Five Thoughts on a Monday

Freedoms in life should never be taken for granted

True friendships are a gift beyond measure

Writing Poetry is something everyone should at least try

Ocean Sand between the toes is always a good thing

Time alone nourishes the soul

The Meditative Process of Zentangle

The beginning process

Complete!

I started my interest in Zentangle over a year ago,

I have dabbled in the process of drawing and doodling

for quite some time now.

I have even take a few awesome

 Creative Doodling courses

online and loved them,

I truly learned a lot.
It wasn't until I discovered the
true Zentangle process
that my "doodling"
became "tangling"
and I haven't looked back!

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about

Creating Zendalas

and how much I loved the process.

When I have quiet time usually this is
what I am drawn to these days.
It helps to keep me centered, alert and calm.
Here I can incorporate my Zentangle
and my love for watercolors.
(You will find a link to my Zendala art on the side bar!)

Most of you know that my mother
suffered from Dementia for quite some time,
and it is a journey I don't want to re-visit.
I have found that Zentangle
has so many attributes;
keeping the mind sharp and focused
are just a few.
That is the reason I was originally
drawn to the Zentangle process.
I have received so much more
since I started down this path.

Black tile with metallic pen

I have slowly evolved into

the discovery of

Zentangle

and I am totally in love

with the meditative process.
It is truly a different experience!
Zentangle is purposeful drawing,
doodling is carefree drawing.

I encourage you to visit the link

I have given you

to learn of the original creators

of Zentangle,

Rick and Maria

and how their process evolves

with this magnificent

meditative art form.

Zentangle is creating a quiet moment for yourself.
It is relaxing, fulfilling, healthy for the mind,
meditative and unlike
any other art form.
It requires very little supplies,
a good micron pen, zentangle tiles,
(just 3.5 x 3.5)
a pencil and no eraser!
For there are no mistakes in the
process, only learning moments!

I have been able to study
with several
CZT's now
(Certified Zentangle Teacher)
and each one has had a
wonderful insight to the process.
I have learned so much from them all!
Each teacher has a slightly
different approach.

Recently I was able to take an
advanced Zentangle class
with Kim Herman, CZT
at my local
MOCA
(Museum of Contemporary Art)
It was an awesome day
and I learned so many new ideas
and techniques.

Our treasure here in Virginia Beach

I first met Kim when she and I sat next
to each other at a Zentangle 102
class
with Suzanne McNeil
at Art and Soul.
Talk about SERENDIPITY,
she was quietly sitting next to me,
a CZT herself
 and we live not even 10 minutes
away from each other!
I sought her out for private instruction
and learned the true foundation
of Zentangle drawing.

I was also able to have
private instruction with
Mary Campbell, CZT
and she took my Zentangle practice
in a totally different direction.
She taught me so many new
and fun tangle patterns and
I learned to use metallic gelly roll pens
on black Zentangle tiles
another fun process!

I am grateful for what I have learned,
the examples of artwork
my eyes have seen,
for the philosophy of Zentangle
being reinforced for my own
well being
and I am totally in love with the process.

I am enjoying learning
more and more each day,
I carry a small kit with me
for those moments when I
might need to slow myself down
while waiting somewhere.

Lately I have been working
with an awesome book
by Beckah Krahula
"One Zentangle A Day"
She explains everything I
have been talking about
So I am trying to create
a new tangle everyday!
My journal is full of notes and patterns
and I am gaining quite a collection of
Zentangle tiles!

I even created my own

Zentangle bookmark for my book,

it makes reading all the more fun you know!

This was so much fun to create

So I encourage you to give it a try,

perhaps you might learn one technique

that you can incorporate into your

mixed media work,

never stop learning something new!

The steps to beginning Zentangle:

Relax ~ Breathe ~ Admire your paper and tools ~ 

Appreciate the opportunity ~ Draw the border ~

Draw the string ~ With pen draw the tangles ~

with pencil shade the tangles ~

initial your work ~ sign and date

reflect and appreciate

Renewal at Springtime

What a beautiful time of year it is right now!

Everywhere you look there is beauty all around.

We are witnessing new growth, new blossoms

and what was dormant is waking up.

Life is such a gift

each and every day

So many times we simply take it for granted.

This spring is so amazing

that it got me to thinking 

(You know I do that a lot!)

I am soaking in this idea of Renewal

What a perfect time of the year it is

to let go of what has been bogging us down,

renew our hearts and our spirits,

thinking of only things that make us happy

and to practice gratefulness

for not only what WAS, but what is!

We are given the gift of spring each and every year.

I think this year was a little slow in getting started

but it came around,

bringing along with it the promise of

new things to come,

color, new life, happiness,

and the shedding of what was.

My favorite time of day is early morning.

It is when I choose to write and create

each day.

I am blessed to have birds return to our backyard

(my private sanctuary)

each year.

Just hearing the familiar sound

of birds singing their songs

I ask you . . . how can anyone be grumpy?

Don't let spring just pass you by,

take the time to renew your mind, fill your spirit

with only good and amazing things.

Each and every morning we wake

is a chance to say to ourselves

"What will I do with my amazing and wonderful

life today?"

Don't take a moment for granted!

Look around you

Soak in the colors, the textures,

the sounds of this season.

