Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas

I would like to thank you all for your support over the past year, both customers and friends alike.   This year has seen some tough times for me but some great times too!

I would like to wish you all a very Merry and Happy Christmas and a very Safe New Year - don't make too many resolutions.   

I will be back sharing my blogging journey with you all again in the New Year.

Hugs
Jane x

An Illuminated Zentangle Letter & Merry Christmas to you all

This is Pamela's "P"

A Zentangle Inspired Illuminated Letter P hand drawn by Jane Monk of Jane Monk Studio....

I hope you like it Pamela.

A big thankyou to everyone who participated in this giveaway .... who knows I may have another one early next year sometime.

I would also like to say thankyou to all the people who visit my blog and leave me lovely comments ... it gives me the warm fuzzies - thankyou.

Also a very happy Christmas to those who celebrate at this time of year, keep safe and I will be back in the New Year to share more of my Zentangle journey with you all.

Hugs Jane xx

The WInner Is....

PAMELA GILFOYLE .... well done Pamela ... you have won the A4 sized Zentangle inspired Illuminated Letter ....   believe it or not you were lucky number 13 drawn from the Random.org number generator after I had listed everyone into an Excel spreadsheet.

Do you want a P or something else?   Send me an email and I will get going on finishing it off for you.

Thank you everyone who participated in this little giveaway of mine ... I hope you continue to come back and check out my blog and frequent my little online shop ...

Happy Christmas Holidays to you all ....  Jane x

100th Follower Winner

Awhile ago I decided to do a surprise gift for the 100th Follower ... nobody knew about it ... until the day they joined up to follow my blog ... I am happy to say that the recipient was most surprised and her name began with the letter A ...

I have finished her gift now ... it is an A5 sized Zentangle Styled Illuminated Letter ... I really really hope she likes it ... I do and it will be sad for it to go to a new home - lol!


Okay ... remember tomorrow is the draw for my big Giveaway ... the A4 sized Zentangle Styled Illuminated Letter ... I only have to draw the letter in ... see my last post.


Hope you are all enjoying your weekend ... Happy tangling ... Jane x

This Could Be Yours

 This is the Illuminated Letter I will be giving away on the 20th December 2010.   I have finished the background borders and now all I will have to do it put in YOUR INITIAL!  Whose will it be ......?

If you want to go in the draw you need to do the following:

1. Become a Follower of this blog.
2. Visit my web site www.janemonkstudio.com and add your email address for my Newsletter updates (these will not be very often ... every month or so)
3. Put a comment on your blog or facebook and leave me a comment here to let me know.

That's it ... pretty easy way to win your own personalised A4 sized Illuminated Zentangle Letter hand drawn by me - Jane Monk.  They look fantastic framed with a matboard around.  I can put any letter you want .. you might want to gift it to someone special ... or keep it for yourself.

And I know this pic is blurry (sorry) but I wanted to show you the drawing board my husband made me ... It is really simple with a very smooth piece of whiteboard, a lip at the bottom and presto a cheap drawing board for under $10...beats paying over $400 for a drafting board (oh I would really like one of those but maybe down the track some more years yet!)

Happy Tangling Everyone .... It's been lovely to hear from you all that have been following this Zentangle journey of mine ... Jane x

Something Special to say thankyou.

Rayene's comment on my last post got me thinking ...  She said the letter R would look better on my illuminated letter.    Now you all know I have just started my own web site where I sell Zentangle products and promote my workshops in both Zentangle, Quilting and other Textile art.    So ... I have decided that I would have a "give away"   ... all you have to do is
1. visit my web site http://janemonkstudio.com ,
2. sign up for my email notices and then (if you already have done this ... move onto step 3.)
3. post on your blog that you have done this. (if you are blogless ... leave me a comment here or put it on your Facebook)
4.  Leave me a comment that you have done this.
5. You will also get an extra chance if you sign up to follow this blog.

What you will have a chance of winning is ... an A4 sized Illuminated letter hand drawn by yours truly ... Any letter you choose ... so you will have to give me time to draw it before posting.  These things can take me anywhere between 6 to 10 hours of drawing time.

Who knows I might even draw two!

Draw will be done on 20th December 2010 - by 10am Tasmanian time  (this is a special date for me because it is when I met my husband - sweet I know!)

Introducing the Letter "J"

The Letter "J" is a very difficult letter to make look nice ... there are so many ways you can draw it but it still seems to be restricted - know what I mean?

Anyway .. this is my letter J, with 44 Zentangle patterns around the outside border.   The inside border is my own pattern/design - not published yet, and of course I have used my Tadpegs pattern inside the J.

The Illuminated letter setting (that is the way the page is set out) is from William Morris Designs.   I like how he made the outside borders different widths ... I will have to check out my Fibonacci numbers to see if this fits within it ... it does look pretty good.

