Tag Archives: painting

Apr4

ZENTANGLE EXHIBIT

Posted on by
Standard
Bonnie Henna Drum Painting

Bonnie Henna Drum Painting

I hope you will join myself (Emerald City Tangles) and my dear friend, Diana McCann (The Tangle Goes On) as we share our love of Zentangle with the City of Wichita on Final Friday, April 29, 2016.  We will be exhibiting our Zentangle art work at Visit Wichita, 515 S. Main St., Suite 115, Wichita, KS, from 6:00 – 9:00 pm, Friday, April 29, 2016.  There will be demonstrations, artwork to admire, artwork for sale, light refreshments, and lots of good times as our friends, family and collectors gather to celebrate with us all that we love about Zentangle!!  Don’t miss it!  One attendee will be the lucky winner of an original Zentangle art piece.  Make sure you when you arrive that you get your ticket for that drawing!

 

Zentangle

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Jan6

2016 – A Year of Change

Posted on by
Standard
2016 freedigitalphotos.net

2016
freedigitalphotos.net

Wow!  The New Year has begun!!  Are you looking forward to becoming more creative this year?  I know I am!  Even the “teacher” needs to be re-juiced and so my plan is to take a couple of courses myself to learn some new things that I can pass along to inspire you this year!  Let’s use the energy that comes our way to fuel our excitement and creative juices!

 

 

 

 

Innovation - freedigitalphotos.net

Innovation – freedigitalphotos.net

A fellow CZT found this cute little test that will help you come up with a word for 2016 if you need a jump start for some inspiration.  Perhaps that word could be used in some way for fanning the creativity you desire for this year. When I took it, the word that popped up was “Innovation“. That’s interesting for me, because I don’t necessarily consider myself to be innovative or introducing something new or different.  It’s been said that there’s nothing new under the sun, but when I scroll through Pinterest or Facebook, or look at the special groups I’m a part of and see the beautiful creations produced by many amazing artists, it sure seems like there’s something new being done all the time!  Wouldn’t it be fun to come up with something innovative??  Something that everyone else just falls in love with and wants to do/copy/share?  I’m going to work and massage that word a bit this year and see what comes of it. Feel free to share with me what word you come up with and what it might mean to you.

Zendala

Zendala

We all need a little renewal to build up our own creativity.  So, because I need to renew myself, I’ve decided not to teach a Beginner Zentangle class each month as I have done in the past.  However…not to be dismayed!  I have contracted with WSU’s community education program to teach a special two-part program – The Joy of Zentangle: Beginner, and Zentangle: Intermediate.  Each part will consist of a two-week session. The Joy of Zentangle: Beginner will include the beginner class, obviously, and then cover strings, embellishments, enhancements and shading. Zentangle: Intermediate will consist of Zendalas and Lettering.  If you have never taken a Beginning Zentangle class, start with that and take both programs.  If you have taken a Beginner Zentangle program from myself or another CZT, you might want to consider just taking the intermediate session.  You’ll need to contact WSU directly, so click here.  These will be held in March 2016.

Flower Power

Flower Power

I’ll also be doing a Painting Made Easy class with WSU.  This is open to anyone 15 years and older.  You’ll learn a little bit about mixing colors and you’ll have a choice of one of three paintings to create.  This two-hour fun paint class will be held in March 2016 and you’ll need to contact WSU directly.

 

 

 

 

Card - Valentine Gatefold

Card – Valentine Gatefold

On the lighter side of things, I’ll be at the Carriage Factory Gallery in Newton, KS, on Saturday, January 16, 2016 from 10 am – noon to share a Zentangle Valentine’s Day Card making workshop.  To add to the fun, if you can stay after the class, I’ll be demonstrating how easy it is to create fun gifts on repurposed ceramics and glassware.  Bring along a plate, mug or wine glass and I’ll let you try out my pens after the demonstration!  You can sign up here or contact the Carriage Factory Gallery directly.

 

 

So, there you have it!  Here’s to a great 2016!!

Happy Tangling, B 🙂

 

 

 

Aug13

Update…

Posted on by
Standard

It’s been almost a month since my last post and, as usual, much has been happening…

I had an opportunity to paint with a student recently that had never painted on canvas before.  Mind you, she is a creative type, but I was just blown away by the piece she completed with my instruction. Here are a couple of pictures…

 

Beginning Zentangle classes are still ongoing.  Here are some pictures of my most recent classes.

