Starting Afresh

I last updated this blog over 2 years ago. At that time I was using this blog as a way to engage in the online Zentangle community. These days the online Zentangle community has moved to Facebook and Instagram.

I've decided to start blogging again as a way to share my art - the Zentangle drawings that I do almost daily, and my new art practice of pottery. I've been getting interest from people to purchase my pottery and I thought that this blog would be the place to share and to advertise my clay creations.

I've also recently become a Certified Zentangle Teacher. I'm now Karen Longmuir, CZT #36. The number represents the seminar number. Seminar #36 was held in November 2020 and was the first seminar to be delivered online. There were almost 500 of us from all over the world who became CZTs then. We join over 5,000 CZTs.

Seminar Art

Here are some examples of the work I created during the seminar.

Pottery

These are the first pots that I've sold. The pots were made by pushing clay into a mould. Clays are white, black and a white clay that I tinted myself using a clay stain. Plants are a combination of bought and home-propagated ones. 

Karen

The Diva is back

So excited that Laura is back from her break. I didn't realise how important my weekly date with her was to maintaining my Zentangle practice until the challenges were gone.

Speaking of dates, I am only a couple of weeks away from 2 days drawing with Shelly Beauchamp CZT. This will be my 4th visit with her. Each time I visit we spend time doing the latest Diva challenge. This year, with the Diva on a break, it was looking like that part of our tradition was not going to happen. But no, she is back and I'm happy for her and the Zentangle community she supports.

Challenge 366 - back to basics

There is a Z string in there somewhere.

Half way between challenge 366 and 367

Challenge 367

Have a great week and happy Diva tangling.

Karen

Day at Mogo Zoo

I was lucky enough to have an encounter with the meerkats at Mogo Zoo. Unbelievable experience. Loved it.

Karen

Zentangle

Diva #363 - Laura's Auras

I've been playing around with variations of radial blooms lately, thanks to an Eni Oken video. That theme fitted nicely into this week's Diva challenge. Tangles I used included Fengle, with perfs in the aura, Dewd as a frame and Baton as infill.

Tangle a Day calendar

More radial blooms.

Where the blooms started 

Plus Zen Gems and watercolour pencil backgrounds.

Thanks for dropping by.

Karen

Zentangle

Dropped by the Diva's blog today for the first time in a while. The featured tangle is Somnee which is a tangle I played around with recently in the Tangle a Day calendar.

Here is my Somnee page.

At the time I did this page I was also rediscovering Zen Gems. I've found a different method to create them that is working better for me than my previous method which used a base of grey Copic markers. The link to the method I'm using is on the Zen Gems Facebook Group. Here are some of my Gemy calendar pages.

People who have visited my blog in the past may have noticed that I rarely post these days. I'm still drawing but doing it more for myself than to share online. I'm also drawing less often, mainly doing the Calendar every week or so. 

Anyway, thanks for dropping by.

Karen

Tangle challenges

I have been absent from Diva challenges for a few months, haven't posted on my blog for a few months, and have been doing very little drawing for a few months.

No particular reason for this other than lack of inspiration. I've been drawing pretty consistently for a couple of years. Maybe it's been time for a break? There also hasn't been much going on in my life other than work, so nothing much to blog about either.

Here's my Diva tile. I've kept it simple. The green eye shapes are where my wrinkly knuckles are.

Here's my latest Tangle-a-Day calendar page. I've decided to stay with official Zentangle.com tangles for the time being while I get my groove back. Maybe I'll also stop being overly critical of my work - so many days started but not finished.

Thanks for dropping by.

Miss L

Just drawing

Hi to everyone who has been visiting my blog. Sorry that I haven't been posting much. Like many people in the Tangle world, I have shifted my focus from blogging and Zentangle challenges to Facebook - my own page and Facebook Groups based on Zentangle.

I'm also not drawing so much lately. It's the beginning of the school year, I'm teaching new content and I've taken on a small but busy leadership role. Life is great and I am enjoying the small amount of drawing I do get to do.

Here's a watercolour I made for someone at work. This person has seen qualities in me that I didn't think were there and I am thriving under her leadership and encouragement. 

Tangle a Day calendar

Thoroughly enjoying working my way through this calendar and seeing the beautiful artworks created by others. Here are few days from my calendar.

What a Drag

Recently travelled to Sydney to attend a drag show. Got the chance to meet my drag idol, Alyssa Edwards. She is even lovelier in person than on TV. She is also a whole lot taller in real life.

Thanks for dropping by.

Karen