There is so much beauty

all around YOU!

Reach out and touch this life.

Seek out moments to be happy,

to be creative,

to be alone with your thoughts,

to write something 

(even if you never have before!)

Try something new.

Don't be bored and unhappy

Spring is here!

When I look at the beauty of flowers,

which come the same time each year,

I can't believe the intricacy of each and every petal,

the colors that God has created

and the variety of flowers.

It is so amazing to me!

This is my favorite . . . Primrose

I know there is certainly a watercolor painting

in there somewhere!

Renewal in Springtime

a chance to be reminded that there are

opportunities for growth,

happiness, and stepping forward.

I plan to take the time

to stay refreshed,

slow myself down this season,

write some beautiful words,

read some incredible poetry and books,

paint some watercolors

Just taking the time

to renew my spirit,

my heart and my home.

Join me won't you?

A Poetry Moment

Imagine when . . .

Imagine when life doesn't have to hurt anymore

   and suffering doesn't have to exist

Imagine when there are no longer fears

   and we are free to walk this life no longer afraid

Imagine when there is a cure for Cancer

   and those who suffered before helped toward the cure

Imagine when evil goes far far away

   and little boys and girls can just be little children at play

Imagine when countries could all get along

   for there will no longer be a need for guns and heavy artillery

Imagine when there are no longer social injustices

   where we can look at others as just our fellow man and brother

Imagine when the world is at peace

   and you wake up each day celebrating the gift of your life

Imagine when your hidden dreams can all come true

   for our dreams are what carry us along our life's beautiful way

Imagine when . . .

Why I love Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

I can't remember the first Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

that I attended

I only know that it was at least 25 years ago!

This year the festival celebrated

it's 40th Anniversary

and it didn't disappoint!

It is so worth the travel time to get there.

It is located in West Friendship, MD

about 5 hours from my home

in Virginia Beach.

This year I was able to attend with

my best friend in life . . . Minna!

This was her second year attending

and I love experiencing this festival

with new eyes!

There are so many wonderful barns

full of yarn vendors,

knitting and spinning supplies,

demonstrations and artwork,

and stunning hand crafted items.

Thousands of people pass through the fairground

during this traditional

"First Weekend in May"

My favorite part of all is the

time I spend with the sheep.

Barn after barn with

hundreds of sheep breeds on display.

Here I watercolor sketch them,

take pics of them 

and of course

love on them.
You can view my entire
photo collection on my
flicker site here . . . 

I bought some wonderful fibers

I loved on the sheep

Got to see weaving again on a loom

Yes and I ate a Lamb Taco!

Reconnected with the sheep

Purchased wool for spinning and felting

Took unusual photos (A shepherds brush)

Watched shearing

... and a sheep to shawl event

I came home renewed, restored

and totally in love with the idea of

why I became a fiber artist

so many years ago!

Maryland Sheep and Wool

instills such an appreciation of hard work,

 shepherding and the fiber arts.

(Amazing work is being done out there!)

From seeing the sheep on display, 

to watching the sheep dog trials, 

to the spinning and knitting, 

to hearing folk music being played 

all over the fairgrounds

I will never forget this weekend.

I certainly bought plenty of

one of a kind fibers

to get me through till the

next first weekend in May!

I can hardly wait to get there again!

Creating Zendalas

Using metallic watercolors

Zendala

I have been creating with doodling and Zentangle
for quite some time now,

I am just fascinated with how it all unfolds.

Zentangle is a process of meditative drawing,
usually starting with a small dot in the center
and working outward, one step at a time.
It creates a calmness, a certain patience
and it teaches you to slow down,
be alone with your thoughts
and just let the process unfold.

I was first introduced to creating Zendalas
(a mixture of Zentangle and Mandala art)
from Dion Dior
an incredibly talented artist
who I took a workshop through with 21 Secrets in 2012.
It was called Wisdom Circles.
She is now offering it as a small eCourse
through her website.

Here is a sampling of some of my work through
her guidance and instruction:

A recent work still in progress

 Watercoloring each section!

 Using a metallic watercolor background
then drawing on top of it

 More watercolors then drawn

Circular watercolor background

The example below is completed
on an official Zendala tile,
it was so much fun to create.
I love trying new techniques with Zentangle drawing.

Mr. Owlie!

There are so many different

interpretations of this art form today

(for that is what truly makes it all so unique).
No Zentangle is exactly alike,
 for each of us have our own handwriting style,
drawing techniques and personality.

Just look at Pinterest and you will see that

Zendalas have become quite popular. 

You can check out my personal board here . . . 
there are so many beautiful examples there.

I have fallen in love with this art form

and I encourage you to give it a try.
I will be teaching a class in this technique
 at my next Artful Spirit Workshop
in July!

I look forward to sitting with my pens,

watercolors and blank paper.
I find myself making time for this each day.

Time passes so quickly when I am sitting still

creating my zendalas.

It is a relatively inexpensive art form,

a set of watercolors, some good Micron Pens,

pencils, a compass and ruler,

 good paper, and your intuition . . .  that's it!

It is portable too!

I always carry a little Zendala kit with me,
for I never know when an opportunity to draw
will pop up for me!

I wish you peace, well being and lots of creativity!

May Zentangle find it's way onto your

Art wanna do list!!!

Donna Lee