Zentangle your way into Relaxation!

Welcome!

Kaleidoscope by inkspired 

I am currently taking some classes 

at the local Senior Center.

I love to learn new things,

especially History and Art.

Okay, and a few more!

🤓

I just had a Zentangle class today.
Haven’t done those in awhile,
And am reminded how fun they are!
Here is a recent Zentangle:

This one is older:

Part of a series of shoe Zentangles I did 

Here are 2 that I have scanned,
resized and printed,
then made into greeting cards:

I also like to use photo type apps and play around
with color, ‘paint’ styles and more.
Here are a few samples:

I have a couple more shoe Zentangles.
Looking at these makes me want to do more!

Kaleidoscope by inkspired

I would encourage each of you to try it out.
Zentangle doodles are very relaxing to do,
lowers blood pressure, eliminates stress
and uses a part of your brain that you may not 
use very often.

 Come ride with me on my magic carpet...
An inkspired original Zentangle
Printed and made into a greeting card 

Funny,
this is not where I planned my blog to go today!
But sometimes
you just have to go with the flow.
😆

Share your Zentangle doodles with me!
If it’s ok, I am happy to post yours in a future blog!
I love to see what other people create.

That’s it for today!

‘Til next time,
inkspired

Fingerprint Art doodles

Welcome!

Kaleidoscope by inkspired

Feeling extra tired the last couple days.

Prob’ly leftover cold from Christmas.

 Before I snooze, I wanted to share something with you!

Wait, what?

That’s not what I wanted!

I thought you might enjoy some doodling!

Like this:

Found on various boards on Pinterest

Fingerprint Art!

You basically ink up a finger tip and press it to paper.

Your finger that is!

Depending on the ink you use, 

give it time to dry,

then doodle with a permanent marker.

Sharpie fine point permanent markers are nice.

So are Micron permanent pens.

Or you could just use a ball point pen!

You don’t have to be an artist

or have any art experience at all

to make some really fun

Fingerprint Art.

You can use any color ink,

not just black.

There are several brands of ink pads that come in 1 inch squares - check your local craft store.

 The small size means less $$,

so you can afford several different colors.

The simpler the drawing, the more fun it looks!

Try some, I think you will enjoy it!

Make up a little cartoon strip!

Dabble some fingerprint art on a card to send!

Decorate a plain mug and give as a gift!

(Follow directions for what ink to use, etc.)

Most of all,

remember to take some time for yourself!

‘Til next time,

Inkspired

Kaleidoscope by inkspired 

Weather and Doodling

Welcome!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...🎵 🎶

Kaleidoscope by inkspired 

We have been having typical weather here -

warm days of 75 degrees Fahrenheit,

then snow the next day, high of 30 degrees.

Next day - mild with enough sun to melt 2/3 of the snow.

We can drop or add 30 degrees easily in one day.

 Vintage advert 

So it’s time to ready your car for the Fall season,

Including but not limited to

Snow tires

Snow scraper

Windshield wiper fluid

Sun shade

Bottled water

Sunscreen

and various snacks.

Sandra Boynton cartoon

SnowCat

If you’re stuck inside because of the weather
let’s do some Zentangles!

A basic just for fun zentangle by inkspired 

A Zentangle found on Pinterest

The word ‘zentangle’ was created for this specific type of drawing art style. The ‘zen’ stands for the calm and peacefulness you can have by doing repetitive patterns.
The ‘tangle’ refers to the doodle part of the art form.

Found on Pinterest

Can’t draw?
That’s ok! Everyone can doodle, 
And that’s basically what zentangle is all about.

Do you know what USA President was famous 
for his doodling during meetings?
His doodles have even been made into a book!

First lightly sketch a basic outline - start with simple 
like a square, circle or simple shape.

A simple zentangle grouping by inkspired

(I like to use a multi-media paper in a spiral bound format.
The paper is smooth, so your pen doesn’t skip,
and the book lays flat.)

Then divide that shape into sections. 
They can be wavy, symmetrical, whatever looks good to you.
Now the fun starts!

You can purchase different handout sheets from the above web,
Teachers pay teachers


Starting with one section, start a pattern.
This can be any pattern,
Start with something simple like circles,
dots, squiggles, whatever you like to doodle.
Fill the section up with the same pattern.

Now move on to another section.
Pick a different pattern -
it’s not supposed to match or coordinate.

Another original inkspired design, mounted and layered to make a greeting card.

Getting the idea?
Now do a little research.
There are many many books out now 
with patterns, how-tos and techniques.

An original zentangle by inkspired printed and layered to make a greeting card.

Follow the directions and learn a few patterns.
Become familiar enough that you don’t need to look at directions anymore. You can draw them anywhere.
These will become your go - to patterns
you will use often.

Beautiful zentangle leaf found on Pinterest, drawn on specialty paper.

My favorite pens to use are EnerGel liquid ink pens
.05 needle tip by Pentel in black.
If you plan on printing out several of one design,
the black copies best.

