Tag Archives: Zentangle

One More Go Around the Sun…

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One More Go Around the Sun…

Thank you to 7 Forests 5 River Studio for offering this free tutorial you see on the left of this post.

We’re now in 2021, and again, I am behind. You know what they say…if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. So, we’re in a new year and I am finally set up on Zoom and can begin sharing Zentangle again. A lot has happened since my last post in June. I actually ended up selling my house in Wichita and relocated to sunny St. Petersburg in Florida. I have family here (in fact we are all in the same neighborhood so it’s really fun, we can walk to each others’ homes. I have acclimated quickly, but it’s probably because it’s really nice during this time of year. It’s been pretty much 60s and 70s as far as temperature goes, and the bug season is light at the moment. Once it goes above 75 degrees though, I’ll probably hibernate for three-quarters of the year!! I really don’t like the hot weather or the humidity, but the draw of family close by trumps my disagreement of the weather.

Once I sold my home, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was very lucky. It was caught very early (I get my mammograms every year) and so I scheduled the surgery and radiation before I left Wichita. Thank goodness for good friends. I was able to spend time with one of favorite friends and she took good care of me for a couple of months until I was given the go ahead to travel to Florida. Never take for granted your health or your friendships. If there’s someone you haven’t connected with lately, call them, text them, write them a letter or video with them. Especially these days our connections are so important!!

So that brings you up to date on where I am as far as locale. As you know, I’ve wanted to offer classes via Zoom but was probably the laziest person on the planet once Covid hit, tending to binge watch TV and hanging by myself instead of taking the necessary steps to learn the new technology. An interesting concept: I am normally a very social, gregarious person, but I found just doing nothing changed my perspective. Although the move did prove to be time consuming and frustrating at times, I realized that I was in a very fortunate state of body and mind. I had retired, I had no real responsibility as my children are grown and have lives of their own in another state, I have no grandchildren. It has been almost like a sabbatical for me, except, again, I was very lazy! But I will not beat myself over the head for that…apparently for me, I needed to be lazy for a while. But now rest is done.

So onwards and upwards as my new life begins here. I did my first Zoom teaching with my family acting as guinea pigs for me! I had my four cousins and their children and grandchildren meet up with me and we did a beginner class. We had great fun, I received wonderful feedback and I feel fairly comfortable with the technology. At the moment I am using my iPad for projection and that will work until I decide if I need better equipment or not. I have taken a number of classes just for myself, to help me get back in the swing of things and it has appeased my soul. So, having been rejuvenated, I’m ready to share once again. I’ll be posting on my Facebook and group page, along with my Instagram account, and on my personal Facebook page. If you want to be on my email list for updates, contact me at emeraldcitytangles@yahoo.com or PM me your email address.

Happy Tangling from the Sunny Shores of Florida! 😉

I’m Still Alive

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I find it hard to believe that I haven’t said anything here for about four years. A lot has happened over those four years. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Went back to work full time, so by the time I got home in the evening, I was too tired to do anything else!

Worked for three years and then my mom fell ill. I went on Family Leave to care for her and lost her in October of 2018. That’s when I decided to actually “retire” from the work force.

In January of 2019, I decided to re-boot my other business, so that took my time away from my artwork.

Which brings us to 2020… Yowzers!! What a year!! I put my house up for sale at the beginning of March. Within two weeks’ time, we were going under with COVID and I took it off the market. Not having family here (except for my stepdad), I really had no responsibilities except to make sure he and I remained safe. I did A LOT of binge watching, sitting around, thinking I “should” do something but not really finding the push or drive to do it. So here we are in July now. I’ve taken a few art classes for myself to help me “Prime the Pump”. I’ve learned how to use Zoom and want to start sharing Zentangle classes online.

I put up a new Group on Facebook, so please join it: https://www.facebook.com/groups/591816075072680/

Keep an eye open — I’m working through a program to learn about doing Facebook ads in order to market my classes. I’ll be doing a couple of freebies to get up and running, and I’m sure you’ll want to take advantage of that!

Keep me in your thoughts… Happy Tangling! Bon 😉

ZENTANGLE EXHIBIT

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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

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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 🙂

 

 

 

ZenXpressions Art Show = Success

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I think I’ve finally recouperated from the “ZenXpressions: A Showcase of Zentangle Inspired Art”! Whew!!  What a crazy time we had.  Over 40 pieces were on display and we had a wonderful showing!

Here are the names of our artist winners: First Place – Brenda Smith (Painted Mandala on Canvas); Second Place – Paulette Mattingly (Zendala); Third Place – Tessa Reed (Panda and Bamboo). Unfortunately (my fault), I wasn’t thinking and didn’t take pictures of all of the pieces.  I’ve made a note for next year’s show to do that!!  In fact, I’m thinking maybe next year a little catalog of the entries might be in order.

The People’s Choice award had over 100+ votes come in and Tessa Reed was the winner!

Two of our artists sold pieces – Congratulations Kae Decker and Diana McCann!  How exciting!!

And we sold enough of the handmade ornaments and bookmarks to be able to donate $100 to AFSP.org (Kansas).  As you will recall, a portion of the entry fees and all proceeds from the ornaments/bookmarks would be donated to a local chapter for suicide prevention, which turned out to be quite fitting as September was designated as Suicide Awareness Month.

A special thank you goes to our Sponsors:  Tessera Fine Art Gallery, The Avon Shop at Rock & 31st, Dopps Chiropractic NE, and Patti Doll-artist; and to our Judge, Ann Hathaway – CZT.

And, I couldn’t have done all of this without my wonderful team of volunteers!!  You are all so very much appreciated!!  Thanks for the good eats!!

