Thursday and Still Rockin' the CZT !

Yes, I've decided to make a full week of CZT Celebration! *G*  What better way to mark the achievement of this milestone?  The time spent in Whitinsville was remarkable for a number of reasons.  People who actually devised this creative intersection of art and meditation were very kind about my work.  Having Rick's remarks on my Zentangle journal means a lot to me, and Maria, as the "wanderer" about the class as we tangled, was very generous with her praise.  As an artist we shouldn't need any external validation; the fact that we have created something should satisfy the urgency within, but as we are also human, we tend to harbour that quiet, sly whisper that goes beyond critic into malice, sowing seeds of uncertainty as it goes.  Everyone I met was so genuinely talented and delightful as artists and people that their response to my artwork had me adding tears of disbelief and joy to my evening prayers.  The following CZT (#4, for those who are into counting), is a bit of a hybrid ZIA.  It draws on a number of artistic traditions, from lettering to ornamentation to dimension to engravers' technique to ancient cartouches.  I hope you enjoy this departure from my usual highly-intricate work.  I was striving for an elegant simplicity.  I may have gone too far and ended up in ascetic emptiness, but it feels peaceful to me.

Happy Thursday!

Friday Affirmation

Another crummy day-job day (I know, "same old, same old"... *G*) with four unpaid hours of overtime.  Arriving home at bedtime, tired and hungry, I ate and turned to my computer where I found an email from an online friend.  Susan (http://arts-4-all.blogspot.com/) was continuing a conversation about the necessity to find time to be creative and how a friend of hers could benefit from Zentangle.  Zentangling is pretty much the perfect creative pursuit for the harried lives we sometimes lead.  With very basic and minimal supplies, a few moments of stillness - waiting in line, sipping a coffee, riding public transit - is really all that is needed to nourish our creative souls.  Every act of creation I commit is my connection to the greater universe, a touch of the divine in my mundane life, an opportunity to rejoice in possibility.  I really appreciated the reminder from Susan, and so I got out my Zentangle journal and tangled away.  While I don't think this is necessarily my best work, I now feel content, peaceful and satisfied.  NOT how I returned home today!  In fact, I may just fall right asleep after I sign off! *G*  So here is my very simple, very quick, very helpful (to me!) little tangle du jour:

Happy Friday!