A Zentangle Story

Zentangle … do you think you can?

Zentangle© was created / discovered by two wonderful souls by the names of Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts of Massachusetts, USA.  They have developed it so others can teach and spread the idea further afield.   Zentangle is a very simple concept of deliberately drawing in a repetitive manner, creating patterns.  It is while creating these patterns that the mind is allowed to rest much like as you do when meditating.  The benefits of Zentangle are reported to be wide ranging in respect of physical and mental health.  So pick up a pen today and make a start.

I have always drawn with ink and pencil, abstract meanderings on paper.  Life, however, gets in the way and we drop some things that we enjoy.   However, I was starting to draw again by 2007 and in late 2009 I came across the term Zentangle which led me to the Zentangle web site.  I was enthralled by these creations.  I started to use the Zentangle idea in my quilting and, with the blessing of Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts, I taught what is believed to be the first class in the world that was Zentangle for Quilters in Adelaide, Australia.  Three weeks later, much to my delight I attended a teacher training workshop in the USA in October 2010, gaining my accreditation as a Certified Zentangle Teacher.  I was the first in Tasmania and one of three in Australia who attended this workshop.  It was wonderful.

Since then I have taught numerous classes to non-drawers, drawers and quilters, people from all walks of life.    In 2011 I had the opportunity to make a short DVD on my style of quilting utilising the Zentangle concept of repetition of simple markings.  This was with Australian Quilters Companion magazine and was released in January 2012.   I still have a few copies available for sale in my online shop www.janemonkstudio.com .  

To start Zentangle, you need a piece of paper, a pencil and an ink pen, preferably black ink.  That is it!  Cheap, portable and doable.   Zentangle make a range of products which are good quality and relatively easy to obtain through their website.  I also stock some products, but not all.  

Taking a class from a Certified Zentangle Teacher will allow you to gain a good understanding of the basic premise of what Zentangle is.  You will learn how to draw a string line and how to draw the patterns from basic through to the more challenging patterns.  

I personally have an arsenal of over 60 personal patterns I have developed along with over 100 created by Zentangle.   There are of course, hundreds and hundreds of other patterns and you will more than likely develop some of your own if you pursue this lovely past-time.  

So now it is time for a picture fest of my work, starting with some more basic drawings up to the more complex Zentangle Inspired Fine Art that I so love to do. 

Some of this art is in my own personal journals.  I have three, an A5 sized, A4 sized and a huge A3 sized journal.  The A3 journal has my family names and is a work in progress which I will leave to my son to be passed on in generations I hope.  Each drawing in this particular journal has taken many many hours of drawing time.  Time in the middle of the night when I cannot sleep and moments of time stolen in the day, time I relish and love.

I wish for you all to be able to create something with Zentangle; something you can look at and say, “I did this”; something to be proud of because you can draw.  Something you can show others how to do.

So … photos … enjoy. 

 My Certification

 My A5 sized Journal ... with fabric cover I made.

 Inside my small journal.

 This is from my larger A4 sized Journal.  Simple patterns

 The following are from my extremely large A3 journal.  Each drawing takes hours, some over 100 hours of drawing time.

 This is a Zentangle Inspired Fine Art drawing with my own original concept.

 Again, a large Zentangle Inspired Fine Art drawing of my own design.

 A grouping of my small Zentangle tiles in a frame.  A very stunning look. 

I hope you have all enjoyed this little trip with me and I hope that I will be able to meet some of you as I continue down this road on my journey with Zentangle. 

Cheers for now ... and happy tangling .... Jane x

Angela's Paris Quilt

This beautiful quilt was made by my customer Angela .... she has used Parisian themed fabrics and combined them with some spectacular Batiks ... she wanted to keep the main themed fabrics fairly dominant.   A beautiful quilt.  

I have quilted an all over pattern called Gothic Vine, available from Lorien Quilting


Yes ... I am still taking customer quilting for Edge to Edge (all over pantographs) and some custom work.  Contact me at jane@janemonkstudio.com for further information if you would like to book a quilt in.   

Cheers for now .... Jane xxx

Prints for Sale ... save a starving artist!

 I have just uploaded all of these Prints to my web site for sale www.janemonkstudio.com    or this link directly to PRINTS

All of these prints are high quality reproductions of my original ink and watercolour;  ink and graphite; and pure graphite fine art drawings.

All prints are printed on Artist Quality Archival Acid Free 220gsm paper.   All prints will be posted wrapped in Acid Free tissue paper and enclosed in a sturdy postal tube with sealed ends.   Ready for you to have mounted and framed.

All prices for each print includes postage and packaging.  If you require multiples contact me at jane@janemonkstudio.com  and we can work it out for you.

    It would be lovely if you could support me and my art by purchasing a print ... starving artist and all that, besides I need to sell art to buy supplies to make more art :)

Cheers for now ... Jane xx

Give Away ... CLOSED

Thank you everyone for playing .... With over 2000 views of this post and only 22 comments ... some double ups ... I have decided to close the giveaway tonight.   Okay ... I decided to have two giveaways ... one for the FB page comments and one for the Blog comments. I have done it the old fashioned way ... printed out all names and asked my son to pull the names out of a bowl ....

sooooooo......

the winners are ......

with no favoritism,

all above board,

no correspondence entered into,

results are final :)

wait for it ....

Jo Newsham and Sharon Payne

Congratulations ladies ... .send me a pm with your snail mail address and I will get them out in the post to you :)

Thanks for playing everyone.

Jane xx 


I have noticed that there has been nearly 301,000 visits to this blog ... it is time for a giveaway to thank everyone for their visits, liking my page and comments.

This is a print of an original Zentangle Inspired Fine Art piece I did in 2011.  It is one of my favourite pieces.   This piece is A3 sized which is about 11 x 17 inches for those of you using imperial measurements.

You will need to leave me a comment with your FB page or Blog Page telling me that you have shared this giveaway with your friends on your page. 
  

Cheers for now ... Jane ... xxx

Inspirational Stitching - and Maelo the Elf

 It is done ... I have done a very basic stitch on these and love the feel of the cloth once it is stitched.  I also love how the edges of the linen has curled up, I could add multiple squares of linen and it would curl up to look like a flower ... something to try next week I think :)

So this piece will become a cushion cover and I will make another to match.   I have really enjoyed the rhythmic motion of hand stitching and the feel of natural fibres in my hands.   

I also spent the weekend doing some more drawing in my A4 sized Moleskein journal.  These are the times when I come up with ideas for different things I want to try.   I have been mulling over how to finish off my large OOAK doll and his clothing.   I think I will be hand stitching motifs into the felted vest which I made from washed raw wool ..so is a beautiful natural colour.  Hmmm, I can imagine all the lovely hand stitched patterns I can put into this. 

Here he is  "Maelo" the elf.   He is also waiting for his hair to be plaited, amongst other parts of his attire that need finishing.  He is gorgeous though and stands at around 4 and a 1/2 feet tall.

The days are not long enough :)

I am in heaven!

I am just the most luckiest girl :).  I ordered this book a little while ago and it has just arrived on my doorstep today ... It is everything I hoped it would be and more ...  The Devine art embroidery of Jan Messent, just gorgeous!

I can see a pattern happening here ... Those embroidery threads I have been collecting for years are starting to get used more and more ... I am hoping to create some fabric and paper stitched journals, combining multiple techniques that I have learned or taught myself ...  Including hand cut stamps, hand made beads and cords as well as repurposed items in my stash.  The joy of it all .... Do you create with what you have at hand?