I have shaded only some of the Zentangle patterns ... the difference is quite remarkable I think.

Enjoy!

By the way ... I am posting over at my quilting blog - http://purrfectlyquilted.blogspot.com about the Zentangle for Quilters worskhop at Esmes last weekend - it was a blast.

Jane x

Launching Jane Monk Studio Web Store

 

Welcome to my new online web store  www.janemonkstudio.com

Where you can buy Zentangle®  and other supplies, buy a quilt, book a Workshop, check out the Galleries to see Jane's Tangle patterns, art and quilts.

I have been working on this for quite awhile now and would like to welcome you all to come see my new store, check out my workshops, purchase Zentangle and other goodies.   It is early days yet and there will be more to come. 

I would like to say a very big thank you to Christine from Gecko Gully who has built both of my web sites .... held my hand through all the technical jargon and requirements that, quite honestly, are beyond me most of the time.   

So if you have any feedback, questions or queries feel free to email me ... just go to the contact page for details.   

Hugs and thank you for your support here on my blog as well ... I will still be updating my blogs frequently. 

New Pattern - Kitty

Here is a little pattern for you .... watching my cats has inspired me to make this Zentangle Pattern which I have called "Kitty"

Don't you just love the little ears ... you can put faces in or not ... this pattern makes me smile everytime I look at it.


Enjoy!

Zentangle for Quilters Workshop

If you want to learn how to do this .... I am having a workshop at Esmes on the 4 December (YES that is only one week away)  .... you will need to contact Lillian at Esmes(click on the link to get to her store) to make a booking (and I am not sure how many - if any - spaces are left ... give her a call.

I will also be doing this workshop "Zentangle for Quilters" at Cranberry Crafts in January 2011  and Michelle's Sewing Basket in April 2011.


If you are not a sewer, contact me to make a booking for a straight Zentangle class ... you only need five people and I can come to you in Tasmania.   Remember there are only THREE Certified Zentangle Teachers (CZT's) in the whole of Australia, and I am the only CZT in Tasmania ... book a class today, you won't regret it!

Jet wants to come too, he loves Zentangle ... can you tell?   Now how can I make a kitty Zentangle pattern ... hmmm perhaps the nose

Okay happy Tangling for now ... and have a good weekend....Jane x

New Pattern - Trimonds

Here is a new pattern ... you can see that shading makes all the difference ... you can shade those little segments in any way and you will get a different look - very 3Dimensional. 

I have called this pattern "Trimonds"  because it is diamonds made into triangles.

I hope you all like it.

Happy Tangling for now ... Jane x

Two New Patterns from Jane Monk Studio - TadPegs & Slates

I have drawn up some new patterns.

I saw a photograph of some Japanese Roof Tiles and loved how they nested together.  So I bring you "Slates"

I have been using this little pattern for awhile now ... I really love how it looks.  It reminds me of frogs eggs ... so tadpoles, hence the name "TadPegs"

I hope you enjoy these two patterns ... I couldn't keep them to myself any longer ... too exciting to share things!

Enjoy .... Jane x

New Tangle? Japanese Roof Tile and Header Drawings

 I've been trying to come up with a header for my Zentangle blog etc ... this one is too busy and I wasn't happy with all the components ... still nice, but not quite right!

 Some Zentangles done in my notebook awhile ago

Some more Zentangles ... I love the one on the right ... I call it Japanese roof pattern as I saw a photo of a Japanese roof and it looked sort of like rounded tiles ... don't know if this has been made into a Zentangle pattern yet ... maybe I should "publish" it.

My hand is getting better ... still gets sore when I use it for any amount of time, so lots of contemplation going on - lol!   I have to get back to the quilting machine today.

Happy Zentangling everyone ... Jane x

City Divas

I though you might like to see my drawing "City Divas"  ... can you see which ones are the "Divas"?.   I haven't got to the shading on this one yet. 

I have sprained my wrist and drawing and quilting is slow, actually stopped at the moment until my wrist heals .. hopefully not too long.

Enjoy and keep on Tangling ... Jane x

I have to Explain

I have to "fess up" and explain a little bit about my drawings.   Yes, I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher and yes, I do teach Zentangles in the method taught by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas ... but .... I have always drawn using ink and pencil as my medium.   I have years of experience as a self-taught pencil artist (both colour and graphite).   I did once take a few classes with a wonderful artist called Greg Waddle of Tasmania - Greg said to me that I didn't need his instruction but should continue on doing what I was doing because I had a great style  -  it has taken me years to accept what he said to me all those years ago.

