Zentangle Challenge #13 - Non Dominant

This week's challenge over at Laura Harms Blog is to Tangle with your non dominant hand. 

For me, that's my left hand - and I went with some normal tangles that my right hand is comfortable with drawing:

I like the wonky wiggly lines that drawing with your non dominant hand allows. 

The filling in the black spaces, not so much…

I am trying to wrap my brain around what this week is going to spring upon me. 

Tues - Thurs I am going to be full to the brim with Master Gardener Stuff. 

I have to post about Cone 6 glazes by Thurs night on the Beads of Clay Blog… 

So that means for the rest of today, I have to get my brain around glazing.

I sure hope everyone stays well this week - other than the regular allergy/sinus infection that seems to linger with all of us. 

And my darn right ankle. 

I had my chiropractor adjust it and the tendons are really messed up (injury from earlier in life - field hockey? softball? who knows…) 

I have been having to keep a heating pad on it at night - but it seems to be almost back to normal.

Well, off to get lunch then into the studio. 

I can't wait to get to test glazing again…

The hardest part is limiting myself and finding a starting place.

Very exciting stuff coming up with new ways to finish beads!

Thanks for stopping by!

Zentangle Challenge: Something Blue

Here is my entry for Laura Harms "I Am The Diva CZT" Blog Challenges for 

Week #12 Something Blue

So I have not been drawing much recently.

A lot of the things that I had time to do in Jan & Feb have gone by the wayside now that March has arrived…

I knew it was coming if I got accepted into the Master Gardener program (which I did).

Classes are so great.

And I'm not saying that to be a kiss up. I really mean it…

I was a bit worried that it would be super intense and study, study, study (it may still come - I'm just waiting for it). But really, I think that because I am at such a different place in my life and very into observing how insects and plants and nature all rely on each other - that I am starting to actually understand what I learned so many years ago in college and things are coming naturally.

And there is so much more that I am learning about for a "behind the scenes" look at this MG program - it is just awesome! The people are so laid back and have a lot of the same interests. We love our plants and digging in the dirt! It's interactive education about something I adore.

And dang - my soil is SO neglected here in my garden.

I am going to start composting ASAP and we thankfully learn about soils this week, so I can consider getting mine into shape.

Well, I'm exhausted, but wanted to post...

Can you tell by my picture that we studied plant cells and how they form tissues and provide various functions for the overall plants survival?

And if this were some sort of plant leaf - I would be seeing more green than blue.

But blue works…

Thanks Laura for this challenge! Make sure to swing by her blog to check the other entries.

Monotangle and Geometric Shapes...

The Monotangle.

Week 11 for Laura Harms "I Am The Diva - CZT" Blog challenge.

Here is my Zentangle drawing entry:

Marsha Neal Studio "Monotangle" Challenge Entry.

I started with the four corner dots, lines, then lines back and forth to create a simple string.
Then opened up Totally Tangled and somewhat randomly picked this design to run with…

Click over to Laura's blog to see more about these challenges (you can participate too!)

And from one of our weekly assignments over at the Drawing Lab 2011 Online Course

(it's a paid class - but worth it! Lots of techniques are taught & it's not full of pressure!)

I also really like the way that this drawing came out:

It makes me giggle a bit with delight…

It was inspired by this photo I snapped with my iPhone:

The hair on this boy cracks me up!

It needs a trim, but wants to go in every direction.

With straight hair - that's funny!

I love looking at photos that I am constantly taking of my little ones for inspiration for these drawing lab classes…

I feel complete right now in this moment.

It will change soon I am sure…

As soon as I look over my to do list sitting here…

Sitting right on my peripheral right side - staring at me…

I can feel it reaching out to me...

I'm ignoring it for the moment...

Off to get a cup of tea for some warmth.

Steal a few goldfish crackers from the container.

Then pop back down here into the studio to look at that darn list.

I hope to see you all here on Sunday for the Open Studio Event!

1-4pm EST Live

Giveaways…

Also - a 20% off sale for my Etsy shop.

Details Sunday (maybe Saturday or even later today if I get to it)

Here.

The Space Between and Artoo (Zentangle)

Here is my combination entry for Laura Harm's "I Am The Diva CZT" Blog Challenges for

Week 9 ~ Artoo

Week 10 ~ The Space Between

I have been trying hard to do so many things that I have felt a little out of balance.

The ideas that I had for drawing a tangle for Artoo (the nickname for Laura's tangle dedicated to her son & which is his blog name as well - her other son is Chewie… LOVE IT!)

It took me leaving the house today…

Getting a cup of soup and a beverage to find a moment of peace to draw this out.

A couple of weeks ago my friend Diane wrote a post on her blog and mentioned getting the stink eye…

It has stuck in my head ever since…

I hate getting the stink eye.

I can't stand thinking and feeling guilty that it's coming my way…

And you know when it is because you know you are ignoring things that should be attended to...

