Weekly Challenge #97: String Theory v. XX -"No Strings Attached"

Thanks Laura for another fun challenge.

Heart Strings

The challenge is to do something without using strings.  Right up my alley as more often than not, I don't.  I like the freedom of doing whatever I think of without being confined to working with a string, but most of all I love the element of surprise.  There are times when I wished I hadn't used a particular pattern or I didn't follow the instructions properly and the tangle turned out different to how it was meant, but somehow or other it all comes together :)

So, it got me thinking.... or maybe it didn't as the first thing that came to mind was some text.... not really a Zentangle thing to do (but I usually go with the first thing I think of and take it from there).  Little thoughts come to my mind - I say to myself, no, that won't work, how silly! and then I think, so what if it's not perfect - it is what it is and, once I commit, then that's it.  I just go with the flow.   A lot of you would have seen some of my works - I post them all! The reason is, whatever I have submitted is just another unconscious work - I don't sit there and analyse my work but I do wonder - what was this all about? lol 

I love it as they are all part of the experience.

Occasionally, I just use dots on the page and go for it.  Other times I start from the middle, or the side - I do turn my work around, seeing it from a different angle and many times the end result is upside down to how I started.

The most intriguing thing for me is my Zentangle 'life' is opposite of my real self.  Outside of tangling I am a thinker, an analyser, a procrastinator, always being very careful and deliberate with my words - yet when I tangle I don't do any of that except for example when I'm making a card for someone I think of what I'm going to do before I start.  There you have it, a little bit about me :)

So, for this week's Diva Challenge, I thought I would take you on a stage tour of my Zentangle Inspired Art - I called it 'Heart Strings'

Are you ready?  here goes......... enjoy the ride! :))

Stage 1:

Please excuse my grammar....  it says 'I often don't use  strings - in saying that - this is a string :)

Stage 2:

I used the tangle 'Retro' by Belatrix29/Elena Hadzijaneva, above the text and then I drew a grid for the 'Rose' pattern by Sandy Bartholemew.  At this stage my thought was, I've really made it difficult for myself now! lol ... but... I go on.....

Stage 3:

Added some curves to the outside of Rose. and then some straight lines with tiny hearts on the ends.  Yoi, yoi, yoi!  it's not going to be a flowy ZIA!  :)

Stage 4:

Some 'Zen Buds' by Danni O'Brien (I love doing these!) and a few lines across the way. 

Stage 5:

I have to keep it simple now, otherwise I would lose the effect - I added 'Tipple' - one of my all time faves!

Close up 1:

Stage 6:

Time for some colour - I used Prismacolour Premier pencils.  Almost finished now :)

If I haven't lost you by now - I thank you :)

More Close ups:

 

And finally, here is my finished ZIA

 

I hope you enjoyed the ride :)

 

Thank you for taking time to read this very long blog.

 

Wishing you all a lovely week - SMILES :)