ReplyDelete
    15. Eye love it! I've been thinking of incorporating an eye in my doodles, eye see it can be done! Looks great.
      Terri

      ReplyDelete
    16. This one looks like a quilt, very 3D.

      ReplyDelete

    All comments welcome...

    Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.