new+zentangle

I was challenged in this project to create sixteen small zentangles that can survive and stand strong by themselves, but that also can come together and work with each other in a central design. I started out by drawing a circle on a big piece of paper and then cutting out 16 squares that were 4.5"x4.5". Next, starting with the top left corner [shown @here] I began drawing first working from the part that represented a circle and moving outward. I continued to work down and around the e dge pieces, like when you do a puzzle and you try to get the flat pieces to fit together first. Then, after a few days of getting the edges right, I started to work on the four inside pieces. These were harder to do because I wanted the circle to be mainly comprised of the same design, but I knew that I still needed those four pieces to be able to stand by themselves. My mom suggested that instead of just having one solid design in those inside squares that I put something at the center point that would allow the pieces to stand alone and well as be united together. When I finally got all of the pieces finished, I discovered that I liked the piece a lot more as a whole when the pieces weren't touching each other. When they were apart, it helped keep your eye moving because there was so much to look at. All in all, I'm very pleased with this piece and I can't wait to hang it up in our living room. -KEP