Thursday, July 16, 2015

Simplicity

I'll go out on a limb here and declare that simple is in the hand of the artist; that one man's simple is another's really complicated or vice-versa.
Take for instance, this week's Diva Challenge. Guest blogger Katie Crommet implored the crowd gathered there to embrace simplicity, to reach the point of "enoughness," in her words.
I like that, "enoughness."
That is one tough spot for an artist to figure out: to know when enough is enough, put a signature on it and consider it "done." For this exercise, I knew that magical moment as I had predetermined the spaces that were to be left unfinished, and that would be that.


I've also been playing with Margaret Bremner's idea of using "Flying Birds" to create strings, so I had my journal page ready and waiting for me. While I was at it, I wanted to use Margaret's tangle called, "Boss," which set the tone for the rest of it. Free-form "Lanies" and "Limpitz" completed the no more than three parameter. I chose not to shade it as I liked the bold graphic just the way it is, with some of the bits and pieces outside the lines (my kindergartner self would have had a conniption fit over that!).
The Diva response is in stark contrast to my IAST for this week, where I'm still embracing this concept of "enoughness:"



I drew another page with String 101 as I thought it has many possibilities. And good thing! When I was wide awake this morning at 3 AM, I dabbled in TM3 by Suzy Mosh. This week's monotangle is "Ixorus."  I know, it veers into "Crescent Moon" territory, but that just goes to show the similarities of some patterns.

What do you think? Are these pieces finished? Overdone? Half-baked?
Well, this falls into the latter category, for certain. My idea for this week's EIM:

Rudolph the Red-NOSED
Reindeer
OK! I think that's enough craziness for one week, don't you? And just to be sure I pack in as many links as is possible into a post, and if you didn't find enough inspiration here, be sure to check out the squirrels at the TwobyTwo! Thanks for stopping by!

16 comments:

  1. Rudolph! Of course he has to make an appearance for a 'nose' theme during Christmas in July. Love your tiles, especially the second one.

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    1. Thanks, Zoe! I wasn't going to even try to draw a nose, so I had to think of something! Have a brilliant day! c

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    1. Very much appreciated. Have a brilliant day! c

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  3. <<my kindergartner self would have had a conniption fit over that! [coloring outside the lines]"

    I can totally relate to this statement you made in your post. In fact, I suspect that many of us who gravitate towards Zentangle could say the same thing about our kindergarten selves. I think there are probably a lot of recovering perfectionists out there in Zentangle Land. Congratulations on letting our "negative space" flow for the Diva's challenge. All we can do is try. Right?

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    1. Thanks, Suzanne. I'm trying! Have a brilliant day! c

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  4. I like all three tiles. Thanks for being part of the TM3 challenge this week!

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    1. Thank you, Suzy for the challenge. Have a brilliant day! c

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  5. I am quite partial to the second tile for an example of "enoughness". It is very flowing and does not have a "forced into a string" look to it. I love tangles that wander about freely and I think it's easier to determine enough with those types. Rudolph? Perfect. What a nose he had LOL!

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    1. Thank you, Jean. The IAST work does have a minimalist appeal, even if I feel it has a Crown of Thorns look to it. You never know where these things will take you! Have a brilliant day! c

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  6. Beautiful tiles. Thank you for your reflection and resonance with "enoughness." It's true -- simplicity is subjective. Enoughness seems to be a quality of simplicity. Definitely a practice for, like Jean Chaney said, recovering perfectionists (like me!)! Lovely work. :)

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    1. Thanks, Katie! Glad you like where I took your challenge. Have a brilliant day! c

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  7. How absolutely appropriate - the red nosed reindeer - wonderful inchie. Love your tangles, too. Am intrigued by the idea of enoughness.

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    1. Thank you very much, Kia. Now that the concept has entered my vocabulary, it seems to be permeating all sorts of spaces in my life. Have a brilliant day! c

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  8. You have been very busy and with great results. I like them all

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  9. So much great work! I think it all looks difficult, none of it looks simple to me! I do love rudolf! great work!

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