Tag Archives: workshops

Jan12

Scissor Cutting – Scherenschnitte

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Just a quick note to let you know that a guest instructor will be sharing at Emerald City Tangles Studio this month for the next 10 WEEKS!!

Wilfried Fathi, a local artist with a master of fine arts from Wichita State University, is willing to share his knowledge of paper cutting with a small group of us (Scherenschnitte – it means scissor cuts in German).  Many of you may never have heard of the word before but you certainly know what it is once you see it. Remember the snowflakes you used to cut out as a child?  That’s a simplified version of it.  The art of paper cutting is centuries old, and can be found in most cultures and countries around the world.

We can only accommodate six students for this program so it will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Once the class fills, a wait list will be started.  

This class will be held for 10 weeks on Friday mornings from 10 am – noon, beginning January 29, 2016 through April 1, 2016.  

A supply list will be forwarded one week prior to the start of the program.

For additional information and registration, follow this link

 

Here’s are a couple of pieces from my favorite artists 🙂  If you’d like a copy of the newsletter that features more work from these artists and others, just shoot me an email with “Newsletter” in the subject line and I’ll get it out to you.

Maude White - Paper Cutting - Bike

Maude White, Buffalo, NY

Angie Pickman - Birds on a Wire

Angie Pickman, Lawrence, KS

Jan6

2016 – A Year of Change

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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…

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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

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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!

 

May26

Viva Art & Vino

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A NEW ADVENTURE!

Kudos to Kadinsky

Kudos to Kandinsky

Come join me as we debut a paint and sip class, VIVA ART & VINO, on June 18, 2015!

Well, not just any paint and sip class. There are a couple of things that makes this different than most of the paint and sip classes in the area.  First of all, I’ve been studying under Whitney Freya of Creatively Fit (I’ll soon be able to say CCFC after my name – Certified Creatively Fit Coach), an AMAZING WOMAN to say the least, one who has helped me access my infinite possibilities…

And, secondly, most paint and sip classes are easy and fun (and we certainly want them to be THAT…after all, it’s all about the Socialization, Fun, and Relaxation for a few hours, plus the Wine helps, too!)…BUT, what if you want MORE???

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

We live in such a harried, stressful world nowadays.  Things to do, people to see, places to go…rush, rush, rush.  Everyone clamoring for our time and energy!  The tech world has provided us with so many ways of communication — phones, tablets, computers, watches — that we sometimes don’t even look up to see into the eyes of the person we’re sitting with!!

The eyes are the window to the soul (paraphrasing Shakespeare).

What are their eyes telling you?  Are they happy, sad, lonely?  What do people see when they look into YOUR eyes?

“The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while the art tells you to take your time.  Always listen to the ART (heART)” – Junot Diaz (again, I changed it slightly by using the word heART).

Have you been craving something MORE in your life but don’t know where to start?

Start with the paint and sip classes at VIVA ART & VINO.  Feel the fun of creativity, sense the serenity or sensationalism that comes from creating art, realize the reaction to creating something that isn’t right or wrong.  If you enjoy all that and you want to delve deeper into what ART can offer you, then move into the VIVA ART & LIFE series (link coming soon). This is where you’ll find your Artist Within, where your untapped potential has been sitting and waiting, where your dreams and hopes have been left dormant and are screaming to get out!

Oh, I can hear the excuses now!!

  • “I don’t have time”
  • “I can’t really draw/paint/whatever”
  • “I can’t afford hundreds of dollars to learn all that”

The excuses will always come, trust me.  But, I can show you in one clarity session that you have time; I can show you in one or two lessons that you CAN be an artist (maybe not one who sells their artwork and makes millions of dollars, but you ARE the artist [of your life] nonetheless); and I can show you how to bring out your Artist Within to resurrect your dreams and hopes without spending a fortune.  

You get to decide if and how deep you want to go.  It’s all up to you as to which way your journey’s path will wind. Need someone to walk with you for a while?  Let me know.  We can walk for an hour, a day, a weekend, a week, or a month.  VIVA ART & LIFE – Live It!

With Affection and Gratitude – Bonnie

Apr21

New Classes for May 2015

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New Zentangle classes scheduled for May!

May 9, 2015 – Beyond the Basics: String Theory & Embellishments

May 9, 2015 – Shades of Gray

May 9, 2015 – Double-Header (includes both of the above classes)

May 14, 2015 – Black & White Zendala Gift Box

Zendala Box

Zendala Box

Mar2

Could it be? Yes it could! Something’s comin’, Somethin’ good! – Part 2

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Did I ever tell you how I got involved with Zentangle?  I have always been involved in the craft world – sewing, crocheting, dabbling in watercolor and painting, cake decorating, calligraphy, jewelry making, taking workshops here and there of crafts that were of interest to me.  I came from a family of artists (dad is a comic book artist, uncle was an illustrator)  and although I tried my hand at watercolor and painting, I always felt like I was never much of a “real” artist.  I made the joke that my family had the fine art gene and I got the arts and crafts gene.  I really wanted something that I could call my own and feel like I was good at.

Enter the world of Zentangle.  I was on the internet one day and I honestly don’t even remember where I saw it, but suddenly there was this black and white abstract drawing that caught my eye.  I followed the links and finally ended up at the Zentangle.com site.  I got so excited!  They actually had a kit I could buy!  So I did…I bought it and started creating some Zentangle pieces.

I really enjoyed the process.  It was fun, it was easy, I didn’t have to buy a lot of supplies, I could take it with me pretty much anywhere because it was small and portable.  I had found my niche.

