Tierrasanta Library Goes to Africa

 Finally, Fall is in the air.  When the weather changes from warm to cooler, everyone started talking about recipes and holiday food.  Bring on the Holidays.  OMG - it's here.

Today was the day after Halloween.  Hope you didn't have a serious candy rush this morning.  Tierrasanta Library, (San Diego, California) invited me to teach a Zentangle "Elephant Tangle" class.  All fifteen students relaxed and enjoyed the process of creating a ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art).  I had several "new-bee's" today, that were introduced to the Zentangle Method - a secret gem.

I encourage every student to take an Introduction to Zentangle Method class from a CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher), They will then start their Zentangle journey at the very beginning - kindergarten, to learn about the history and way to begin a Zentangle tile, the way Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas (co-founders) design the art method.

Typically, Zentangle Method is creating black and white abstract art - that keeps you in the meditative feel of the art method.  All the patterns are produced with circles and lines.  If you can draw a circle and line, you can "tangle".  Often, you don't know what your tile will look like, till you have completed your drawing. 

I teach many different classes that have the Zentangle Method in mind. To stay on track for the relaxing feel of Zentangle, the basic class is black and white.  When you put color into your art,  you have to think a lot more:  what color, how many colors, where do I put the color.  All that thinking, takes away from the simplicity of black and white abstract art form from which the method was designed.   That quiet moment while drawing these structured patterns,  is what creates the feel of - healing art.  This mindfulness will put you into a state of well-being. 
Having said all that --- THE ELEPHANT WAS FUN. 



This student was camera why, but proud of her art piece.  This was her first experience with tangling.  I think she did a terrific job. 

Most Zentangle classes are two hours long.  For the libraries, depending on their budget - the time is 1 hour -1.5 hours to share Zentangle. 

Note to myself - one hour is not enough for a big 'ole tangled elephant. 

The students today did have homework to finish their project.  But, boy did we learn lots of tangles (that's what we call the patterns). We didn't have time to go into shading, hence, another class. 

WARNING comes with my classes:  Zentangle can be addictive.

Animal tidbit:  The way I remember how to tell Asia/African elephant apart is their ears. 

Way to remember which is which?   Asian has less letters, hence smaller ears, and African has more letters, hence larger ears.  You're welcome.

Rushing to clean up after class tonight, to make room for the next event at library (Pajama Storytime), I misplaced my elephant to share my finished example.  Here is one a had on file at home with a couple more tangles than we did in class.
                                             

Have you got your Zentangle on yet?