en route: A Zine

What is a zine?
A zine (pronounced "zeen"; short for magazine or fanzine) is a small-circulation self-published work of original texts and images. Zines are made either by a single person or a very small group of people, and are usually photocopied into physical prints for circulation.

Why did you make this zine?
One of my Art Teaching lecturer at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) asked our class to create zines with the theme "en route" to describe our experience at NAFA so far. 

en route
To mean; "during the course of a journey; on the way". This is a little walk-through of my zine, to show you the thought process that went into it.

Cover Page - "en route // A journey to self-discovery"
I gave my zine the subtitle "a journey of self-discovery", because I feel that I have been learning a lot about myself through the past semester at NAFA.

Page 2 - "How do I learn to overcome my fear of failure and take more risks?
This page depicts one of the Skylight rooms in NAFA - this one in particular was where I had all of my Pedagogy Practices lessons.

I remember that day, the sunlight was streaming in through the skylight windows, and formed these beautiful shapes of shadows and light on the walls. I took a photo to capture the moment, and that photo became the reference image for this page.

Page 3 - "GPA might be an abstract concept but sweet treats are tangible and get me through tough days."
I would often bring sweet treats to class (chocolate was a favourite choice of mine) and these snacks would give me that little bit of additional motivation to complete my in-class assignments. 

The deal was "if I finish task xyz, then I get this yummy treat". :p

Page 4 and 5 - "What do I want my art to say?"
As these would be the middle pages of the zine, I wanted them to be a joint spread. I chose to create little frames, and recreate artworks from local artists that we learnt during our first semester of our Art Teaching course.

Can you name a few of the artists/titles of the artworks in this spread? (*Answers at the end of this post.)

In learning about these pioneers of Nanyang Art, I looked inward to consider what exactly it is that I want to portray in my own art.

Page 6 - "Community // Co-learning // Collaboration"
This page is a recreation of a photo of me with my classmates/friends that was taken on a visit to the National Gallery Singapore. I had a lot of fun on that visit - my favourite part of that day was visiting the Keppel Education Centre as it made my inner child really happy.

The text is a nod to the things I feel are most important in the classroom:
Creating a community that supports each other
Allowing co-learning opportunities
And fostering collaboration efforts

Page 7 - "What does authenticity mean to me?"
I've visited the Peranakan Museum so many times already, but I never tire of it. Especially since its special exhibition changes often. The teapots depicted on this page are from the museum.

Authenticity is something that I highly value. It is an ongoing practice of embracing your genuine self. It is not about perfection but about accepting and showing up as you are, making choices that reflect your true self, and inviting others to do the same.

Authenticity in art is intentional in its motivation to convey the unfiltered expression of an artist’s unique perspective. It pushes boundaries and shows vulnerability in a way that often sparks emotional or intellectual responses that feel rooted in something beyond mere aesthetics.

Back Cover - Where to find me on various platforms.
Fun fact: There is a ghost of an image on this page that is actually an aerial map of NAFA, to really tie in the theme of "en route." After all, this school will be where I'll be continuing my journey of self-discovery.

I hope you enjoyed this little walk-through of my labour of love. Thank you for listening to me yap about all the little details I've included on these pages. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram. If you have any questions about NAFA's Art Teaching, I'd be happy to answer them in the comments section below! 

(*Answers for Page 4 and 5 - by order of appearance:
Top row, left to right - "Self Portrait" by Georgette Chen, "Drying Salted Fish" by Cheong Soo Pieng, "Peace" by Choo Keng Kwang.
Bottom row, left to right - "Gratitude" by Lim Tze Peng, "Front vs Back" by Wee Beng Chong, "Gibbons" by Chen Wen Hsi.)

Sixth Scents: A Zine

 "Sixth Scents" is a zine that I and five of my other classmates created as a passion project, with its central theme being our favourite smell.

Smell has always been important to me - I want to smell good; I sniff my food before eating it; I use products that smell nice to me so that I add little bursts of joy to my everyday life (just to name a few examples).

I think, also, that a lot of us can agree that we associate specific memories with a particular scent. And that was the focus of my chosen subject for Sixth Scents:-

When I was younger, on some weekend mornings, my mum would gently wake me up and ask if I wanted to bake something with her. A smile would spread across my face and I'd excitedly ask what we'd be making.

