Sunday, June 29, 2014

On tan zendala tiles

I admit there are qualities I dislike in the tan paper of the zentangle tiles, but I sure do like the results! The paper doesn't much like getting wet, and yet washes are something I do a lot these days.

LOTUS OF PASSING TIME
(c) 2014 Margaret Bremner
 Here I used brown and white inks and some metal leaf.
Shading is in brown pencil.
Tangles: Aura, Opus, Printemps, Tipple, stripes

IDYLL
(c) 2014 Margaret Bremner
A gray wash on the tan paper gives an overcast look to the sky.
Tangles: Aquafleur, Seljuk, Tipple

(as yet untitled)
(c) 2014 Margaret Bremner
I had trouble with the sky area, reworking it a few times,
and still thing the orange is a bit too strong.
Tangles: Aquafleur, Bunzo, Pearlz, Wildwood, and Zander-esque
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13 comments:

  1. TerriJune 29, 2014 at 4:34 PM

    For not liking the tan, you sure make it sing. Love these.
    Hugs

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  2. Ann at Deep Magic TanglesJune 30, 2014 at 4:56 AM

    These are fabulous, Margaret. Your colored pencil shading always looks so smooth and natural. Do you use a blender on it? I find the tan tiles don't care for blending much. Also, do you lay down your shading with the side of your pencil tip?

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    Replies
    1. Margaret Bremner, ArtistJune 30, 2014 at 11:02 AM

      Thanks Ann! Some of the 'shading' is provided by the washes, which I usually do with acrylic paint or water-soluable pencils.

      For the final shading, however, I use pencil. I've been using Prismacolor pencils forever and because they're a bit 'waxy' a tortillon (blending stick) doesn't work. I've just purchased some Irojiten pencils, which are lovely, not waxy, but I haven't experimented much yet, and I won't use them in artwork until I do some light fastness testing. I sometimes use Verithin pencils too, but not on soft paper as they're a very hard lead.

      Generally I shade with the side of the pencil, but for precision areas I use the tip.

      Delete
  3. Ginny StilesJune 30, 2014 at 6:01 AM

    Actually what I hear Margaret saying Terri is not that she doesn't like tan, just than the tan paper that Zentangle provides doesn't like to get wet. When I went to CZT training I have to admit that I fell in love with the renaissance tiles. Up to now I had not really played much with them. I am not a huge fan of Zendalas (as you've heard me mention like a million times) but when I am done, I love the results. Go figure. We did a black Zendala at training with powered soap stone. Have you tried that? ps…I love your new pattern Morse! So dramatic!

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  4. Sue ClarkJune 30, 2014 at 7:15 AM

    Absolutely stunning, all of them!

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  5. UnknownJune 30, 2014 at 10:16 AM

    I Love what you do to trees, Margaret. So, so beautiful. Thanks for your ideas!
    On another matter, may I once again request that you remind me of that tangle you
    named for Zentangle - romanancy or something similar to that? Thank you for the rescue!

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    1. Margaret Bremner, ArtistJune 30, 2014 at 10:51 AM

      Yes, Romanancy. Very fun look! Jointly named by me and... Oh dear, I forget who.

      Delete
  6. Debra CastaldiJune 30, 2014 at 3:24 PM

    I love your experimentation. The grey wash is Fabulous and the orange from here is beautiful!

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  7. UnknownJuly 1, 2014 at 10:37 AM

    So, Margaret, I can't find the step outs for Romanancy in tanglepatterns and also with Zentangle. Didn't you also create a fun tile with Romanancy recently? Thanks again and I'm in awe of your trees. I'm showing them tonight to a group coming over... Thanks for all you give us!

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    1. Margaret Bremner, ArtistJuly 1, 2014 at 1:21 PM

      It's on the Zentangle blog here: http://zentangle.blogspot.ca/2013/02/tangle-heart.html
      Also, it was a Diva challenge, #109.
      I used Romanancy in an Ensemble here: http://enthusiasticartist.blogspot.ca/2014/01/angular-ensemble.html
      and on the first tile here: http://enthusiasticartist.blogspot.ca/2014/05/three-tiles-with-color.html
      Not sure if either of those is what you're thinking of. Possibly elsewhere that I forgot to label. I've also used it in a tree that hasn't been posted yet! ;)

      Delete
  8. UnknownJuly 3, 2014 at 4:52 AM

    Good morning :) I absolutely love everything you do but I have one question. Do you provide the templates that you just shared with us? I've been looking for a Lotus mandala and I just love trees :) great job!

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    1. Margaret Bremner, ArtistJuly 3, 2014 at 10:16 AM

      Hi Mary, and thank you so much! No, I don't have templates. All the work above developed as I worked on it.

      For the lotuses I often use a looped string. You can see a little how-to on a square here:
      http://enthusiasticartist.blogspot.ca/2012/10/news-flash-looped-border-creates-its.html
      and some more examples on round tiles here:
      http://enthusiasticartist.blogspot.ca/2012/12/looped-border-string-x-2-mandala.html

      Hope this inspires you! If you try a looped string to make a lotus I'd love to see the results. E-mail me a picture.

      Delete
  9. BrendaJuly 3, 2014 at 11:53 PM

    These are absolutely exquisite Margaret! I just don't know how you do it! What awesome inspiration, thank you!

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