un zen-TANGLING myself

I had heard of the name “zentangle” before, but I never really knew what it meant. All it was was exactly that- a word. Until I joined this art class for the spring semester. Throughout the semester I had some trial and errors when it came to trying new zentangle designs, but ultimately I made some that I really loved in the end. To me my experience with learning how to make zentangles has been a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing because it taught me how to make an entirely different piece of art than I am used to making, but it was also a curse because It was actually quite difficult sometimes. But that is believe it or not the entire point of zentangles.. Zentangles are not supposed to be easy, but the more you do them the easier they become and the better you become at doing them! I now find myself when in a stressful situation or even just when I’m bored watching t.v,  pulling out a sketchbook or  a piece of paper and beginning a new zentangle.  I honest...

  The one place that I find to be most peaceful, and where I can go to feel more connected with art and my creativity is the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester. I recently went there in hopes of finding some inner peace as well as a piece of art/exhibit that I felt was absolutely perfect to write about in this blog! And that is exactly what I found.. When I walked in I didn't take a tour or anything, I just wanted to find an exhibit on my own, one that I was drawn to and that is what led me to the most colorful piece of art i’ve ever seen. I approached Alma Thomas’ exhibit; Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas. Her painting The Eclipse from the year 1970,  was just absolutely jaw-dropping. The colors she used were so exquisite. This painting is acrylic plastered beautifully onto a canvas. I learned a little backstory about Alma, and that is that she actually ended up not becoming an artist until later in life. She was a Columbia University alum and became the first b...