VennTangle challenge

Well, this was FUN! I approached it all scientific and stuff and then it just turned into fun! It IS Zentangle after all.

'Ptrish40' (AKA Patty of the "Zentangle Inspired Art" Yahoo group) posted a challenge involving Venn diagrams and intersecting/combining tangles. She dubbed it "VennTangles". Sounds scientificky, no?

Once I'd grasped the concept of the pencil string (last spring at the CZT seminar), I've loved the way tangle patterns morph into other patterns. This can be particularly cool when the tangles share structural elements. Oops, getting sciency there. Anyway, I decided to see what morphing might take place with this Venn idea for combining patterns.

I did the first one on a Zentangle tile. I tried to make it easy on myself by choosing tangles all based on a grid: Cubine, Dex, and Florez (by Andrea Schuman).

I was pleased enough with the result to try more. I found the central space rather tiny for trying to scrunch three tangles into, so I decided to try two-circle VennTangles on ATC sized paper. For the first, I chose two current favorite tangles, Finery and Coaster (by Carole Ohl). I was pleasantly surprised at how well they mashed together.

I tried to think ahead as to how the two tangles might combine, but I didn't want them to be too similar. I chose a tangle based on a grid and a tangle based on circles: Knightsbridge and Lotus Pods.

Confidence growing, I wanted two really different tangles (at least to my eyes). I've seen and liked the spidery, elegant Efilys (by Sandra Strait) but had never done it before. I chose it and the blocky and child-like Vermal. I prepared for disaster. I drew. Hunh! Not too bad at all!

Using only two circles was going rather well so I decided to take another shot at three circles. But that center really was too small. I used a Zentangle tile again, but this time I used a larger circle template and ran them all off the edge. I chose some simple and fairly basic tangles: Hollibaugh, N'zeppel, and Tipple. It's quite a development from my first attempt!

I found the shading to be very important. For one thing, it can help separate the circles if they flow too much together.

What a marvelous idea! I've discovered a whole new way for tangles to work together! Thanks Patty/ptrish!!! Must. Do. More...