Tangle-Related Activities

I have found creating tangles to be really fun, but following a set pattern of rules for art isn't my style. Some of the people who create videos on YouTube of themselves tangling claim to spend hours daily creating tangles or doing associated activities (like creating videos). Since January I have spent a few hours a week on average in total in activities related to tangling, depending on the amount of free time I have and my mood (how geeky, artsy, relaxed, stressed, organized, or creative I am feeling). Some of these activities include:

• Creating new tangles (by myself or with my kids)

  

  A pile of original tangle art.



• Trying out different color combinations (possibly in a coloring book such as Creative Coloring: Patterns of Nature)

  

  Experimenting with colors in a coloring book can be helpful.



• Practicing general drawing (for example, filling a page of a sketchbook with different drawings of leaves, flowers, etc.)

  

  Part of a sketchbook page of different flower doodles.



• Practicing perspective drawing of patterns (see Using Perspective with Tangle Patterns)

  

  Practicing "Gottago" pattern as given, and with added perspective.

• Practicing tangle patterns (for example, starting with an established geometric pattern and trying multiple variations -- see Drawing Tangle Patterns)



Several variations of the "Cadent" pattern.

• Looking for new tangle patterns (see Finding and Organizing Tangle Patterns)
  


• Learning how to modify tangle in graphic programs such as GIMP (so that I can cut out the outline of the tangle and put it on t-shirts or other items in my CafePress store).
  


• Researching different art supplies and tangle books


• Creating a CafePress store and Zazzle store


• Working on this blog!

Both the more geeky and more artsy parts of that list had steep learning curves for me. I have probably spent more than half of my time wrestling with GIMP, CafePress, Zazzle, and Blogger rather than actually creating art. After I feel like I have covered the basics with my blog, I am hoping to spend the majority of my available time creating new art rather than on other tangle-related activities. This is a good project for a "artistic generalist and geek-in-denial," as it says in my profile.