Zentangling - Part 1: Basic Tangling

Zentangling is a type of ink art that has been around for about a decade now. The idea between zentangling is to connect a series of patterns to make a bigger picture. It is a lot easier than it sounds. When it is really boiled down all you have to do is draw a shape, divide it up and fill it in with a fun pattern. But enough talking, let me show you some of my own drawings.

If you look at this pictures you can mostly see the sections of the images and the patterns that I used for each section. Here is an image that you can use to practice any patterns that you come up with. I know that this week was very basic but next week we will be going into more detail with some complex zentangling and what you can do with it. Plus, a surprise!! 

Add to the outline and zentangle. What will you make? Will it be a city scene? An airport? Show me what you created in the comments. Be creative!

The Principles of Design - Part One Repetition and Variation

Principles of design are what make things appealing to the eye. If you are trying to improve the look of something or you have been an artist your whole life. Design Principles help you understand the thinking behind your art.

REPETITION REPETITION REPETITION - repeating a color, line, texture, value or shape in your piece.

Repetition is used a lot in patterns or in art forms like zentangling. Here is an example of both repeated shape and repeated value.

Repetition can also be much more subtle. Like if you have a picture with a house in it the repetition may be the bricks or the windows or the sidewalk. 

transition - How the eye moves through the piece. 

The transition is important for many pieces of art. For example this blog transitions downward so I wouldn't start writing the text from the bottom and go up. This gets very complicated in a comic book because you have a story that you want them to follow. Sometimes this can vary based on the viewer, like in an optical illusion. 

Here is an example of very basic transition. 

Transition can just be simply what is the easiest thing to make out in the picture. Here is in an example.

The woman pops out before the sunset behind here. In this case, this is a transition using color.

I hope you enjoyed this. If you did and you want to see the other three design principles let me know in the comments! Also, brownie points for anyone who can post a picture in the comment of n example of either of these Design Principles.