Boomeresque:Definition
1. Adj.: Describing a person born between 1 Jan. 1946 and 31 Dec. 1964
2. Adj.: Description of a person, place or thing possessing Baby Boomer je ne sais quoi
3. See also, Boomer, Esq.: A Baby Boomer who is also a licensed attorney (See, e.g., About).

Zentangle Diva Challenge #329 – Antithesis of Zen Edition

by Suzanne Fluhr on August 15, 2017 · 17 comments

Zentangle Diva Challenge 329 by Suzanne Fluhr

First, thank you to everyone who participated in the challenge last week when I was the guest Zentangle Diva. I was most impressed by the work and creativity. I tried to leave a comment on all of them, but I’m afraid I missed some over the weekend.

It’s a shame my husband, Mr. Excitement, wasn’t having any of the whole Diva thing. Even the dog seemed to think a guest Diva should feed him on time and carry his poop bags. Maybe if I were a real Diva……..

Oh well, guest Divadom is fleeting, so it’s on to this week’s challenge by the new guest Diva, Marguerite Samama, a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) from the Netherlands. (I wish I could have written my guest post in Dutch (or even Spanish) as well as Marguerite did in English. Monolingualism is soooo yesterday.)

Marguerite challenged us to use fragment D-1 from the Zentangle Primer, Volume 1 by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas of the Zentangle Mothership. My first reaction was “I got this”. Two hours later, I had to have a self-talk that went something like this:

ME:  Suzanne, step away from the sketchbook. Put the ruler down.

DINO (the dog)**: Take me for a walk. You need to clear your head. This tangling thing is supposed to help you achieve a Zenlike state. You are most definitely NOT in a Zenlike state.

ME: I’ll take you for a walk because the fresh hot and humid air will do me good and help me remember that striving for perfection is not what the Zentangle Method is about.

** P.S.: Dino doesn’t really talk.

After our walk, I started over. I confess a ruler was still employed—not to mention the compass, and the final product measures 6 by 6 inches. In other words, I’ve broken about every rule in the Zentangle Method book and I blew off other things I meant to accomplish today, but here it is:

Zentangle Diva Challenge 329 by Suzanne Fluhr

Fragment D-1 is used in the border. This is just done with a black Sakura Pigma 05 “apprentice” pen, a 2B pencil for shading and gold and silver jelly roll. (I’m not sure why the bottom right looks mauve in the photo.) Charlotte Carpentier’s Abukas technique is used in the outer mandala ring.

When we lived in England, my art teacher’s comment about my work was that it was “sooner careful than creative”. Nailed it. Perhaps this is why I ended up in law school and am still tempted to pick up rulers.

We are soon heading to Gatineau, Canada for a wedding. I’ll be taking my Zentangle method supplies—-and, I confess, a ruler.

{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }

Rainbows and raindrops August 15, 2017 at 2:57 am

this is BEAUTIFUL! Wow. Absolutely stunning.

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Anoeska August 15, 2017 at 9:37 am

Suzanne not only do I think your drawing is super gorgeous, I also admire your perseverance and your humor very much! <3

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michele August 15, 2017 at 11:36 am

Well… the journey may have gone differently that you expected but the results are quite wonderful! The detail is amazing as is the overall composition. I always get a bit anxious with the Fragment challenges (they seem to happen in all of my groups) as I don’t have the book. This is definitely going into my reference file;-)

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Suzanne Fluhr August 15, 2017 at 5:24 pm

I have the book and I’m still not sure I “get” the whole reticulae and fragments thing. ☺

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Roz Warren August 15, 2017 at 3:12 pm

Dino doesn’t really talk but his wag is very eloquent.

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Suzanne Fluhr August 15, 2017 at 5:25 pm

True that.

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Leslie in Oregon August 15, 2017 at 6:10 pm

Are you sure that Dino does not talk? Maybe not with human words, but does he vocalize (other than by barking)?

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Suzanne Fluhr August 16, 2017 at 12:04 am

Actually, he does communicate in his way. He has a “feed me” whine, a “My toy rolled under the couch and I can’t reach it,” whine, an “I have to go out” whine, and his latest, which signifies “Woman, it’s time for me to go in my bed in the bedroom and I would prefer if you would go to bed too.” My husband tends to go to bed much earlier than I do which Dino doesn’t like. He is happiest when the whole pack is together.

He also has a “You’re not planning to give me a bath, are you?” look when he notices preparations being made for that to occur. He then tries to slink out of view, but he knows it’s hopeless and ultimately gives his pained, but resigned look.

Thanks for asking. I know you know dogs who communicate.

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Carmela August 16, 2017 at 3:19 am

And its awesome and Geourgous and artistic and i love it. What dog words and a little walk can do, i have also a dog than can talk…….

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HeidiSue August 16, 2017 at 8:34 am

love it! the sandswirl fill is just perfect. inspires me to play big!

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Jean Chaney August 16, 2017 at 4:36 pm

I really love how you used this fragment, Suzanne. And, what do you mean, “Dino doesn’t talk”? Really? I’ll have to tell my Rufus. He will be so disappointed that he can’t talk either. I’ve been trying for years to get him to say peanut butter. When he does, I’ll let you know.

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Duane CZT28 August 16, 2017 at 6:06 pm

Intricately beautiful, Suzanne (even if you broke rules doing it)…..what are rules if they can’t be bent a little?? I won’t tell Rick and Maria, if you don’t. You CAN draw straight lines without a ruler. Go slow and try to steady your hand and move your whole arm down the page not just your wrist. That’s how I draw straight lines. Love your work, though.

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Annemarie August 17, 2017 at 2:18 am

Wow, Suzanne, this tile is gorgeous. And about Dino talking, all the pets I ever had talked to me and the voice of my last one (my cat Tedah) is still in my ears. Miss her.

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Mary Helen Fein,CZT August 17, 2017 at 9:47 am

This challenge is a challenge. My brain is trying to D1, but is lost in a sea of lines. Helps to hear you had trouble to and yet created such beauty. I’ll keep trying…

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Annette P. (aka LonettA) August 17, 2017 at 1:11 pm

Absolutely gorgeous! I like your creative way of using the fragment D1 as a border. Wonderful varaition of D1!

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Anita A Westin August 19, 2017 at 8:34 am

Love your self-talk1 I don´t use rulers, but I need self-talk now and then anyhow. Despite the ruler, I love your result! 🙂

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Ute August 20, 2017 at 7:38 pm

I really like your writing Suzanne what a fun! Good dog inspiring you to take a walk.
It was good to read about your confessions … smile.
I like your Abukas and D1 together.
I think these fragments are all challenges …

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