What is Pen-Tango?

Just like dancers perform the intricate moves of the dance, Pen-Tango dances across the paper leaving behind intricate patterns and shapes.



Thursday, May 26, 2011

What is Pen-Tango?

Pen-Tango is like doing the tango, but instead of dancing with a partner on a dance floor, you dance across paper with a gel pen.  Like dancers perform intricate moves, Pen Tango creates intricate patterns on paper.

A couple months ago I started experimenting with "doodle" art.  I was amazed at the way the different shapes and images started to flow out of my mind, through my gel pen, and onto the paper. Look closely and you'll find common, everyday objects hidden within the seemingly random lines and squiggles. The title of my blog has, as a backdrop, my first Pen-Tango (finished dimensions:  11" x 17"  not all of it fits in the header frame)  I'm not sure how many hours I spent on that piece, but I'm sure is was a lot. The corner is left blank - representing my little corner of the universe - without all the stuff that tends to clutter up our brain.
I was looking for a unique name for this type of art (doodle just didn't spark) and decided on "Pen-Tango"   Just like you dance the tango with your partner in a pattern of intricate moves... "Pen-Tango" is very similar ... dancing with your pen forming intricate shapes and patterns on paper instead of a dance floor. I like it. Much more interesting than "doodle art".

2 comments:

  1. Sheila: These are great!! The style reminds me of something I have seen in the old books either at the beginning or at the end of chapters. I think you are on to something unique here. Keep it up.
    This is Sandichot from Artist Daily. Google won't allow me the pleasure of using other name than the one it picked up from someplace I used to sign in.

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  2. Sheila, I never heard of Zentango until this week and I've been looking at it online. I like the name Pen-tango better. You have some excellent and interesting work here. I thought it was done with a Micro ink pen but you say that you use a gel pen. Do you feel that you get better results with that pen?

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