This is where I draw the line ———

Well, this is where I drew the line this week, anyway!

(Click on images to embiggen.)

During this week's challenge*, I found myself seeing lines everywhere...

...and reacting emotionally.

I resented the way lines proscribed human contact with the 'natural world.'

I was acutely aware of:
fences, walls, railings, scaffolding, and electricity overheads.

(If you're not familiar with the weekly art challenge-play many Zentangle artists have been indulging in these last 14 weeks, go here to see some of the fun we've been having!)

I think my first tile reflects my initial emotional reaction to the challenge:

Before shading (I love the play of light in this photograph).

"Walking the line : take one."

It is also reminiscent of the airport runways I've seen during the week.
Do you see them?

After I expressed my feelings of being confined by lines (by tangling both feelings and lines), I thought, "There must be another perspective to explore."  I began seeking out lines within nature and, of course, I found them.  These beautiful palm fronds in my friends' back yard, for example.

I felt my animosity toward lines dissolving when confronted by the overwhelming beauty of 'natural' lines.  Lines don't only confine.  They define, they refine, they outline.  They're integral to beauty all around us.  And so I drew a second tile.

This time I used a curved string (sorry, Laura... I realise I've probably 'crossed a line' with such rebellious behaviour) and tangled one of my rare fifteen minute tiles.  The lines that appeared fluidly from the end of my pen were easy, carefree, happy lines (pardon the anthropomorphism).

I remembered to Breathe and to Relax.  
I stopped to Appreciate during the process and suddenly saw that it was done.

I didn't need to add (or say, or feel) more.
It was sufficient.

"Walking the line : take two."

(Definitely a digression from what I think of as my usual 'style'.)

It seems that, after all, most things can be viewed in more than one way.  And I've found that I have always benefited from personal contemplation of life (the universe, and everything) from different perspectives.

I've looked at lines from both sides now,
From up and down,
And still, somehow,
It's line illusions I recall.
I really don't know lines at all.

"Feather Canyons" (out my window on the flight up to Sydney this week).

I even found some incredibly beautiful, man-made lines (both curved and straight) by week's end.

Sydney Opera House : roof line.

Every time you think you know something 
(especially if you are certain of it)... 
Look again!

Artists for Japan

If you're on Facebook, this is a quick note just to let you know about the Artists for Japan Facebook group.

Artists for Japan is a "...grassroots group of artists shaken by the disaster in Japan and respectful of the honourable way the Japanese people are conducting their clean up. We are posting art on Facebook for auction. The proceeds will go to the Red Cross efforts and the winning bid will get the art. Please join us and upload a piece you would like to donate." [from the Group description, written by Carrie]

This is an honesty based system. Each artist posts a picture of a piece of art they'd like to donate, and then looks after their own mini auction within the group page.  Artists promote their item by sending messages to their Facebook friends, posting it on their Facebook walls, emailing out the link, blogging, and so on.

Buyers make bids in the comment lines for the picture of the item they wish to bid on. Once the auction is over and payment received, the artist goes to the Red Cross page for their country and sends the funds to the tsunami/earthquake relief fund. I'm donating to the Australian Red Cross.

This is the link to see photographs of all the art that's up for auction. There's some absolutely beautiful artwork there. Go take a look! The page was set up by my friend and tangle buddy, Carrie — who I'll probably get to meet in person, because she's considering coming to Whitinsville this October!

The first closing date for the first Artists for Japan auction (we're hoping to have a second round of auctions, since this will be a long term cause) is 4pm PST on Saturday, March 26th (that's 10am Sydney time on Sunday, March 27th).

If you'd like a once-only print (number one of one!)
of the coffee mug insert I drew (in a brand new coffee mug),
my donated auction piece is here (the only two people to
have this mug will be me and the winning bidder). 

It eventually sold for $85 - thank you, Elle!*

I'm so pleased Carrie had this wonderful idea... and I hope to meet her in October! 

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