Others prefer the Micron pens in black
or use all the different colors they come in.

Zentangle drawn with a white pen onto a real leaf
found on Pinterest

You can do this!
Really!
Once you get started I hope you find it to be a fun,
relaxing pastime that calms and refreshes.
You hardly noticed it was snowing outside,
didn’t you?

2 zentangle original designs by inkspired. Hand colored.

Share with us your efforts!

I am starting a new ‘tradition’.
I will be ending with a truth I have ‘learned’ from my experiences.
Hint: many have occurred before 9am.
I am not a morning person.

‘Til next time,
inkspired

Truth:
You will not find milk in the pantry.
Or in the plate cupboard.
😁

Trivia question answer:
President John F. Kennedy 

zentangle inspirations

from tangledmania on etsy

Let's zentangle today!!!

While the art of repetitive drawing has been around for centuries, there has been a recent revival in the arts and crafts world thanks in a large part to Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Their use of repetition combined with meditation type thinking has been coined as “Zentangle”.

Many of my zentangle designs I drew before I had read any book on the subject. 

I just love to doodle! 
After reading a couple of books on the subject, 

I have been able to open more doors into my creative mind.
Some might say my cluttered mind!! 

I prefer to call it imagination run amok (wonderful word).

'forest guardian goddess'

original zentangle design by inkspired

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

I have taken some of my zentangles 

and made original cards from them.

Here are a few:

I have taken a basic shape, 
and then filled in with zentangle doodles.

I find it to be sooooo relaxing!

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com


I guess that's the 'zen' part of it!

'These Three Abide'
www.DeepMagicDesigns.etsy.com


Here are some ideas from nature for you to try your hand 

at creating a nature-inspired zentangle:

Christmas Tree Worm

www.ZahnerPhoto.etsy.com

www.Raceytay.etsy.com

succulent botanical print of photo

www.9thCycleStudios.etsy.com

pine berries

www.LandArtFlowertrip.etsy.com

Sometimes we can find inspiration in objects around us:

handmade Murine chips, lamp work

www.sweetycynthy.etsy.com

the ceiling of the Bellagio Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

www.Raceytay.etsy.com

yellow cabs flooded in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA

in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

photo credit Charles Sykes

I encourage you to get out some plain paper,
and try a little doodling on your lunch hour!

big heart zentangle original by inkspired

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

original zentangle design all occasion blank note cards by inkspired

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

Next, go purchase a little notebook with blank pages...

another inkspired original zentangle layered onto a blank notecard

with washi tape accent

You can doodle at the doctor's office..

doodle in line at the post office..

doodle while waiting for the train to pass..

doodle at the airport....

opportunities abound!!!

triple heart all occasion blank notecard

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

I like to purchase my notebooks with a spiral binding

and a sturdy cardboard backing.

That way I can draw with the book laying flat,

and the pages don't fall out.

www.JoArtyJo.etsy.com

My favorite is 

Strathmore

Mixed Media, vellum surface

5.5 in x 8.5 in

It is a 90 lb paper, so there is little if no bleed-through to the next page. It has a sturdy spiral binding. Acid free, it is ready for wet or dry media.

The size makes it very portable, and it fits into most purses.

www.NeesieNatters.etsy.com

My absolute favorite pens to use are

Pentel

EnerGel Liquid Gel Ink in black or blue

.05 tip or .07 tip

They are refillable, which is just icing on the cake!

I have talked about zendoodles that are in a specific shape.
Now I'd like to introduce you to some that are not a specific item, object, person, etc.
They are just free-form zendoodles!

With the original zentangles you are taught to make dots on your paper, then connect-the-dots with a line.

You can see this in my zen above and below, 
as I have exaggerated the outer 'dots'.

After connecting the dots, you take your pen at one of the points, and draw a line to another outside line.

This will start to create individual spaces inside your zendoodle.

You can see them pretty clearly in the two doodles above.

Here is one I have drawn without the traditional
'rectangle' type border:

You can still see that there are areas separated within the outer doodle border.

Now, get ready to have some

*F*U*N*!!!

I have had wayyyy too much fun making some 'magic carpets -

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

This is a 'magic carpet' zentangle that I have printed, hand cut out, and hand colored accents with red art pens.  Then I layered it onto a print of 1950's kitschy fun fabric re-prints.

(You can find these at Dover Publication)

Too, too fun!

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

This magic carpet I added 'tassels' to the outer four corners,

hand cut, hand accented with red art pens,

and layered onto woven paper strips.

Because the carpet is raised with dimensional double stick tape, it makes shadows onto the paper weaving layer. The shadows are only there due to the photographing method.

Here is another one layered onto recycled paper strips:

original zen pen and ink design by inkspired

Feel inspired to try your hand at it?

I hope so, as it is a wonderful new way to relax,

express your creativity

and just have fun!

'til next time,

inkspired

www.inkspired.etsy.com

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com

and on pinterest:   kkloberdans

www.PaintTropics.etsy.com