[If you need an introduction to Zentangle, start here.]
On Monday, I looked in vain for the usual Monday Zentangle Diva’s challenge, but this week’s challenge was posted on Tuesday because Monday was a holiday (Family Day) in Saskatchewan, Canada. It was also a holiday in the United States (President’s Day) and a loooong travel day for me. I flew some 4,600 miles (7,403 kms.) from Tampa, Florida to Maui, Hawaii with a plane change in Phoenix, Arizona, so I was hoping to keep myself entertained by working on the challenge. Instead, I continued my effort to master the tangle “Flux”. As you can see by the result on the right, things got a little top heavy, but it kept me from losing my mind and having to be restrained at 37,000 feet in a thin metal tube.
This week, the Zentangle Diva challenged us to resurrect the ghost of a past composition and to see what we would do with the same idea today.
Since I wasn’t at home with my ever increasing collection of Zentangle tiles that my husband wants to know what I intend to do with, I had to turn to my computer and past challenges to find a tile I wanted to try again. I came up with this one from the Zentangle Diva’s challenge number 203 in February 2015, a few months before I became a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT):
The challenge that week was to use the tangle Athitzi in a tile. All those little lines tested my patience then and did so again. Since February 2015, I finally have Phicops sorted out. You can see I had it backwards then. So, here is my latest version of pretty much the same composition, using the same tangles. It pains me to say it, but I think I prefer version #1. It’s more vibrant and I even think the shading is better. (I didn’t bring a red pen on this trip, but still….) Do you think it looks much different?
One cool thing is that the day after I finished doing all those Athitzi lines again, I was having lunch with Mr. Excitement at a Kaanapali Beach restaurant here on the Hawaiian island of Maui under a straw umbrella. I looked up and there was Athitzi!
For those of you still dealing with winter, I’ll share some other views of this island paradise before signing off.
Sunset at Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii
That’s the Hawaiian Island of Lanai in the distance.
Aloha for now. Next week’s challenge will be done on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
The tangle Athitzi is a lot better in the second tile and I also like these soft colours more. Beautiful pictures, I just can dream about such a wonderfull place. Wish you a pleasant stay, enjoy and of course, take time for making nice Zentangle drawings!
Beautiful tiles! Thanks for sharing the photos of the warmth and beauty of Hawaii! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog.
So glad to see you’ve escaped to warmer climes! I can’t imagine tangling this well, especially in a metal tube being hurled through the heavens. I think I like the earthy tones of the second tile better than the more vibrant ones of the first. The drawing on both is lovely.
Your second tile looks more polished, but your first was certainly good by itself. How wonderful to have escaped the rain and cold. Mind you looking at the palm trees I think the wind is about the same as here (Ireland)
Isn’t it fun to see tangles out in the wild? I always get so excited. My husband, fortunately, is tolerant of my outbursts! Both of the tiles are very well done. To be honest I can’t say one is “better” than the other, just different. I’ll bet you could have gone back further to get a better comparison of a change of style though.
“i finally have Phicops sorted out” is a statement that I will never make.
Never say never. 🙂
Suzanne, I like all the tiles you posted today. I can see a definite difference in your two challenge tiles, not merely the color, but the tangles themselves are much more decisive and drawn more freely. I can see a looser grip on the pen and it looks much more “zen-ful” to me. But then, I have always liked your style, you have definitely refined it in the last year.
Ah, Hawaii!! And to think that I used to avoid Honolulu trips when I flew for Pan Am (because the flights were too short)… Enjoy every minute, and give us some water and flower reports!!
What was the drawback to flights being “too short”?
We returned to some of our old haunts this afternoon—our old supermarket, Vietnamese Restaurant, etc. And, this time, we’re planning to actually climb Diamond Head. I post photos on Facebook and Instagram. http://www.facebook.com/suzanne.fluhr
http://www.facebook.com/boomeresque
http://www.instagram.com/boomeresque2
Given your recent marathon Tampa-Phoenix-Maui marathon, I see why you ask that question. The answer: I preferred long-haul flying, since I wanted to fly to the most far-flung places in Pan American’s worldwide system. The flights between the West Coast and Honolulu, though “international” flying under existing law, were not only too short to take us very far in that system (and in fact were among our shortest flights), but also were “just” to another American city. Now, of course, I’d love to fly to Hawaii, especially as crew on our dear departed Pan American World Airways.
I thought that might be the reason, but Hawaii really does feel like its own place and there are times when the term “paradise” comes to mind—something about the proximity of the azure and turquoise ocean with the striking mountains so close together. I know that is found elsewhere also, but it’s also warm with nice trade winds (most of the time) and the people are diverse, interesting and nice. (Of course, I’m way over-simplifying here).
Maybe I’m the only one that (like you) prefer the fist one. I like the vibrancy of it. Enjoy your holiday, we’re having rain, rain and more RAIN here in The Netherlands 🙁
Hi Suzanne, your trip sounds amazing. It looks truly wonderful and I’m glad you are enjoying yourself. The tiles? Oh yeh, the tiles. They don’t look better or worse to me, just different. Your approach seems more relaxed on the second one and the colours are gentler, more subtle but you’re right, the first one is joyful and vibrant. You chose all patterns that I enjoy doing so these tiles both appealed to my taste.
On a different subject, did you see my reply about your forthcoming UK visit? Use my gmail address for details. See you quite soon now and really looking forward to it.
I’ll email you later today (Hawaii time) and we can firm it up!
Lovely lovely tiles. But not in comparison to those wonderful pictures of paradise. Glad you are enjoying it!
As you define it – the weather “whip lash” has been pretty crazy. From 4 inches of snow to pouring rain (which left us with a big fat muddy mess) to beautiful 60 degrees on Friday, back to cold wind, and on it goes. The trees are being fooled in to budding and we’ve got daffodil bulbs pushing up green sprouts through the snow. Bah…
Enjoy Hawaii. I think what I love most about Hawaii is the air, there’s just something about breathing in the Hawaiian breeze that sets the soul at peace. Aloha!
The air and the light and the people and the views and the sea and the mountains, and, and, and….
I like the first one too – vibrant! I like the Hawaii pictures best of all. I thought it was pretty cool to look at the one picture of the “umbrella” and realize – “hey that looks like Zentangle” – and realize I recognize it now everywhere I look! When you pointed out “I looked up and there was Athitzi” I realized you’ve changed my view of life!!