 

The next Viva Art & Vino painting class at Three Pea Consignment is scheduled for August 20.  We’ll be painting Whoo Whoo The Owl.  You can register here if you are interested in attending that event. Bring a bottle of wine and bring a friend to share in this special painting time with you!

 

The Annual Chalk Festival was held at the beginning of August and we had great weather and fun!  If you scroll down through the comments in the link, you’ll see that Ralph Joest, Mutual of America, picked up my house chalk painting.  This was my first time participating as an artist.  I’d love to do again next year and have more of you join us.  It’s for a good cause and it’s wonderful to see all the art that is created.  Plus there’s YOB (frozen yogurt) right in the square and makes for a great treat after a long, hot day!

 

The Wichita Tanglers have been very busy working on Christmas ornaments that will be sold at the ZenXpressions Art Show at the end of September.  The money we collect will be given to a local charity.  If you haven’t submitted your application for the show, please get cracking!  It’s less than two months away!  Don’t worry if you don’t know what you will be entering, just complete the application to the best of your ability and get your payment in to hold your spot.  Titles of the pieces can be provided later, and the artwork itself isn’t due until closer to the show.  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call me.  You can download the application instructions here, and the application for entry here.

 

Vision Quest

Vision Quest

 

Those of you who are interested in exploring your creative side on a greater scale might consider participating in Vision Quest.  If you want to create change, to invest in what you know is POSSIBLE for you, and to open up and expand the way you feel about your life, Vision Quest starts September 11.  As your Creatively Fit Coach, I’ll be working right along side of you, to hold you accountable, tailor the experience to your needs and love you through the process.  Everything you need to know can be found here.

 

 

 

 

Botanica has requested that I return again, this time to share creating Zentangle Christmas Cards (a couple of examples are shown).  The event will be held November 5th if you are interested, and is for anyone – beginners and advanced alike (21 years and older, please, as you are able to bring wine with you).  Botanica has not yet posted the link for this workshop…it should appear on their events calendar soon.

 

I think that’s plenty to keep you up-to-date on what’s happening at Emerald City Tangles Studio!

Keep on Tanglin’!!  B 🙂

Jun24

Success with Viva Art & Vino; A Free Workshop for You; and Soapbox

Posted on by
Standard
Viva Art & Vino - June 17, 2015 - Three Pea Consigment

Viva Art & Vino – June 17, 2015 – Three Pea Consigment

I’m so excited to tell you that the first Viva Art & Vino class at Three Pea Consignment was a success!! Seven students were in attendance and we laughed, had fun, drank wine, and painted…with a lot of paint!  At the end of the class we took all the left over paint and put it on a blank canvas that I’ll use in the future for a new painting — so everyone will have a part in that!  Maybe I’ll use it for my “Winged Dog”.  Of course it looks a bit more like a deer than a dog, but that’s okay…it’s just a sketch.

Artwork, Bonnie, Winged Dog

Artwork, Bonnie, Winged Dog

If you are interested in joining us for the next Viva Art & Vino class, just follow the link 🙂

ZIA Flowers

ZIA Flowers

 

 

 

I also wanted to share one of the things I’m working on, a combination of layer painting and Zentangle. Technically it’s considered a “ZIA or Zentangle Inspired Art” piece.  If I get it done before September, I may hang it at the ZenXpressions art show that will be held on Final Friday, September 25, 2015, at the Tessera Fine Art Gallery.  Don’t forget, there are only three months to go for you to complete your projects for that show…so get tangling!!

 

 

 

 

I’m also offering a FREE workshop to kick off the Viva Art & Life series.  In it you’ll learn to create your own Dream/Vision Board. YOU MUST REGISTER to attend this workshop as there is a class limit of 25 for it.

Torn Face Collage

Torn Face Collage

I’m also working on “Viva Art & Life Soapbox”, a video series that you can get a free subscription to.

It will be a video email that you’ll receive once a week with an artist’s quote for inspiration and a little thought from me.  I’m not exactly sure when that will be ready to go, but I’ll let you know!

 

Jun14

Viva Art & Life

Posted on by
Standard
Flower Power

Flower Power

There has been a lot going on here lately!  This Thursday, the first Viva Art & Vino class kicks off at Three Pea Consignment Shop and we’ve got a nice class roster going. I am looking forward to sharing but must admit I’m a little nervous.  I’ve been teaching Zentangle classes now for three years and feel quite comfortable with that, but this is a new venture for me.  I’ve loved art ever since I was little and now, finally, in my 60’s, I’m DOING IT!  Part of my mission is to share this, so that people don’t have to wait that long to tap into their right brain creativity.  I’m hoping that younger women will take time for themselves, to cultivate their creativity sooner.  Women, especially, are tuned into working, taking care of their families, doing the shopping, laundry, cooking and all that goes along with either having a family or having to provide for themselves that they often don’t take time to nurture the person who they NEED to nuture — themselves.  I know because I was one of them.  I was so busy DOING for everyone else that I completely lost my identity and my creativity.  So, PLEASE, PLEASE, take time to nurture yourself so that you have more to give to those you love.