Today's issue was a bit more than that, but it walks the line of it.

Which in turn made my whole day sour and anything I did just didn't work out.

Totally miserable…

So I sat in the little coffee shop and ate my lobster bisque and drew this out.

I had difficulties with leaving some blank in between spaces.

I like to fill every nook and cranny…

It was like a breathe of fresh air - sitting and drawing.

Being alone and just thinking about the paper and pen and what was happening…

A change of focus.

Hope for a better day tomorrow...

A Week Ends. Week 8 Challenge. Frosty Goodness...

This is a photo filled post.

So I won't bore you with long details...

My Entry for this week's I Am The Diva Blog Zentangle Challenge.

So relieved that Laura's (she is the above blog's author) baby "Artoo" is out of the hospital and home...

This Top of this "heart" tangle was drawn "blind".

Then I focused on how hard it was not only for him to breathe,

But also the feelings that his parents and others were feeling - wanting him to get better…

How you ache for your child - any child - to not be sick and suffering...

This is a quick snapshot of my week 7 and 8 challenges side by side…

On my way to dropping my little ones off to school this morning I saw this…

I hoped that it would still be there on my way home.

Little ice crystals were clinging to everything in this catch basin. 

I only had my iPhone with me - but I should really start driving with my DSLR…

This area here in Hockessin has a totally different look in summer…

I love living somewhere that we get to experience all the seasons...

Even the trash discarded to the side of the road looked kinda cool with the ice crystals on it.

And this year, the bells stayed out in the garden over winter.

St. John's Wort behind it…

Shadow casting large trees up the hill and into the woods...

Four O'Clock Stem. Picked before the plant totally died. Left on the top of the stone wall. Forgotten about - but not really...

Morning sun peeking over the hill...

Ice in some areas - the snow has been melting, then water freezing…

Pretty when it is out of the walking and car paths...

Yeah. This. Not. So. Pretty…

I despise chewed gum and cigarette butts thrown into my garden or driveway or wherever outside where it can be seen or stepped on… 

Not like the animals can use this…

Although I used to have a dog that would seek out a pack of gum no matter where it was, and would chew and chew and chew it…

Giggling at remembering seeing that happy dog, head tilted sideways, mouth open chewing - big chewing, tail wagging and wagging, just sitting being the happiest of dogs…

Her preference was bubble gum flavor, juicy fruit or a mild mint...

You could hear that dog chewing and salivating from rooms away and would run to get it out of her mouth…

And with that, I am off to the studio to glaze for the rest of the day…

Happy Friday!

Oh, and remember, you have until tomorrow for my silk bundle giveaway on previous post from Wednesday.

Have a great weekend - Do Something FUN!!!

Breathe Challenge...

Here is my entry for Laura's weekly challenge over at I Am The Diva, CZT Blog.

This week the theme is Breathe…

Look below the drawing here on this post if you want to read more about my inspirations...

Marsha Neal Studio Breathe Drawing Challenge

Breathing being usually an unconscious thing that we take for granted on a daily basis.But the thought of breathing holds a lot of meaning for me…
During 2 childbirths, Dave often had to remind me to Breathe…I provided a safe place for both of my children to grow and develop inside of my body and took in air for them…I was present (in more than just a physical sense) when they took their first breathe…
I was with my mom when she took her last breath…I was with her when they had her hooked up to a machine to help her breathe…My sister stayed with her when they took the tubes out so she could breathe on her own until she could breathe no more…And when that last breathe escaped her - I felt peace.No longer to watch her struggle through dealing with the pains of Leukemia, or rather - the attempts at treatment of her rare form…Knowing that the baby I held inside my body at that exact moment, never meeting her, would get to know her - through every breath she will take, because my mother decided to have me - to allow me to breathe...

Zentangle Challenge #6: IXORUS

So this week's challenge hosted by Laura over at I AM THE DIVA CZT Blog is to use the new tangle IXORUS.

Here is my drawing:

Which now that I am looking at it, by me wanting to enclose the ends of it, has it become Crescent Moon - or at least is is pretty darn similar… Hrmph…

 I was in a bit of an angular mood when I drew this out… I may end up doing another one this week sometime.

Circles. A Constant Theme In My Life. And An Orb Zentangle Challenge.

Do you ever feel like things in your life run in circles, through cycles, sometimes spiraling out of your grasp? I do. Quite often. Maybe even daily…

Detail of Circle Challenge - with shading!

I think it has a bit to do with having this slightly obsessive personality - more controlling than anything…

I have lists, with lists for those lists.
My brain gets overwhelmed and nada gets accomplished.
I become the excuse queen...
This is one of my circles.
I am a professional non-finisher (can't there be income for that sort of thing - darn!)
A perpetual idea person...