Then I saw in the local newspaper that a gallery downtown was going to have an exhibit, and that I could participate!  The exhibit was called “Crazy 8’s” and was to be held at Gallery XII on Douglas in downtown Wichita, KS (a picture of that first piece is shown below).   I was SO excited!!  I decided what I was going to make for that show, completed it, framed it and took it down to the gallery.  I invited friends and family to visit with me on the evening of the program (it was on a Final Friday) and people actually showed up!  What a great feeling that was, and it propelled me to the next step.  I talked to the gallery owners adjoining Gallery XII and they seemed impressed with what I had done.  So I consigned a few pieces to them and lo, and behold, I sold some!!  And, boy, did that make me feel good!!

Because I knew Zentangle was a fun and easy art form, it was not hard for me to make the decision that I wanted to share it with other people.  Since the founders of Zentangle, Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, hold a certification program for those who want to share the Zentangle art method with others, I made my way to the East Coast to participate in that certification process.  It was there that I really came to understand the value of Zentangle in people’s lives.  Not only was it a fun and easy process, but there was a whole other realm to it.  It increased my focus, created a different mood and state of mind in me, provided  me with artistic satisfaction (Yay!  I really AM an artist!), and increased my overall sense of well being.  It was uplifting!!  Something I knew so many of us need in our everyday, hectic lives.  If it could do all this for me, I knew it would be beneficial to anyone I was able to share it with.  I became so much more grateful for having found it and for the privilege of being able to be certified to share it.  You can learn more about the Zentangle method here and here.

BUT WHY AM I TELLING YOU ALL THIS??

Because in the next couple of days you’ll see a post that will tell you about an upcoming Zentangle show where YOU can exhibit YOUR work!!  I can’t tell you how excited I am to be on this journey with you, knowing that many of you have allowed me to share the Zentangle art method with you.  What a joy it has been to me to see you “take off” with your Zentangle projects!  How it has provided me with such pride when I see your work at one of our “Tangle and Talk” gatherings, or in a store or art/craft show somewhere in town, or on Facebook when you share.  I feel like I have brought “Tanglers” into the world –kind of like giving birth!  And now, on the next portion of this journey, I will be honored to have a way for you to share your love, nay, addiction, to Zentangle with the people of Wichita!

So STAY TUNED…notice will go out in the next few days giving you the WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW!!

Happy Tangling!  Bon 🙂

My first Zentangle for the Crazy 8's Show - Notice the string is in the shape of the number "8"

My first Zentangle for the Crazy 8’s Show – Notice the string is in the shape of the number “8”

Aug9

Cool Idea and Upcoming Newton Workshops

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I came across a really neat video on my Facebook page with instructions on making a flower card, and wanted to share it with you if you haven’t already seen it.  This would make a really neat card for someone (think: Birthday, Hello Friend, Get Well, Mother’s Day, etc.), especially if you tangle the flowers.  Unfortunately, I can’t seem to embed the link, so if you want to see how it’s done, go to my Facebook Fan page,  EmeraldCityTangles, and check it out.  While you’re there, if you’d “Like” my page I’d be most appreciative.  Feel free to share with others you know who may be interested in this type of fun idea.

I’ll also be offering two workshops at the Carriage Factory Gallery in Newton, Kansas.  I’ll be there on Saturday, September 13, 2014.  Two workshops will be available; Introduction to the Art of Zentangle (beginner), and Tangle Print Impressions, where you’ll learn to make a relief print.  Come join us if you have never had a beginner workshop, or come see the new workshop I’ve put together.  We’ll have lots of fun tangling and learning together!

HAPPY TANGLING!!  Bonnie 🙂

 

 

 

Jun30

New Pictures

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Here are a few new pictures from some of my recent workshops.  The flowers are from a former student, Stuart, who attended one of our Tangle-and-Talk sessions.  These are from his garden.  Very beautiful and could be drawn and tangled as a ZIA piece.

Hope everyone is having a “Tangling” summer!  B.

May8

Tangle Print Impressions

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I have a new workshop scheduled, entitled “Tangle Print Impressions”.  This is where you’ll learn to carve and print a tangle relief print to create an original work of art.  You can utilize this process for creating cards, stationery, journal papers, wrapping paper, fabric prints and more.  Shown below are some pictures. From three black & white ones are Bunzo, Hollibaugh, and Keeko.  You can see that the Christmas card is two different prints (one black, one green).  I used the tangle “Hollibaugh” and then tangled within the Christmas balls hanging from it.

Tangle Print Impressions

Tangle Print Impressions

Here’s the link if you are interested in reading more and/or registering…

Tangle Print Impressions

Yellow Zen Christmas Card

Yellow Zen Christmas Card

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve also been meaning to share some information one of my tanglers shared with me recently regarding white pens.  I know some of you may not have worked with white pens on the black tiles, but they make for interesting pieces.  I’ve also seen somewhere in the Facebook posts comments about white pens, so you might want to try a search there if you have questions (as well as using Google).  I just thought Stuart’s thoughts might be helpful, plus if any of you have additional thoughts to share, please feel free to comment.

Stuart writes: “I have been searching for a white pen, basically since I took your class last winter. I just can’t seem to find anything that works for me. I have tried a couple of different ball point gel ink pens. They all seem to have the same problem, the ink just seems to pour out of them. It is real hard to control the flow and impossible to get a fine line. I’d all but given up on ever being able to do fine detail work in white. Then I happened to try a dip pen and a bottle of white ink. Walla! I think I am on to something. First I tried a Speedball B6. Still too wide but at least the ink doesn’t pour off it. Then I tried a Crow Quill and I think I finally found what I am looking for. A nice crisp fine line. I definitely need to practice with it but I am liking what I am seeing so far. It is a hassle to have to clean it CONSTANTLY to make it work right. And there is the possibility of spilling an ink well all over. But it is better than the alternative. I really wish someone made a nib style pen in white. I can’t understand why none of the pen manufacturers do.”

Happy Tangling!  B.

White on Black

White on Black