Free App by Eni Oken

I wanted to share a very helpful resource that Eni Oken, CZT has just released for free. If you are not familiar with her fabulous online art classes, she is a very talented artist and Zentangle® teacher. Eni created a series of small (Bijou) size preprinted tiles that you could choose randomly to help decide how to approach your Zentangle® art (pattern, enhancers, techniques, strings). She has made these available in an interactive app for your iPhone or iPad called “Eni Oken’s Art Raffle" that you can use with your smart phone or iPad, or tablet. It picks randomly for you and is an excellent resource for ideas. 

Here is a link to her blog introducing the app:

https://enioken.com/blog/artraffleandpezino

 And a link to an instructional video for the app:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLETw1Hn3ro

Project 4: Folded Stationery

Being home gives all of us an opportunity to connect the old fashioned way, by “snail” mail. Write a letter, tangle, or draw a picture. Here’s a simple folding project creating the envelope and stationery all in one using a standard 8.5” x 11” piece of paper that folds into an envelope that is approx 4” x 5.5”, just right for mailing requirements, address and add a postage stamp.

Begin with letter size paper 8.5” x 11”. You will also need a ruler and pen or pencil.

If using a decorative sheet, flip the blank side to the front and partially fold in half length wise just marking the center.

Fold each short side towards the center, making sure not to overlap the edges.

Fold the left and right top corners toward the center, aligning the top edge with the center line.

Fold the triangular section down.

Open all folds.

Refold the horizontal crease lengthwise to make a valley fold across 11” length.

This part is really clever…You want to create a lengthwise fold one third from the bottom edge. You need to vertically divide the section below your previous horizontal fold (I’ve drawn a dash line) to the bottom edge into 3 equal sections. Lay your ruler at an angle from the bottom edge to the dash line using a measurement that is multiple of three. Here I used 9” and marked points at 3” and 6”.

Or here, I used the 6” and marked points at 2” and 4”. Both will work. The angle of my ruler is different but the section is still equally divided into thirds either way.

Fold the bottom 3rd section up aligning the sides.

Fold the bottom left and right corners, aligning the bottom edge of the corner with the vertical fold lines.

Refold the left and right vertical sides towards the center.

Refold the top left and right corners.

Refold the horizontal line to create a triangular flap.

Tuck in your triangular flap into the pocket of your envelope.

Final size of envelope: 5-3/8” long

by 3-3/4” high, fitting postal standards. Add a stamp and address.

Project 3: 3D Bookmarks

A new bookmark might be handy while we have some quiet time to read a good book by your favorite author. Here is a tutorial that I created with Sakura of America that you might enjoy. Below is a link to a template or create your own.. 

3D Bookmark Template download

Project 2: Tissue Flowers

This is a quick project only limited by how many you wish to make. For one flower you need 3-4 facial tissues and a twisty, pipe cleaner or piece of string or yarn.

Origami instructions for this flower.

Align your tissue on top of each other, and fold in half to find the center. Reopen.

Fold all tissues approximately 3/4-1” up.

Continue accordion folding zigzagging across all the tissues.

Bring your twisty/yarn/pipe cleaner across the center.

Tightly twist closed.

Should look like an accordion bowtie.

Slowly and GENTLY, separate the plys of each tissue. If you alternate each side, it looks more balanced.

Fluff up and arrange as you please.

Try using various lightweight paper.

My niece used full sized tissue wrapping paper, and altered the colors. We cut a scallop (half circle) on the edges. So pretty! Thanks for your help! Enjoy, decorate your home…another project coming soon!

Day 7: Putting it together

Today grab a brown paper bag, pair of scissors, glue, pencil, your pen, tissue, and all of your sections.

Cut a rectangular piece from your paper bag large enough that you can glue all your sections with a nice border around to frame it.

You can arrange your sections randomly playing with the relationship to one another.

If you would like to arrange back to its original rectangle, turn over pieces and arrange like its a puzzle. (The numbers on the back are from my notes for this project, please ignore).

Then flip all the pieces to see your creation…cool huh?

Let’s add some shading, using the side of your pencil. I hold my pencil sideways for shading. The essence of shading is to have contrast, so make sure you leave areas that don’t have graphite. Add graphite around the borders of your section.

Using a tissue or paper towel, blend the graphite and soften the edges working your way into the center of the pattern.