Sometimes it'd be a chiffon cake with some strawberry and cream filling. Other times, it'd be a sinful tiramisu. But my favourite thing to bake has always been chocolate chip cookies.

We'd take out our trusty mixer, and get to incorporating the dry ingredients with the wet ones. The recipe was simple to follow and soon enough, we'd be adding scoops of batter onto a tray, and then popping the tray into our warm oven.

I love the way the smell of butter would fill the house as the cookies turned golden brown. And with a "ping", I'd be bouncing to get the yummy tray of cookies out of the oven. The most difficult part was giving the cookies time to cool.

That memory got locked in my brain as a pocket of happiness in my childhood - one of the many that I share with my mum.

And now, when I feel nostalgic or miss my mum, I bake a tray of chocolate chip cookies. The smell of warm butter offers me a glimpse into a simpler time when I was a child - a snapshot of joy that I hold close to my heart.

What is a scent that makes you think back to a happy memory from your childhood?

Inktober Tangles 2024 Official List

October will soon be here, and that means Inktober will soon be starting.

Inktober is an online event where artists all over the world challenge themselves by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. In 2015, I adapted the idea to fit with Zentangle art by making each day’s prompts be a tangle. I call my list of tangles the Inktober Tangles challenge.

Here are some common questions that people have asked about Inktober Tangles:

Why is it called a “challenge”?
It is not a challenge against others, but a challenge to draw something every day for a whole month.

What are the requirements to join Inktober Tangles challenge?
Just draw something every day for the month of October. That’s all there is to it. You can tangle on a tile, in your sketchbook, and use any shape or size or colour. The important thing is that you build the habit of tangling every day.

When does Inktober begin?
It begins on the 1st of October every year.

What if I miss a day?
Create one art work by combining today’s tangle with the tangle that you’ve missed. Or just skip the tangle that you’ve missed and carry on. Always remember that the point of Inktober is to encourage you to draw more, so don’t feel too badly if life happens and you had to skip a day or two.

Why are so many tangles in your list non-official tangles?
I try to feature non-official tangles in order to introduce you to new tangles that you may not have seen or used before. Having other tanglers use a tangle you have deconstructed is always great fun, and it builds a community spirit while supporting other tanglers. If you want to swap out the non-official tangles, feel free to do so.

What if I don’t like a particular tangle?
I encourage you to still try to create something with it. Pushing past your comfort zone is part of the spirit of Inktober. If you really dislike a tangle, you can always substitute it with another tangle.

What happens after Inktober ends? Will there be another challenge in November?
We do not have a daily challenge in November. However, the 7F5R Challenge group on Facebook hosts weekly and bi-monthly challenges. It is also the official Facebook group for Inktober Tangles.

Is there an official hashtag for Inktober Tangles?
Yes. This year, we are using #InktoberTangles2024

Where can I find the step-outs to all of the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2024?
I have created a handout that contains the list of tangles that you can print on A4 or US letter sized paper. It also contains links to all of the tangles’ step-outs, and examples that I have created for each day’s prompt to inspire you.

Without further ado, here are the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2024: 
https://bit.ly/InktoberTangles2024prompts

I hope that you have fun with this year’s list.  If you have any questions, leave a comment below. I can also be reached at stephanie@everythingis-art.com or on Instagram @havepen_willdraw. If you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/stephaniej

I can’t wait to see what you create for this year’s Inktober Tangles.

Warmest Wishes,
Stephanie Jennifer, CZT 21
Singapore

Insightful Intwine

We're at the second quarter of 2024 already. How quickly time flies.

This year, my chosen Word of the Year was "Beginnings". I wanted 2024 to be a year of new art projects, new adventures, and new connections. I spent the first two months recharging and focusing my energies on how I wanted my future to look like. 

I think, when you have unfocused energies, you attract people into your life whose energies don't align with yours. So it is a good exercise to take some time to sit with yourself and ask what is it, really, that you want.

It is at this time, too, that I was reminded that healing is not a linear journey. You think that you have gotten over something, but then the wound reopens. I have learnt that, that is okay.

Feelings demand to be felt. A friend told me that, she imagines her feelings to be ships entering and leaving the harbour... And all you're tasked to do is to acknowledge the ships - be it small ones that are paddle boats, or huge ones that are mega cruise ships... You thank them for visiting your harbour, and then wave goodbye to them.