Okay…off my soapbox 🙂

I wanted to share with you some of the pieces that I’ve been working on recently, I’ve peppered photos throughout this blog entry and they are now in the gallery.  A

Torn Face Collage

Torn Face Collage

So along with the Viva Art & Vino classes, I’m working on what I call Viva Art & Life.  Working with my coach, Whitney Freya, has been such a wonderful experience.  Before I started with her I was what I would call stiff and compelled. By that I mean, I was judgmental of myself and the work I was producing.  I felt that to be an artist meant that I had to do perfect work, work that would be able to be sold, because wasn’t that the definition of an artist?  Someone who was professional and could sell their work?  I also was so crazy about making sure everything was clean and neat!  I wasted a lot of paint (and time) because I would constantly be washing my brushes out or throwing things out.  But with Whitney’s guidance through her Creatively Fit Coaching Program, I have thrown abandon to the wind (instead of the paint and canvas)…well, not completely, I still like to be somewhat tidy but nothing like I was, obsessed!  Now I choose to be nonjudgmental, I choose to mix colors on the SAME paintbrush, I choose to paint over something if I don’t like it (rather than toss it)!  My right brain has kicked in and I am learning to accept ME. Such a marvel.  I have learned so much about myself in this process.  Part of my coaching has been to use a journal for my scribble drawings, paper collages, sketches, etc.  These tools have been so useful in my journey.  And…. I now Am an ARTIST! Even if it’s just for me, my eyes alone.  Even if I can’t sell it (LOL – I’ll give it away to my family for Christmas!).  Even if it has to be painted over, because then I’ve learned a valuable lesson.

So, with that said, I’d like to begin sharing some of those tools and concepts with others as well.  I will be sharing about the first Viva Art & Life workshop in the next couple of weeks.  I am finishing up the syllabus for that workshop as I type.  I’ll give you a hint – it will include drawing and painting mandalas.  It will teach you how to mix colors, how to create mandalas, how to tap into your right brain creativity which will, in turn, help you to focus MORE on the things you want in your LIFE.  You can read about MORE in the May 26, 2015, blog post.  Here’s a portion from that blog post…

Stained Glass Window Painting in progress. Notice how I've painted over the Flower Power painting!

Stained Glass Window Painting in progress. Notice how I’ve painted over the Flower Power painting!

If you want MORE, where do you go???

When I say MORE, I’m talking about:

  • MORE MEANING in your life
  • MORE OPPORTUNITY in your life
  • MORE REJUVENATION in your life
  • MORE ENJOYMENT in your life

Won’t you JOIN me in this JOURNEY??  I can’t wait to walk the road with you!

In Gratitude & Appreciation – B 😉

Nov11

Another Whirlwind Week…

Posted on by
Standard

IMG_0909Although I did have a beginner Zentangle workshop this week (again in Andover – see the class mosaic to the left), I deviated just a wee bit.  Twice a month I will be doing a painting class at The Regent with my lovely ladies and I just had to show you what Virginia did.  She is just the neatest lady!  She shared a little of her life with me and I was so fascinated.  She was raised in Kansas on a farm by parents who were both deaf.  When I asked how they had met, she said they met at a school for the deaf in Olathe.  She communicated with them through sign language, and when she was ready for school they sent her to stay with an aunt so she could learn proper English.  She’s in her 90’s, so you know that took place a long, long time ago.  I find people’s stories to be so interesting!IMG_0902

I have a couple of workshops coming up – a Paperweight Workshop this coming Saturday (plus you’ll learn a new tangle that just came out), our monthly Tangle & Talk on November 30, and then in December I’ll be doing a Black & White & Glitter Workshop.  Hope you’ll join us!  Check the “Workshops” tab for more information.

I’ll also be participating in a couple of shows this month, so if you are looking to do some Christmas Shopping or you just like shows, stop by…

Thursday, November 14, 6-9 pm, The TheraPlay Spot, 914 S. Hillside, and Saturday, November 23, 9-4 pm, Calvary Arts & Crafts Mission Market, 2525 N. Rock Road.

Happy Tangling,

Bonnie