Zentangle vs Doodling

Shared by Lee Miller

Holidays Approaching

As the weather starts cooling (yes cool even in San Diego, California 60's), we realize, the Holidays are upon us.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the holidays of some sort.

This is a great time of year to design your own holiday cards with the Zentangle Method.  Whether you create one and use that to copy the rest, or design a personal card for everyone.  Zentangle greeting cards are so fun to get.

Go to Michael's and get their packet of blank greeting cards (size varies) and starting creating your own HOLIDAY CARDS.

Remember - during this stressful time of year - Zentangle is relaxing and will take the stress away, even if for just a few minutes.

Idea for holiday get together - invite me to give a holiday card class.
Email me for details:  maseyjanet@

Happy Holidays from Tiki Tangles.

Allied Garden Library Teens Fell Into Fall Today

Allied Garden Library, San Diego, California, sits adjacent to a school.  Many of the libraries have  programs for kids after school.  Time to do their homework and often schedule classes for the kids to partake in until parents can pick them up.

Today, was my sixth Zentangle class for the teens at this library.  Thank you for scheduling classes Kathryn, library branch manager.  FYI, usually, the library shares a healthy snack at class. Wish the libraries were this user friendly when I was young.  So many activities to embark on and at no fee.  If you haven't done so, check out your local library on the Internet and see the events posted.  Often the libraries have an assigned person to help kids with homework time.

September 21st was the first official day of fall.  Of course, I bring the pumpkins out to start the fall holidays.  Typically a basic Zentangle tile is a black and white abstract tile (no up no down, no top no bottom).  Zentangle is a meditative art method.  When you add color, you have to think more- what type of color, what color, how many color, where to put the color.  More thought process.  That is why Zentangle takes the HARD out of art.  All you need to do is select (tangles) patterns.

One of the many classes I teach goes beyond basic.

Todays project was a ZIA ( Zentangle Inspired Art).

This "tangle" was creating a fall greeting card with the Zentangle Method.No Art Experience Necessary - I mean Zero!  So easy to do

Class was posted for teens, but adults (if room) can also attend. We had nine kids, and nine adults today at this workshop.  There is always something new to learn from a class with a Certified Zentangle Teacher.  New patterns, embellishments, shading.  Instead of shading today,  we used colored pencils for a hint of color.  Usually you don't need much color on Zentangle art.  The tangles are pretty bold and speak for themselves. 

Side story:  Before class, a boy popped his head in the community room where I was setting up and saw the Hershey kisses at each seat.  He asked if he could have a candy.  I said "if you stay for the class" yes.  I think he came back for the chocolate, but enjoyed the class.  Below is his art piece and of course, he gave his card to his Mom.  

  

 
Here are a couple of the kids cards.

I just retired as a hairdresser July 1st and said good bye to many clients of more than 30 years.  So nice to see Teresa again, a wonderful friend and client.   By the way, Teresa has the best hair ever.  Teresa brought her sister-in-law, Pam.   This was Pam's first time being introduced to Zentangle. 

Below is Pam's art work.  She thought she would leave her piece just black and white.   before color and after adding a hint of color.  A little color goes a long way.  I call it a highlight   I suggested just a light color to highlight your work.  What do you think, with or without color?  Either way, beautiful.

Another student today was Kathy.  She fell in love with Zentangle at another library class and has attend many classes.  I like to see my students return to another class and bring friends.   Kathy brought her adorable, cute as a button friend, Cheryl (I think was her name).   Sorry I didn't get a picture.  Cheryl liked Zentangle because like many folks - art seems hard.  I shared how Zentangle takes the pressure away.  
  

Happy Fall everyone! 

Poway Tangles With Shane, Andrea and Allison

What a delightful Zentangle class I was asked to teach at Shane's beautiful home in Poway, California.   She was so kind to make a birthday class for her friends.  They all were newbie's to the art method and is always fun to watch the "ah ha" moment when they get it.  Zentangle is relaxing and psssst… it is also FUN FUN FUN

The view from her home.

Shane had a kind heart.  She spends her time when she isn't caring for her 98 year old mother, caring for doggie's that no one wanted.  This was her beautiful golden retriever she rescued and got lucky to get to stay with this woman with the "golden" heart.  He enjoyed the class too (okay, he enjoyed us all being with him for the morning).  

Andrea brought her little dog over to have a play day too. when she arrived, she put a diaper on her dog.  I had never saw a dog with a diaper on before.  I guess when you go visiting, it is a nice gesture to do just incase of accidents.  This diaper took care of the one part of doggie dog, but unfortunately she also needed one on the other end.  But all was okay, Shane was very used to dogs and they dealings.

 

I shared the Zentantgle Method with the ladies today as they learned the history, philosophy and basic method to create a Zentangle tile.  

Shane, Alison, and Andrea

Thank you ladies for spending a delightful Sunday morning with me and starting your Zentangle journey. 

Kensington Normal Heights Library find their Dream(catcher)

The Dreamcatcher

Native Indians believe that night is full of both good and bad dreams.   When a dreamcatcher is hung above where you sleep, it catches the dreams that drift by.  The good dreams go thru center of web and slide down the feathers to those sleeping below.   The bad dreams are caught in the webbing and destroyed (burned) at the first light of morning sun.

Traditional dreamcatchers are only 3-5 inches across.  The must be made from natural materials.  Every part of a dream catcher had a meaning.  The dreamcatcher represents the mind, body, spirit aspects of our personality, moods and emotions. The ring and the web represent love, honesty and purity.   All of the combined elements on the dreamcatcher represent aspects of earth, fire, water -- all things we need to live.

Once the dreamcatcher is hung freely, it represents the element of air.  The hoop represents the earth – “the circle of life” made from a willow.  The dreamcatcher is patterned after a spider’s web to catch bad dreams and keep them from entering the dreamer’s head.

Fun class at Kensington Normal Heights Library, a small, quaint library.

Kathy relaxing with the Zentangle Method while creating a Zia (Zentangle Inspired Art).

This is Ursula and she brought her friend Phyllis, that was visiting us today all the way from Utah.
Welcome Phyllis to the start of your Zentangle journey. 

Below is Ursula's dreamcatcher with beautiful Santa Fe, Native Indian colors.  LOVE IT.

The Wedding

The months of planning is over.  My daughter is Mrs. Riley as of 9.22.18.  What a special day.  Here are a few pics from the day.

The perfect day for my daughter.

I retired from hairdressing in July, but have dedicated my time to hours of making wedding decorations and helping with all that goes into this huge day.  So much fun.  Now I'm officially retired and teach a couple Zentangle classes a week.  Perfect blend of tangling and relaxation.    

Champagne Village Gets Zentangle'ized

I've been to Lawrence Welk Resort in San Diego, California  I'm actually a timeshare owner.  Suzie, from the Champagne Village (55 plus resort next to Lawrence Welk invited me to share Zentangle in their community room.

Eighteen of us tangled and learned about this new secret gem art method.  I love to share the "ah-ha" moment when everyone in the rooms realized Zentangle art method takes the HARD out of art. Everyone can enjoy the fun and beauty of creating something intricate and complicated looking but easy enough for kids to do.

When will you start your Zentangle journey?  Let's set up a class for your group/event.

Thanks ladies... fun group.




Simple string and some fun patterns (we call them tangles) and wha la- beautiful abstract basic Zentangle art.