With that, I would love to share with you a new tangle, that celebrates the new connections I've made. This is "Intwine"-

Here are some tiles I made featuring Intwine:

This tile also features my other tangles, Feist and Mirai. Check them out by clicking the links, if you'd like.

Lastly, I leave you with this lovely quote:

"The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love - whether we call it friendship or family or romance - is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other's light. Gentlework. Steadfast work. Lifesaving work in those moments when life and shame and sorrow occlude our own light from our own view, but there is still a clear-eyed loving person to beam it back. In our best moments, we are that person for another."

If you use Intwine in your works, tag me on Instagram ( @havepen_willdraw ). I'd love to see what you create.

Mindfully Mirai

Isn't it scary how every single time we open our hearts to love, that there is a possibility of getting hurt. And yet, the lure is immense... 

We make plans - and yet life has a way of happening. "Mirai" means "future" in Japanese. With it, I think of my hopes for the future. I might not know how things would go, but I am hopeful for things working out in the best way possible.

Here's how to draw "Mirai":

And here are some tiles I made featuring the tangle:

"I think about how one day, they won't be here anymore. So I am trying my best in this lifetime and theirs, to love them as hard as I can."

This tile also features my other tangles, Intwine and Feist.

I hope the future brings you much joy and wonderful adventures!

If you use Mirai in your works, tag me on Instagram ( @havepen_willdraw ). I'd love to see what you create.

Floral Feist

Everything has its season — that's what I've been told. 

Sometimes, you might wish with all of your heart for something to happen, but you might not be ready for it, or there might be something even better waiting for you in the future. Have you experienced that in your life?

When I think of Feist, I think of softness, or a flower blooming - reaching out towards the sunlight. It represents slow growth - one that is done at your own pace and is sustainable in the long-term. It begins with a sparkle, and then it blossoms.

I hope you'll like using this sweet tangle in your own work, as much as I've enjoyed using it in mine, recently.

Here are the step-outs to my newest tangle, "Feist":

"Beautiful one, you hold my heart.
This heart that sometimes blindly seeks suffering -
But I don't fault my stupid heart,
Because I know that suffering sometimes
can feel religious if you do it right."

This was a tile tinted using gorgeous hand-make watercolours from Wild Dot SG ( @wildd.sg ). Their paints are made from pigments sourced in Singapore! Who knew soil could be so colourful. ✨

Check out some of my other tangles via this link.

And if you use Feist in your works, tag me on Instagram ( @havepen_willdraw ). I'd love to see what you create.

Jessica's Heart by Randi Jameson

This tangle was deconstructed by Randi Jameson. I am posting it on my blog with permission, so that the tangle can be shared with more people. The tangle was created to honour Randi's daughter, Jessica.

We hope you'll enjoy using this tangle in your art!

Fanciful Fragment S9

I was invited to be a speaker at Samsung’s Alt+Tab event where I and four other fantastic speakers shared how we've turned our passion into our profession. I spoke about how I stumbled into my career as a Certified Zentangle Teacher, and it was great fun hearing from the other speakers: Moushumi (a colour consultant), Eugene (an esports shout-caster), Chef Al (a private dining chef) and Dr Angeline (a vet who practices both Western and traditional Chinese TCM).

Here's a digital illustration I created as publicity material for the event:

To commemorate this wonderful opportunity, I deconstructed a new tangle that I'm calling "Fragment S9" because the Alt+Tab event was also the official launch for Samsung's Tab S9.

 Here are the basic step-outs to it:

However, you can also draw it in other ways:

If you scroll back up to look at my Alt+Tab illustration at the start of this post, you can spot four other ways to use the tangle, too.

I was looking at the previous illustration I had drawn on my Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 tablet and wondering why it felt so different from my traditionally done work… And I came to the conclusion that the reason was that when I work on paper, I would have to take a photo of it, in order to show it to you; whereas digital art has a more flat, almost perfect look to it.

I had this sudden thought of taking a photo of a blank tile, and then using that photo as a base for a digital drawing.

There’s been talk in some of the Zentangle groups I’m a part of - about whether digital art goes against the spirit of the Zentangle method… I pointed out to them that for some people with eyesight problems, digital medium might be the only way they’re able to create art as they aren’t able to work on a small scale. Someone else then mentioned that you could use rulers and mirroring tools with digital mediums; but you can use a physical ruler and carbon paper with traditional mediums, too.