Drives me nuts…

So I am super grateful to parameters. To deadlines. To structure.
Without those things I flounder all over the place.
This is not so good for a person that works at home for oneself.
Well, actually I work for my customers…
I make stuff for myself, then sell it.
I am really bad making stuff custom for people. I don't know why - I just stink at that…
I would say it is too much like work, but I like work.
I think I just don't do anything without parameters. When people say: just do what you like…
That is when I get to the point of too many ideas, and I don't do anything.
Those are the ways I make too much work for myself.

So being grateful for structure, I give you my drawings for this week's challenge for Laura over at "I Am The Diva CZT". Week #5 Circles (known also as orbs)…

Circles Beginning Parameters (thank goodness for parameters!)

Laura talked about how circles kept coming to her this week, and some of the meanings for her behind using them in her drawing… As I worked on this today, I had my immediate little family of four on my mind. Me being the center circle, my two little ones to my lower left and right sides, and above all of us, Dave (he is our provider, our protector… such a great person - really…).

Circles In Black & White

I kept thinking about a conversation that Dave and I keep having. It is kind of depressing, but truthful. This circle conversation about what is the monetary point to what I am doing. Did I mention that I get a bit obsessive about things that are new and I am getting into (a non-finisher). Not that everything I do has to be a source of eventual money, but having an income is quite helpful to paying bills. And with having two kids now there are more things to think about rather than just paying bills.

Circles Finished with Shading...

So as I'm drawing, as I am typing, my brain is racing. Ideas abound, but are they ideas worth pursuing? Is where I have been in my life with making porcelain pendants still going to work out? Not the way it has, that is for sure… But on a smaller scale? Maybe...

Here is a side view of the drawing...

For now I am going to keep at it. Keep drawing (this is where my inspiration starts to go from mental to actual)… Try to make some new things and actually list them on Etsy. Why does my brain always go to production mode - drives me nuts.

So that is it for now…

If you want to check out some of my other drawings Zentangle and the like: Click HERE.

And if you want to view this blog in whole, click the picture header and the entire thing will refresh (that is a cool thing about a lot of blog headers if you arrive on a blog from a direct url link - did you know that? Probably, I just figured I'd share if not)…

Have a great week all! I plan on spending the next couple of days actually working on some drawings that will give a lot of my pendants some cool tangle inspired edge looks… M.J. I am SO with you on how that back of the pendant looks - those edges are yummy!

Weekly (#4) Zentangle Challenge: Starry Eyed Surprise…

I think by finding challenges and keeping up with them - motivation and inspiration comes about a bit more easily…

Over on the "I Am The Diva CZT Blog" Laura hosts a weekly Zentangle type challenge.

This week was using a star in your design. Click HERE for more details.

This is my drawing which I am submitting to the challenge via blog link up...

I too am a taurus, so there in the bottom left of the drawing are some bull horns…

I have been trying to texture the outer line of the drawings recently… Something I think I am quite drawn to when looking at drawings on the Zentangle Flickr group. One day I'll get some pics posted to that group…

This star shape is something I draw a lot. I always have...

This string (the starting line to any Zentangle) was drawn to pass under the star so I could draw on the inner part of the star.

I also want to bring drawing these tangles into my clay work. I already create my textures for my clay pieces by carving out designs and drawings into leather hard clay (then after that is fired, I have a texture plate to be used).

So the other day I used my Wacom tablet to draw this out on the computer (not quite "Zentangle" because it goes outside of the drawing parameters - the feel of the pen on paper where your mistakes can be made into more). The computer takes a bit of that away (love "command - Z") - but not much with that tablet pen to use:

Marsha Neal Studio Jan 10 Tangle Drawing 

Inspired by the star challenge, but drawn into more of a spiral (who me - draw spirals???)

Then I printed it out on my laser printer water decal paper and transferred it onto one of my porcelain pendants and fired it in my kiln to over 2000 degrees F (I like quality - that image will not be coming off of that piece - the iron from the ink is now fused within the glass that makes up the glaze).

MNS Jan 10 Front of Porcelain Pendant after decal firing.

MNS Back of Porcelain Pendant after decal firing.

I am rather fond of this particular piece…

There is just something about the edges of the drawing that really make me think about micro-organisms (SEM images: Scanning Electron Microscope images), cellular structures, and the like (here comes that scientist part again)…

Now I'm thinking about form which takes these drawing past just Zentangles of the doodling layers, but into the next level of working with drawings and images to transform them into something more than just a drawing on paper...

This tile (behind the writing block) is my "Lick" texture which is copyrighted by me (my texture plates are copyrighted). Is one of my oldest texture plates that I carved years ago and still use if for making pendants. Check out my textured pendants on my Marsha Neal Studio website to see more of what I mean…

I am so inspired to draw and carve out new texture plates by all this tangling and drawing…

These circles that life seems to run in are quite remarkable.

Stay with me - much more to come (let's hope!)