Wow! Twenty days ago I started the journey of taking the challenge of creating “One Zentangle A Day” from the self-same titled book by Beckah Krahula. I have been keeping up with my visual journal and creating more completed Zentangle tiles than I thought possible. Even though it has been more than twenty days since my first post, I have proved to myself that I can actually stay committed to something and not let life get in the way of creating art. Instead, art has worked itself back into my life and I love it!

Upon reflection, I am more at peace and more satisfied with my daily meanderings than I have been in quite awhile. Before I would almost be sad or depressed with the daily hum-drum that my life became. Wake up, Work Out, Go to Work, Eat, Work Around the House, Sleep – rinse and repeat. How boring!

At least now I have been “creating” between the “working”. I have even been inspired to pick up knitting again. Now I have a plethora of options when I decide to have some “me” time. What a difference art has made to my life. I highly recommend anyone reading this to truly make time for yourself, it doesn’t have to be art related- any hobby will do. I find that I am more productive at work and working around that house when I have something to look forward to. It makes me happy 🙂

Well, I should talk about today’s tile before I keep rambling into oblivion- right?

Today’s tile incorporated curvilinear and organic style tangles. The tangles that were recommended in the book were “Jetties” which are the round orbs, “Sampson” which is a lettuce-like pattern and “N’Zeppel” which is the tangle with multiple small organic triangles.

This tile came together as I sat at a picnic bench in our local forest preserve area overlooking the small lake there. Geese floated by, fish pecked at the lake’s surface and gentle clouds glided across the water’s reflection. It was awesome! When the weather is right (which is incredibly hard to come by in the Chicagoland area -it’s either too hot or too cold) there is nothing better than to sit outside and be inspired by the world around you.

I finished this tile in record time and was sad to leave such a beautiful place. I will definitely have to revisit soon.

In the meantime, I hope you take a moment to go outside, take in a lungful of air and be inspired by the world today.

Until next time…