Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Challenge #3: Eyes Wide Shut

Laura Harms' Week 3 Zentangle Challenge: Shut your eyes and create a string!
   Staying ON the tile was a challenge with my eyes closed. I kept veering off toward edges unknown (appropriate, yes?). The thing I found most challenging (and since this IS a challenge, also right on) was trying to find a visual balance in my string after I had made it. When we walk with our eyes open, it's much easier to balance than when we close our eyes and try to walk. The information that our eyes send us really helps us navigate!! I know that sounds obvious, but I realized how much I take it for granted.
   As I opened my eyes and tangled away, the process felt awkward and weird. I think it was about finding that balance, knowing I had no control over what the string was asking. I felt like I was trying to compensate for a flow that I couldn't feel. It was as if I didn't really make that string, someone else did! My little left brain was screaming up a storm to 'fix this and fix that', 'pitch it and start over', 'make it prettier'. It's funny how when I begin in a place of little or no control, the left brain freaks into gear trying to get more of it.
   'Just let it be.' How many times do I have to tell myself this? Bunches. So I overworked the first one, shading it almost to death, I don't know. I did feel like I needed to do another to see if I could shake off the feeling of needing to control it so much. I kept it simpler (taking my cue from Week #1). Even though I was consciously more aware of my quest for balance, the second tile was much more relaxing. My left brain finally got the picture. It's ok to be uncomfortable with a process, and it's ok if I end up not liking the result. But just having the awareness of all these things feels like a wonderful gift. Thanks, left brain, and thanks again, Laura!




   

18 comments:

  1. Oh wow, you are a Tangling Star Carole, (sounds like a song)!

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  2. I think this is a great challenge.What I've seen so far is work that is quite different from what people usually do!This one looks good!!

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  3. Hey Carole, they're both fantastic. I love your description of the experience, too. Sounds pretty similar to where I'm at with mine! (Nice to know I'm not the only one.) But yours are just gorgeous. The second is just rolling off the page, like a great surfing wave! ♥ it.

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  4. These are both gorgeous! I love that "peppermint rope" on the left, lol!

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  5. it's pretty interesting how so many people are having the same urge to purge their strings. I had a REALLY hard time with that. Sometimes i try too hard to make 'art' instead of just making a Zentangle in its purest form, concentrating on delivering each pen stroke with deliberance and finding that space of soft focus.

    As always, your tiles are gorgeous. You continue to inspire me.

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  6. I agree with everything above! I'm having fun with this challenge too.

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  7. Your tiles are both great! I am looking forward to getting to this challenge soon.

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  8. Thanks, everyone. Well, said, 'diva'! ...trying too hard to make art.. so true!

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  9. Thank you very much for describing your experience in detail and sharing your gorgeous tiles!

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  10. wow...what adorable work - both of them. Love the use of Pepper, it's one of my favourites!

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  11. love them both--but the one on the left is my fave!! nice detail! You do beautiful work!

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  12. ooooh! I love these! I covet your "dimensionality"... as a 2D animator I really struggle with depth and keeping my tangles from looking too flat. These are beautiful examples! I'm learning so much just from inspecting everyone else's work. :o)

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  13. Thanks for the great description, and your work is wonderful !!! I love the results you achieved, well done tooooo yooooooou :)

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  14. As a fellow bead addict have you ever noticed how even our tangles often include bead-like elements? Just sayin'... *G*

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  15. I just love all the swirly, curly shapes in your two pieces.

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  16. Both are beautiful - Thanks for sharing your process. It's been interesting reading everyone's reactions to their strings and how it affected their process. Oddly enough I found it to be freeing.

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  17. I think both tangles are GREAT! And I enjoyed your post too...thank you!

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