Art and Soul 2013

I found out about Art and Soul over a year ago.  I went with some friends to their vendor night and really wasn't that impressed.  I had no idea what the big deal was...until I attended this year.  I went to a site where I do business and they have a craft show alert that tells you all the craft shows and classes in your zip code.  For grins and giggles I keyed in my zip code and Art and Soul popped up.  I went to their site and read about all the classes they were having and decided there was one that I really wanted to take.  I had been doing this craft my whole life as many have.  So I signed up for the class and spent eight hours at a hotel conference room full of kindred spirits; crazed crafters wanting to know more about this new hot phenomenon...Zentangle.

Zentangle has been around for a while.  I have seen it on Pinterest and even created a board for it.  There are some really creative pictures on the board.  So taking the class helped me understand what the fuss was all about.  Many people who use Zentangle are scrapbookers and art journalers.  I am neither.  Well until now...

When I got home from the class, I could hardly wait to get some books and dive more into this following.  So I ordered four books from Amazon written by the woman who taught my class, Suzanne McNeill, CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher).  I looked for books that Suzanne wrote to give me a good start.  I ordered Zentangle Basics, Zentangle 2, Zentangle 3 and 8.  Suzanne has written eight books on Zentangle so far.  She mentioned at the class that 9 and 10 are in progress.  I am hoping I dropped enough hints to hubby about filling in the gaps.  We shall see!

I bought my first art journaling book, pens and watercolor pencils to get myself started.  I have been having such a great time.  It's so relaxing and doesn't have to make sense to anyone but me.  Here are my first efforts.

This is my very first Zentangle.  It's rough but it was so much fun.  There have been a ton more since class.  I can't post all of them now, so I will post bit by bit.

While I am not a huge fan of drawing owls, this was our second effort.  I got a bit carried away but I did learn some things.  Just as in cooking, sometimes, less is more.

This  our third project.  We used a punch in the middle of the card.  This is the front of the card.

This is the inside.  The color comes from watercolor pencils that the lady who sat next to me let me use.  She has been doing Zentangle for a while.  She had books that were well worn and she knew what she was doing.

 

So this is the beginning of art journaling that will turn into something else I am sure.  Well it already has but I will save that for another post.  If you are a chronic doodler, give this a try.  All those doodles that you have been doing your whole life, have been given names and put into books.  If you want to see some amazing pictures and you are on Pinterest, key in the word Zentangle and see what pops up.  You can find all kinds of beautiful applications for Zentangle besides on paper.  Just Google it and see what happens. You will be amazed and inspired.