Set your calendars for September 2016!  Happy Tangling!  Bonnie 🙂

2015_ZenXpressions#1-3818 2015_ZenXpressions#1-38402015_ZenXpressions#1-3820 2015_ZenXpressions#1-3851 2015_ZenXpressions#1-3862 Tessa Reed - 3rd Place and Peoples Choice Award

 

Whole Lotta Stuff Goin’ On!

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There’s plenty a’happenin’ at Emerald City Tangles these days!  

Senior Expo, Thursday 09/24/15, 9:00 – 3:00 pm, Wichita Art Museum

ZenXpressions: A Showcase of Zentangle Inspired Art, Friday 09/25/15, 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Winter Wonderland Card Making at Botanica, Thursday, 11/05/15, 6:00 – 8:30 pm

Beginner Zentangle Class, Saturday, 11/14/15, 1:00 – 3:00/3:30 pm

That will be it for 2015!  Watch this space for more to come in 2016!

Happy Tangling!  B

 

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 🙂

Infinite Possibilities…VISION QUEST

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Vision Quest

Vision Quest

My coach, Whitney Freya, is always talking about infinite possibilities…”Just like the blank canvas, infinite possibilities exist in the art that is your life,”  and “Life is the canvas of your soul”.  That is so, so true.  I had NO IDEA at the beginning of 2015 what an adventure I was in for.  Sometime at the very beginning of the year I posted some art I was working on in a Facebook post and it prompted an old friend to comment, “you need to be a part of our tribe”.  What the heck?  It turns out this friend had taken the Creatively Fit program from Whitney a few years before and was thoroughly enjoying the “infinite possibilities” that had now become a large part of her life. Always being open to new opportunities and because I was beginning to allow my creative juices to once again flow, I asked her to connect me to Whitney so I could learn more.

I knew in my heart that I wanted to create more. My Zentangle training had awakened my Artist Within and now I wanted to continue on that journey. Although I grew up in a family of artists, I never had any formal training, and I always thought that I needed formal training to be called an artist.  One of the first lessons I learned from Whitney was that I was an artist!  My Artist Within wanted to get out and begin participating in the art that was my life!  Because, you see, just as you create art from a blank canvas, you create the life you want on the canvas of your soul.  How exciting is that??  Although I wanted to be creative, I needed guidance. Whitney became that guiding force through her program, now called VISION QUEST.

As I began creating art on a daily basis (even for as little as five minutes), I began to understand that my right brain had been dormant for way too long.  I’m a pretty organized person (if you go into my closet you’ll see that all my shoe boxes are labeled…okay, okay, maybe a touch of OCD – LOL) and I keep track of my life with my calendar and to-do lists.  My left brain was so strong that my right brain was crying, “help me, I’m melting!”  My left brain was the dominant force and my right brain really, really wanted to have a say.  Through the Creatively Fit/Vision Quest experience, my right brain is getting stronger every day, providing me with insight and understanding of the infinite possibilities that can and are occurring in my life these days.  I’m now using art making as an expression of my life!  The connection between personal creativity and personal growth and fulfillment is real and your Artist Within knows it.

YOU have an “Artist Within.” Your Artist Within lives in your right hemisphere and is the part of you that thinks intuitively, fearlessly, and creatively. You might also call your Artist Within your Higher Self, your Soul or Spirit.  It is infinitely creative, infinite in its perspective, and the only part of you that can CREATE miracles, joy, passion, and radical AUTHENTICITY. ART making is SO much more than creating product; it’s about creating a life that is ART!

So, would you like to ignite your passion, experience more ah-ha’s, enjoy more excitement and feel less stressed?  Join me on the VISION QUEST journey this September (open the EVENTS tab).  If you are anything like me, you’ve spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on books, online courses and other “stuff” that is probably STILL sitting on your bookshelf and in your computer! The Vision Quest experience will provide you with accountability and you will never be the same!  I will accompany you on that journey every step of the way! Commit to four months – change WILL happen.  Your Artist Within WILL be unleashed!

Here is a quote from another fellow Rainbow Warrior Vision Quester.  Her words echo exactly what I feel…

“Before the Creatively Fit Program I felt very stuck, and while I intellectually took responsibility for my life, I had repressed my soul’s callings and labeled them as ‘impractical’…In spite of having many ‘successes’ and blessings, life felt very ‘heavy’ and ‘quietly desperate’ (Thoreau)….Immersing myself in Creating & the Creatively Fit program has brought such New Life and has helped me to see possibilities. While I’m very much still on this Journey, I more fully ‘own’ truly being the Artist of My Life. I’m more accepting of letting things flow vs. needing to have detailed plans. I’m becoming more brave in putting my art ‘out there’ and am filled with new energy & excitement. This program has truly changed my life and has greatly supported me in excavating my true self.”

YOU can become part of this “tribe” THIS SEPTEMBER 2015!

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. Your Creatively Fit Coach [ME :)] is here to hold you accountable, tailor the experience to your needs and love you through the process.

It starts SEPTEMBER 11, 2016, and ends JANUARY 11, 2016!  Here’s where you’ll find all the information — Open the EVENTS tab once you arrive at the site.  We are combining personal creativity, art making, spirituality, self-awareness and personal transformation in a whole new way. Not just for a weekend, or an evening. It won’t be experienced on an isolated page somewhere in cyber space. It will be personal, interactive, communal and expansive. Big change requires time and integration, guidance and inspiration, support and contrast, creativity and courage.

Four months from now, you won’t remember what it was like to NOT be surrounded by your own original art, your talismans and messages from your Soul.

You WILL remember your purpose, your passion, your own special “secret sauce” that is what you, and only you, can bring to the world. You WILL remember that, in fact, you are the sole CREATOR of your experience and you WILL remember how to take back that power.

Watch out world. Here YOU come!

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!

 

Viva Art & Life

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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 😉