You can also twirl your tissue into a blunt point to have more definition to your shading.

You can shade just the top and bottom of your border creating a different effect.

Imagining a light source coming from the upper left corner of your section would create a shadow in the bottom right of all the spirals. Add graphite in the bottom right corners.

Here I used some of the scrap paper bag as my blending tool to soften all the shading on the tangle Printemps.

In this section I shaded the dipped areas in the wavy lines, adding dimension to the high and lows.

Shade the orbs/circles (tangle Tipple) around the borders.

In the final section, shade elements of the bands of patterns and/or the tops of the bands as well as the left and right sides of the border.

Don’t forget to sign your name and date your masterpiece. In the end, it’s not necessarily what you created but the enjoyment of creating. Be inspired to create others. Feel free to post or send me pix of your art, I would love to see.

Here’s some variations (tangleations) to the patterns we used, what others can you think of?

Here’s another without any shading…

Thank you for joining me. Take some time to explore some more. I’ll be back in a couple days with a whole new project…(hint: no drawing involved : ) Stay well!

Envelope Art: Day 6

Relax, take some long deep breaths and let’s begin with your last section. (Prepare another envelope if you need a section). There are quite a few tangless within this section, if you’re limited on space, pick and choose your favorites. When deciding placement, think about balancing your section with light and dark patterns.

Draw a series of parallel lines from one side of your border to the opposite side. Vary the distance between your lines as you will be tangling in between.

Turn your section around to complete your series of lines.

Using one section, draw a series of perpendicular lines evenly spaced creating a row of squares.

Color in every other square to create the tangle “Knightsbridge”. For additional tangle patterns check out tanglepatterns.com

In another area, draw a row of spirals. This tangle is “Printemps”.

Fill in the negative space with your pen.

Draw a zigzag line between two lines. In some of the narrower bands, you can add a row of orbs (circles), see above.

Aura (repeat) the lines slanting in one direction only. Fill in the triangular space above with some concentric circles.

In the triangles below fill it with some parallel lines.

In another area, begin in a corner and draw diagonal lines within the triangle.

Turn your section and draw another triangle of parallel lines 90 degrees to the first triangle.

Draw your triangles across the area.

In another area, draw a series of bars along the fop and bottom.

Fill the next area with orbs (circles).

Draw a series of lines to create squares. Draw parallel lines in every other square.

In the remaining squares draw lines 90 degrees to the other squares.

Similarly, draw quarter circles from one side to the other, like little rainbows.

Draw your quarter circle from the opposite side.

Draw another series of squares.

Draw diagonals between each square.

Draw diagonal lines in the other direction making little “x”s.

Hatch (draw parallel lines) in opposite triangular corners.

Hatch in every other triangle along the pattern

Draw random tiny circles to fill space.

Draw parallel lines in the thinner bands.

Draw a half circle touching both sides.

Continue drawing half circles along the area. (like continuously drawing the number “3”).

Turn your paper 180 degrees around. Beginning at the center where the curve touches the edge, draw another half circle touching the opposite edge where the previous semi circles meet.

Still drawing the continuous number “3”.

Draw little lines at each petal tip

Draw lines across to create squares.

Cross hatch every other square.

Add solid circles to the remaining squares.

Completed section. Join me tomorrow as we bring it all together and finish this project.

Envelope Art: Day 5

Tangle: Tortuca

Settle in, breathe deep breaths, relax and grab your next section and pen…

Draw a straight line from one border to the border on the opposite side. You can draw a continuous line or if the line is long feel free to lift your pen adjust and continue to draw to the opposite side.

Draw parallel lines next to the first line. Take your time, keeping an equal distance so we can draw in between.

Turn your section if you need to draw the remaining parallel lines.

Completed set of parallel lines.

Turn your section 90 degrees and draw a line perpendicular to your previous lines.

Continue to draw parallel lines creating a grid with square spaces.

Turn your section to complete your grid.

Within each space draw a spiral.

You may like to draw your spirals from the center out.

Or you may like drawing from the outside working to the center.

Turn your section as you draw, taking your time, enjoy the rhythm of the spiral.

Section complete. Drawing Tangle “Tortuca” while listening to Beethoven’s 6th, “Pastoral”. Hope you’ll join me tomorrow.