These two drawings that I have shown in the previous posts are my "take" on drawing in my style but using Zentangle inspired patterns.   I would do a portrait in the same technique that I have used here, so while I am using Zentangle inspired patterns, it is my style of drawing.   Although I must also state that Maria's wonderful art has also given me great inspiration to take this further.

Thank you to everyone who left me comments and those who emailed me privately - I am working towards getting enough drawings together so I can have an exhibition next year.   If you have any ideas for exhibition sites I'd love to hear from you.

Cheers
Jane x

Work in Progress

This is my next work in progress ... once I start something I really enjoy doing I find it very hard to put down.  Luckily yesterday was Sunday and I could spend my time drawing. 

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I am.   You can see that it is based on two Zentangle patterns, and while I have changed them a bit ... they are still recognisable.    This one is also A3 size.

Happy Tangling ... Jane x

A3 Zentangle Study

A3sized Tangle Study finished. 

This was great to do ... I needed to immerse myself in my art for awhile.

Now onto the next one!

Also ... make sure you check out my Zentangle class schedule at the top of this blog and if you are interested in a class or group booking - drop me a line. 

Cheers ... Jane

I have finished the Big Tangle

It is finished ... and I worked out how to use my scanner ... but now the resolution is too high and won't upload - oh bother ... back to the old drawing board with taking pics

Not Mowing the Lawn

 Today I went for a ride and I thought I would share a picture of my ride with you all ... I haven't been on my motorbike since March this year.  It really made me realise how much I love riding my motorbike.  The funny thing is that I was thinking how I could tangle it ... oh my ... that would get me in trouble - lol!

You can see how long our lawn is getting and we should have been out mowing the lawn ... but it will wait another day, right?

 I wore my official Zentangle T-shirt ... thought about putting a stick on tattoo on (we were going on the Motorcycle Riders Association Awareness Ride today - a turn out of about 400 riders)

And last night I did a little bit more of my drawing ... had my mother and brother over for dinner (yummy Moroccan Lemon Chicken in the tagine - I could eat this all the time - it was nicer last night - I think the lemons were more lemony - does that make sense)

Have a great tangling weekend everyone ... Jane x

Shading the Big Tangle 2

I have done a fair bit of the shading ... a heap more to go yet to have it to where I am happy with the finished drawing.

Click on the picture to see the enlarged view.

I am itching to get back to this as I haven't touched it for nearly two days now .... I need to slow time down but tonight is Friday night and I can sit and draw for the whole evening - now that is bliss.

Happy Tangling ... Jane x

Shading the Big Tangle

 This has been a whole lot of fun ... now I am up to the Shading and tweaking part of the drawing.

To my eye it looks balanced and pleasing (remember everyone has different ideas about what looks good - so what I like may not be what you like)

I am not technical with the shading ... I just do what I think looks good.  I know there are rules and all, but I will not be following any text book shading rules here ... just what I like!

I have started a little and will post another picture when I am partially complete.

Here is a picture before I finished all the inking.

Enjoy ... Jane x

Progression of the Big Tangle

 And  a little bit more .... why do I wake up in the middle of the night and feel compelled to draw?

So ... here I have drawn a few more of my solid lines.

 Marked in some ideas in pencil for fillers

some of those pencil filler ideas have been erased (sorry Rick and Maria - using an eraser in this one!)  Note: you don't need an eraser to draw Zentangle inspired drawings - there is no eraser in life!

Okay ... you can see how I am trying to get the spherical shapes in the background without them being "drawn" in ... I am using light and dark patterns to give an effect ... also to bring those sweeping lines in - like an illusion.   That's the idea anyway ... hope it is working.

You can see how I have used Rick's Paradox tangle in the spiderweb down in the left hand corner - I really like that!

So ... tell me what you think .. I'd love to know!

Cheers for now ... Jane x

Sharing the Development and Progression of an Idea

 I had an idea ... I wanted to draw a large tangle ... something I could frame.   I was inspired by Maria Thomas' beautiful original works of art, so thought I would make my own.  

This piece is about 11.5 x 17 inches - Movlin A Paper d'Arches 300gsm Smooth 100% cotton - beautiful paper that I love to work on.

This is the start of my idea ... roughly sketched out and starting to ink.

 I was inspired by the Master Class held by Maria and Rick and the use of colour ... I have used Brown Pigma Pen (can't give you the number as it has rubbed off the shaft of the pen. )

So here is some more inking ... with black and brown

working backwards, as what you want in the foreground has to be drawn first

 A close up of the bottom right hand corner ... I am really loving doing this .

 The top right hand corner ... I love those seashell inspired tangles ... and I couldn't go past the Knightsbridge pattern with an adapted black alternate squares,  and Printemps ... they remind me of the little shells you get on our beaches here ... the snails door stops!

