If you’re not sure what Zentangle is, start here.
As proof it’s still summer (in the northern hemisphere anyway), for this week’s challenge, the Zentangle Diva handed off to a guest Diva, newly minted CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher) Jeanette Clawson.
Jeanette shared her love for mandalas and challenged us to do quarter mandalas or “plate” fragments. Although we didn’t have to do four as she did, she showed how these “plates” can look when combined into a mosaic. I liked the way her mosaic looked and gave her technique a try myself:
This is actually done on true white paper which obviously hasn’t translated too well via smart phone photography. I tried not to repeat any tangle. I used 2 versions of Paradox, 2 of Fassett, my tangles Aloha and Shorely, Sand Swirl, Perfs, Shattuck, Akoya, N’Zeppel, Diva Dance and Noom.
I’m “late” participating in this week’s challenge because we were on a road trip to Gatineau, Quebec, Canada for a wedding and we took the opportunity to do some sight seeing.
For those whose knowledge of Canadian geography might be nonexistant rusty, Gatineau, is directly across the Ottawa River from Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, in the province of Ontario.
(You can read the cute story about how I met the bride and groom here.)
I was in a bit of a panic about what to wear to this wedding (billed as a Baroque Handfasting) until I found this 10 year old dress in the dark recesses of my closet. Apparently, I was “Zentangular” before I even knew it was a thing. That pink thing in my hair was my lame attempt to be “Baroque”.
Canada is celebrating her 150th anniversary as a confederated Dominion this year. The bride picked Saturday night for the wedding because it coincided with the finale of a fireworks competition among Canada’s provinces.
The happy couple’s terrace has a splendid view of Parliament Hill where the fireworks exhibition took place, treating us to a half hour of this:
Fireworks over the Alexandra Bridge between Gatineau, Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Our Canadian visit also coincided with MosaiïCanada150, a fantastic floral and plant exhibit in a park on the Gatineau, Quebec side of the Ottawa River.
This is just part of an exhibit dedicated to Mother Earth, one of 32 marvelous plant and flower constructions.
Lastly, here are two other examples of what could be Zentangle Inspired Art we came across:
This ceiling mural, The Morning Star, by artist Alex Janvier is in the Canadian Museum of History on the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec.
Finally, in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, we found this maple leaf.
If you are looking for ways to procrastinate interested in seeing any other photos from our trip, you can find some in my Instagram gallery.
I’m off to check out what others did with this week’s Guest Zentangle Diva challenge.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
As we say in 1960’s England, “Nice frock, Suzanne” and yes, clearly you had Zentangle roots before Zentangle did! In your comment on my post you mentioned housework and shopping… What? Nah… The loved one does all that sort of thing while I tangle. I am a lily of the field, I toil not, neither do I spin. (But I do cook, knit, crochet sew …) I read of your trip with a little envy. Much as I would like to see Canada, the Atlantic lies between us and the loved one has expressed a reluctance to do more long haul flights. To be fair, I think Europe still has a lot to offer that we haven’t seen. Gentle but resigned sigh…
I share your loved one’s reluctance to do more long-haul flights (and I am a former airline purser who used to fly between the West Coast of the U.S. and Great Britain, Europe or Japan every week). Maybe s/he could be convinced to journey across the Atlantic by boat…Canada is well worth experiencing, many times!!
It’s not really all that long a flight from London to Toronto—although my definition of ‘long haul” has been skewed by our 40 hour epic journey to Chiang Mai, Thailand and the 16 hour flight home from South Africa. http://www.boomeresque.com/the-longest-day-philadelphia-pennsylvania-usa-to-chang-mai-thailand/
Beautiful mandala Suzanne, all your chosen tangles are drawn in a lovely way with good balance and nice contrasts.
I like your “zentangled’ dress very much, you look very nice on that picture.
I didn’t visit the west coast of Canada and I think the nature would impress me, but I visited the east coast and loved Quebec. I was there in an Indian Summer and I enjoyed it very much. (2011)
Nice pictures of Montecristo and Dino too.
In Belgium, we regulary like to make a walk through a park in Antwerp with many statues, made by different artists from all over the world… In the summertime, there is a festival of Sandsculpures on the beaches, and in september I always wonder what people can do with flowers when the academy of art show their work in the streets of my hometome.
Nice patterns for the plates ! I live about two hour from Ottawa and haven’t been there in about 40 years, now I’m thinking I should be checking it out!
Trudi, that MosaiiCanada150 horticultural exhibit will be there until October 15, 2017. You should definitely try to go see it. Admission is free. Walking distance from that, also on the Gatineau side of the river is the Canadian Museum of History. We spent 4 hours there. We stayed in the Best Western Plus Hotel in Gatineau from where we could walk across the Alexandra Bridge into Ottawa.
You completed all four tiles! I am impressed 🙂 Looks fantastic as a mosaic. I particularly like the photo of the ceiling mural as the center looks like colored pencils.
The ceiling mural in the Canadian Museum of History is very interesting. It is on the ceiling above a staircase, so you have to be careful not to fall down the stairs while craning your head backwards to appreciate the mural.
Great “Plate” Suzanne. I really like the tangles you used on this, especially the 2 different versions of those 2 tangles. It’s great to see all your pictures of your Canadian trip too. Great art there and that ceiling mural is wonderful and very inspiring. 🙂
That’s the first thing I thought when I saw your dress – “A Zentangle Dress!” Love the plates, too. I am going to go procrastinate now and look at your trip photos!
I love your plates, Suzanne! The tangles you have chosen go so very well together!!! I also love that dress!
I like your plate with this variety of patterns.
First, congrats for getting FOUR DIVA tiles done, hence you actually OWN a full plate! Second, congrats to very MATCHING DIVA tiles, it is a pleasur for the eye to go from one tile to the next! Third, congrats for rings that extend and continue perfectly from one tile to the next (ehhh…me, too, and I won’t rat if you don’t)! Forth, congrats for a great choice of tangles and their perfect placing! And Fifth, but not least, congrats for clean and precise penwomanship (penwomanship = DRAWING with a pen).
I decided mine was Zentangle Inspired Art, so with a little help from Mr. Compass, my circles matched up. We have to pick our battles. 😉
Beautiful “plate” with well chosen tangles! I love it!