Envelope Art: Day 4

Ballpoint Pen

Grab another section (if you’ve run out grab another prepared envelope). Today we’ll also be using a ballpoint pen, napkin or paper towel, magazine or newspaper, and scrap paper. And yes, someone in the household is a Senior Citizen : )

Slowly draw a wavy line within the borders of your section varying the pressure as you draw. Notice how you can vary the line weight depending upon the pressure.

Draw another similar line close to the first one (in Zentangle, we call this matching the shape “Aura-ing”).

Try using the lightest pressure, just “kissing” the surface. Try using lots of pressure (without tearing the paper). Allow the ink to dry, ballpoint pen uses a slow drying ink. I like to keep the distance between the lines the same, you can vary yours if you like.

As the ink accumulates on the ball of the pen, you may need to roll the tip on the napkin to clean it.

Turn your section to draw on the other side of your first line. Play with the line variations with each line.

Your completed section. Playing with ballpoint pen was inspired by Jennifer Johannsson, https://jenniferjohansson.com

Google ballpoint pen art, you will be amazed.

Use your scrap paper and try some calligraphy, Write your name in script, applying pressure to your down strokes. Write larger and slower than you normally would and practice your handwriting. “See you tomorrow : )”

Envelope Art: Day 3

Zentangle® Pattern Nekton

If you like, play some music while you draw. Something you enjoy listening to. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Grab another section and a pen.

Draw 4 short parallel strokes evenly spaced apart. Take your time, focus on the starting and stopping of each line as you draw.

Draw more sets of lines, about the same number of strokes equally spaced. Randomly space them apart drawing in the same direction.

Turn you paper and draw additional sets of parallel lines, changing the direction from your previous sets.. Keep turning your paper and adding sets of parallel lines. Take your time, enjoy your music. Take nice even breaths.

Focus on your strokes, stay in the moment, relax. If you find your hand tightening up, place your pen to the side, wiggle your fingers, breath and relax, then resume drawing. Enjoy this time for yourself.

Fill in all the empty space within the border. As I was nearly done, my strokes were shorter, less number but I tried to maintain the spacing between strokes. Hope you enjoyed drawing “Nekton”. Be back tomorrow : )

Envelope Art: Day 2

Zentangle Tangle: Tipple As many of you know, I am a CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher). Zentangle® is a easy and relaxing method of drawing repetitive patterns. For more information check www.Zentangle.com

Grab another section, any one will do.

Draw a circle anywhere inside the border. Zentangle also calls these circles “orbs” that way they don’t always need to be perfect circles.

Continue to draw orbs inside the border. Vary the sizes. I like to have them touching like river rock. You may like to float them. Each of us has our own style and no two sections will be alike.

Take your time, enjoy the moment.

This pattern is called Tipple.

There are no mistakes in Zentangle

All done! Admire what YOU have created. Another drawing tomorrow!

If you enjoy this method of drawing search YouTube, Pinterest and the Zentangle website.

Keeping the juices flowing, Envelope Art: Day 1

Today I’m starting these posts on small projects that will keep you going in these trying times. Rather than another hour in front of the TV, let’s all challenge ourselves to make art. Enjoy!

I’ll use everyday materials and supplies we keep around the home so you don’t have to go out. Each day or so, I’ll post a quick arty/crafty thing. Feel free to explore and experiment. An activity for everyone. Share pix, would love to see what YOU create. 

Grab a used envelope from your recent pile of mail.

Cut off the folded edges, we’ll work with the blank back of the envelope.

Cut your envelope into several simple sections. (I flipped the envelope, looks like a puzzle).

Grab a nice writing pen (Micron, ballpoint, gel pen, any type will do). Take a few deep breaths before you begin drawing.

Draw a simple border in each section. It doesn’t matter if you have a break in the line or if it’s squiggly.

Draw a series of parallel lines within your border. Take long deep breaths as you draw each line. Draw each line from border to border.

If you’re left handed like me, I draw each line to the left of the previous line so I can see my spacing. If you’re right handed you’ll probably draw each line to the right of the previous line. As you draw you’ll begin a rhythm of drawing each line breathing in and out slowly.. Broken lines and ones with bleeding ink are fine, you’re creating a pattern with your own style.

Finished section! Just a few minutes of relaxation. Take the time to admire your drawing today. Save the other sections for the next few days. I’ll post again tomorrow a new “exercise in relaxing.” Thanks for joining me.