 More work done in this area

And where I am up to now .. you can see I have changed some of my design with the pencil ... trying to get those smooth curvy lines ... I expect this drawing will take me about 40 to 50 hours based on what I have already spent on it ... then there is the shading ... I can't wait until I get to the shading.

Now for the next few days I won't be attending my blog ... I have a customer quilt on my quilting machine and it is a custom job that I have to finish in the next few days ... so I am going to be busy with that ... I will be drawing at night though and will show you the next steps in a few days time.    Happy Tangling for now ....Jane x

The Owl & The Pussycat

 How could I resist such a beautiful little owl ... I just had to put Zentangle patterns on it ... very cute indeed!

 Side view ... still working on the back!

 And Jet the pussycat ... keeping a very very close eye on that owl lest it start flying!

Another little Zentangle drawing ... the rope pattern was designed by one of the 'CZT's in our class with Rick and Maria of Zentangle - now I didn't write her name down ... but it is a great pattern - tell me if it was you!

Happy Tangling....Jane x

Class List and Tangly Tangles

 This is my class listing ... I must learn how to use my scanner - taking photos and uploading them is so much easier though!  I might work on working out the scanner this weekend.

These are some tangly tangles - just playing with borders and stuff.  None of these are shaded yet but I am pretty happy with them nevertheless.

Happy Tangling for now ... Jane x

Something A Little Different

 I have been playing with Zentangle pattern borders ... I could make them exact or have the lovely freedom of the "organic" look - I like both precision and freeflowing ... this one is the freeflowing type!

 Trying a few twists to patterns ... I love the big black bubbles - they remind me of tadpole eggs.

A darker border ...


I have been informed by my "Quality Control" person (ie - Dear Husband) that I should be quilting because that is what I had planned on doing today ... so I guess I am off to do that now instead of playing on the computer.

Believe Me When I Say ...

You CAN draw and create Zentangles.  Anyone who can hold a pen can draw - it might be a wonky line, but they can draw!  I have had a lot of people say they could never do what I do with Zentangle - of course you can't do what I do - but you can do what you do!   Everyone has a different interpretation because they are looking at it (and life) from their own unique perspective.

When asked how long Maria Thomas' beautiful calligraphy and Zentangles take her to do, Rick Roberts responds 40 minutes plus 40 years.   40+ years is how long she has been drawing her exquisite pieces, although I'm sure some of them take more than 40 minutes - lol!

So you see ... it does take practice to obtain proficiency ... but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the process and even the first piece you create in a class with a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT), will be absolutely beautiful.  Please do not belittle yourself or your ability to create.  I believe creativity is inherent in us all ... we just have to let it out a little at a time.

Hugs .... Jane x

My Journey In Zentangles

 This was done prior to leaving Australia ... it is nice where a Tangled String can take you - this lovely lady turned up without any provication and I think represents my travels well.

 I arrived in Whitinsville earlier than anyone else did - so had a day to settle down and do some tangling.

 I had fun ... as you can see

 The next evening and days were busy doing CZT class with everyone.

 Leaving on the 16th and waiting at Boston's Logan airport for quite a few hours.  President Obama flew into Boston while I was there - didn't get to see him though!

 The next few are while on the 6 hour flight from Boston to SanFrancisco ... I think I converted the fellow sitting next to me ... he was going to go home and Google "Zentangle".   Interesting fellow who visited Australia a lot to go scuberdiving on the Barrier Reef.

 On the long haul from San Francisco to Sydney

Crossing the International Date Line
and the second perhaps I was inspired by flying for so long over the ocean - it does have a marine flavour to it don't you think.

 We went through a few bits of turbulance ... really freaks some people out - me included at times when it got a bit rough.

 International travel in economy is like being a sardine in the slipstream ... you think you can tell this by my
Tangle?

And then landing in Sydney ... it was beautiful to come around over Western Sydney and see the Blue Mountains,then over Paramatta into the city and see the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House - certainly made me feel like I was home (I used to live in Sydney for awhile with my husband and my son was born there too)

 I love this Tangle ... Making Connections - the three flights I took to get home to Launceston .. I might work on this one to make a bigger fine art picture.

And the second one here is home after a lovely long sleep.

 A closer look at connections - yes I really do like this one.

 This is a Zentangle inspired drawing of the Sydney Opera House - can you tell - lol!

As I was flying over it I noticed the shadow of pattern tiles on the building and came home to see if I could find a closer picture of it ... the tiles have a real pattern to them - this is a rough interpretation of my new Zentangle pattern .. I will post it with steps at a later date.   It was quite easy to deconstruct the pattern and modify it as a tangle.

Maria Thomas wrote on my mini kit box ... isn't it cute!

I really hope you have enjoyed looking at this very long long picture heavy post and my Journey in Zentangles.

Happy Tangling ... Jane x