Zentangles with Shading

I’ve been researching Zentangles a little bit, and have found many online that I love.  I’ve noticed that many use shading to achieve a 3D dimensional.  This is very appealing to me, so I give it a try.

This is an early Zentangle, without shading.

Click any image to view larger

I tried adding some shading for depth.  It definitely helps, but I think I need to be more heavy handed.


To help me draw these designs, I decided to copy some from online sources.  I got several ideas from this site.  Like this one:  Isn’t it cool?  I love the way the “tentacles” go over and under each other.

Continuing on, I got this:  (Also copied from the website.)


But, there’s still room for more.  What about the background?  Plus, I think nearly all of the shading needs to be darker.

I’m DEFNITELY still learning:

Forget solitaire.  I think this will be my new time-filling activitiy.

Ellen

3 Comments

  1. Kathy E says:

    These are great, Ellen. I’ve been playing a little with doodling, too. I’m hopeful to do a heart for my special someone for Valentine’s Day. I guess I better get busy. They are soooo addicting…and I haven’t even reached the shading stage yet. I’m anxious to see your progress.

  2. Martha Ginn says:

    Great zentangles, Ellen. I hope by today you will have met my friend Ruth Anne Yax and seen hers. They are far and away the most creative I have seen. One could really get hooked on this, and I’m sure it is better for the brain than most computer wasting time!
    BTW, I love the way the croton is coming along; eager to see more.
    Martha Ginn

  3. Thanks, Martha. I’m having fun with both zentangles and the croton quilt.