String Theory Tonight!

There is still time to register for tonight's class! 

 

Beyond Basics - “String theory”
Come explore the world of Zentangle strings. This basic skill brings huge depth to your Zentangle art and teaches you to dive right into creating. Students will learn how to confidently put pencil to paper and work with the strings you create without any worry or planning.  We will dig deeper into incorporating different tangles into interesting shapes opening up opportunities and surprises, allowing the string to dictate the journey.  

So where did the idea of the string come from? 

Why is it a fundamental component of the Zentangle Method?

How has it transcended over the years?

How to learn to create them, love them and let go of them?

What metaphors are hidden within?

All to be discovered tonight?

See you soon!

Smiles,

Molly

Learning to read "betweed" the lines.

There are certain emotions and experiences in life that can never exactly be translated into words ... but what if there was language that could? One that all cultures could use and understand. A language that was unique to each person. A language that reflected how we all have a different mark to leave in our world, in our hearts and on our tiles of course.

When I teach Zentangle I try find the fine line between teaching my students how to draw specific tangles with enough guidance that they understand, but also trying not to be so specific that they are unable to discover their own unique approach.  Many times my students will digest what I have said in such a way that they discover or create something totally new.

Last night my class and I created a monotangle tile with "betweed". The way that each person took this tangle into their own hands was awesome. Each tile became such a unique expression of this very simple collection of lines on paper. Each tile stood alone as a wonderful piece of artwork and also played such a strong role as part our Zentangle mosaic.

This was an adult class I taught at a local library except we had on very young adult in the class (age 10) ... I am sure that you would never guess which tile is hers ... so amazing!

Cheers everyone ... here's to reading "betweed" the lines.

Smiles,

Molly

Thursday is Zentangle night at The Victorian!

Fall Schedule 2013

September 5^th, 6 - 8pm - Introduction to Zentangle

September 12^th, 6 - 8pm - Beyond Basics - “String theory” 

September 19^th, 6 - 8pm - Beyond Basics - Grid tangles 

September 19^th, 8:15 - 9pm - Zentangle Meditation Session

September 26^th, 6 - 8pm - Beyond Basics - A trip to “Tripoli” 

October 3^rd, 6 - 8pm - Beyond Basics – Monotangles

October 3^rd, 8:15 - 9pm - Zentangle Meditation Session

October 10^th, 6 - 8pm - The Illuminated letter 

October 17^th, 6 - 8pm - TBA

October 24^th, 6 - 8pm - Intro to Black Zentangle tiles 

October 24^th, 8:15 - 9pm - Zentangle Meditation Session

October 31^st, 6 - 8pm - TBA

November 7 - Beyond Basics - Tangle to Tangle 

November 14 - TBA

Full class descriptions and information under the "classes" page of this blog.

A delight

Sometimes in life we experience how the gathering of people can create something very special. Most of the time we cannot plan how all of our unique minds will come together, but once in a while it almost seems magical. Last night I taught a group of the most wonderful, creative minds. Their ages ranged from 6 to 16. Each one of them coming from different different places, but finding themselves all in the same place this particular night for a Zentangle class at the Library. The attention and focus of these kids was above and beyond anything I could ever expected at the end of a hot and sticky Summer day. They followed along intently, digesting all the steps of the Zentangle method. And then without hesitation took my instructions and used them as propellers to take their artwork in directions I had never seen before. I enjoy and learn so much from every class I teach. I woke up this morning with a smile, eagerly going back to look at the pictures of the amazing tiles that these kids created. I couldn't help thinking how special it was to watch how the energy of 20 different kids came together one night at the library.

Tiles created by kids at the Sutton Public Library.

There's a light ...

When my husband and I were planning our "wedding" we wanted to pick a special song to play as we entered the ceremony. It just so happened that during the months working up to our special day, one of favorite bands came out with a new album. It seemed to be the soundtrack of our life for a couple of months and there was a particular song that described so much of what we felt about entering a new part of our lives together that we decided to make it part of the ceremony. 

We don't listen to that album as much anymore but when we do, I smile and remember how important the words are to me. 

I heard this song on the radio the other day ... they never play it on the radio, so I took it as a sign.

 

If you feel like singing a song

And you want other people to sing along

Just sing what you feel

Don't let anyone say it's wrong

And if you're trying to paint a picture

But you're not sure which colors belong

Just paint what you see

Don't let anyone say it's wrong

I took it as a sign to wallow in the feeling that the lyrics and melody inspired. Luckily that feeling lingered long after the song was over and I continued my day with a smile and a recharged confidence in myself and paths I have traveled ... and an optimism to all the journies ahead.

I am including a Zendala I just finished that seemed to speak these thoughts to me and also a tile my Mom did a while back that I just loved so much that she gave it to me. I have had it on my refrigerator for over a year and every time I see it ... it just makes me refocus for a moment. 

 

Because there's a light (what light)

Inside of you

Smiles,

Molly 

A little smile in every tile ...

I think I got it this time. I had a lovely time with this tile. I especially liked the part of the Diva's post about her son's smile. Sooooo powerful and his smile is beautiful and such an amazing story of overcoming the odds. Smiles have always been a huge part of my life and am so happy that they are a part of his too.

I run. And I know how fortunate I am to be able to do this. So I have this thing that I say to myself, "a little smile in every mile". That little smile usually turns into a bigger one, until sometimes I am outright laughing on the side of the road. I don't know ... I think it is therapeutic. 

Lately I feel the same way about Zentangle. How lucky I feel to be able to sit down and create. I often find myself at the end of a tile looking and admiring it and giving it a little smile. So in a way I am putting "a little smile in every tile".

Enjoy the weekend!

Smiles,
Molly

Comfort Zone and Challenge #111

A couple of years ago a very talented Certified Zentangle Teacher started a blog called I am the Diva. One of the features of this blog is a weekly Zentangle challenge. This challenge has become an inspiration and a community for so many creative minds. I have followed and admired her blog for years. I have watched how she has touched and inspired so many. I have also participated in many of the challenges, but I have never submitted or shared my results, mostly because of technical reasons.

So this week I decided I would begin taking part in challenge and make an effort to learn how to submit my work(still learning). So I read the challenge for week #111. I thought what a great challenge. I set a goal of taking on the challenge and created two tiles. After they were complete,I went back on her blog to learn how to submit my work and upon doing so reread the original post ... HA HA HA ... I had totally misinterpreted the challenge. Not a deal breaker, but actually pretty funny.

For some reason in my head I had originally read it and came out with the challenge being choose a tangle that is outside your comfort zone. I loved the idea of this. The diva mentioned that Mooka was her tangle that she for one reason or another avoids. And I agreed that I also tend to ignore that particular tangle. So off I went to creating. I decided I would pick two tangles that I had considered outside my comfort zone and would create one tile with each.

The first being Poke root. 
I thought if I went crazy with it, I could find some way to love it.

And then on the second tile I picked Mooka.

Well, come to find out that was not the challenge. Not sure how I missed that one. But it worked out in the end in couple of ways.

• For one, the challenge actually was to use all Mooka on one tile. Which I ended up doing anyway. So yay ... awesome.
• This process of choosing a tangle outside my comfort zone was enlightening and fun and through this whole journey I have decided to move both Poke root and Mooka into my comfort zone. I have learned that there sometimes there is benefit and discovery in challenging or pushing yourself to try something new or go in a different direction.
• And lastly ... this situation has taught me to slow down and read things with a little more focus. 

I so look forward to participating in future Challenges and it is already Monday ... time to check out what the new one is.

Smiles,
Molly