A Natural Progression

I can't help but notice at every turn, the natural flow of Zentangle.
   It begins with nature --the patterns we see all around us all have their beginnings there. Things morph into new things, and often seem unrelated to their beginnings. But sometimes, the morphing is obvious. It's apparent that point A connects to point Z.
   Such is my experience of Cathy Helmers' Zentangle art. Whenever I look at it, I feel like I'm in a garden of pattern, and I am. Her Zentangle designs are so fully floral, and just as in nature, delicately balanced. Strong and soft together.
   Her Zentangle journey has naturally taken her to the next exciting creative chapter: fabric design. She discovered a site called Spoonflower.com, where artists use their own art to design their own fabric that can then be sold on the website. The gorgeous shapes and colors of Cathy's Zentangle creations are beautifully suited for this. Check out more of her designs here.

Cathy's original Zentangle art.

Zentangle turned into fabric!!


















Cathy is also a beaded doll artist. She approaches her art doll creations much like Zentangle: with no real plan of what is to happen. It's obvious when you look at her work (both beaded and tangled), that she just lets the doll become what it naturally becomes. Just as nature allows for things to be what they are, when we allow things to flow where they naturally go, wonderful things can happen!

   I can't wait to see what happens when Cath's fabric gets made into dolls! (She already tangles onto her dollies...see the orange doll.) 
  Now that will be a real force of nature!

  If you want to see more of Cathy's dolls, visit Gallery 510 in Dayton's Oregon District.