With the above illustration, I played around with making my digital brushes and pens look more textured. Eventually, I found a rhythm and also streamlined my work flow. I’m proud of what I created. For me, this illustration toes the line between traditional and digital creation… They’re both valid forms of art. The spirit of the Zentangle method is to find calm in the process of drawing repeated, structured patterns. How you do it doesn’t really matter - pen and paper, sand and a stick by the beach, the S Pen and a tablet… What matters is that you take the time to create something to nourish your soul. Fragment S9 is featured on the lower middle portion of the above illustration. I'll be playing around with this traditional x digital technique again soon. I hope you got something out of this blog post. :) If you use the tangle S9, please tag me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/havepen_willdraw/ Until next time... Keep tangling! - Stephanie J., CZT 21 Singapore

Flowing Floraline

 This sweet tangle was discovered at the Singapore Gardens by the Bay for one of our Tangle Travelog series. You can find out more about the series via this link: 7f5r.thinkific.com/courses/gbtb!

If you remember one of my other tangles, "Faybio" was also discovered at the same location and they both share a common inspiration - tulips!

Here are the step-outs to "Floraline", and a photo of the tulips that inspired the tangle:

Floraline is usually drawn as a border tangle, but I'd love to see what you create with it.

Here are some tiles that I created featuring it:

I’d love to see the art you create using Floraline! If you’re posting on Instagram, tag me ( @havepen_willdraw ) and use the hashtag “#floralinetangle“. I hope you have fun playing around with this lovely tangle.

Warmest Wishes,
Stephanie Jennifer, CZT 21
Singapore

Inktober Tangles 2023 Official List

 October will soon be here, and that means Inktober will soon be starting.

Inktober is an online event where artists all over the world challenge themselves by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. In 2015, I adapted the idea to fit with Zentangle art by making each day's prompts be a tangle. I call my list of tangles the Inktober Tangles challenge.

Here are some common questions that people have asked about Inktober Tangles:

Why is it called a "challenge"?

It is not a challenge against others, but a challenge to draw something every day for a whole month.

What are the requirements to join Inktober Tangles challenge?

Just draw something every day for the month of October. That's all there is to it. You can tangle on a tile, in your sketchbook, and use any shape or size or colour. The important thing is that you build the habit of tangling every day.

When does Inktober begin?

It begins on the 1st of October every year.

What if I miss a day?

Create one art work by combining today's tangle with the tangle that you've missed. Or just skip the tangle that you've missed and carry on. Always remember that the point of Inktober is to encourage you to draw more, so don't feel too badly if life happens and you had to skip a day or two.

Why are so many tangles in your list non-official tangles?

I try to feature non-official tangles in order to introduce you to new tangles that you may not have seen or used before. Having other tanglers use a tangle you have deconstructed is always great fun, and it builds a community spirit while supporting other tanglers. If you want to swap out the non-official tangles, feel free to do so.

What if I don't like a particular tangle?

I encourage you to still try to create something with it. Pushing past your comfort zone is part of the spirit of Inktober. If you really dislike a tangle, you can always substitute it with another tangle.

What happens after Inktober ends? Will there be another challenge in November?

We do not have a daily challenge in November. However, I and the other 7F5R admins host weekly and bi-monthly challenges in our 7F5R Challenge Facebook group. 7F5R Challenge is also the official Facebook group for Inktober Tangles.

Is there an official hashtag for Inktober Tangles?

Yes. This year, we are using #InktoberTangles2023

Where can I find the step-outs to all of the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2023? 

I have created a handout that contains the list of tangles that you can print on A4 or US letter sized paper. It also contains links to all of the tangles' step-outs, and examples that I have created for each day's prompt to inspire you. Here's a link to the handout: https://bit.ly/InktoberTangles2023prompts

Without further ado, here are the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2023:

Please feel free to share the list in your Facebook group or with your friends and students. I have also created a square version of this list if you'd like to post it on Instagram:

I hope that you have fun with this year's list.  If you have any questions, leave a comment below. I can also be reached at stephanie@7f5r.com or on Instagram @havepen_willdraw. If you'd like to support my work, you can buy me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/stephaniej

I can't wait to see what you create for this year's Inktober Tangles.

Warmest Wishes,

Stephanie Jennifer, CZT 21

Singapore