Lee-Bee is an intriguing new tangle from Pittsburgh PA CZT Sue Schneider.
So far we have three other tangles from Sue on the site, including her recent Starsky.
Introducing Lee-Bee, Sue writes:
Lee Bontecou and one of her fabulous mobile sculptures. Click on this image for a Google selection of images related to Lee Bontecou and her creative works.
Lee-Bee is inspired by the sculptural work of Lee Bontecou, whose art I have admired since the 1960-70’s when I was an art student at the University of Kansas. Her images then were bold, intriguing, dark, almost threatening constructions of canvas and metal rods. As a student and feminist, I looked to her as a strong role model.
In later years, her work has become more ethereal and whimsical, often as hanging, twisting mobiles. Not too long ago, I visited a retrospective of her career and work and found that I still was intrigued and inspired.
Naturally I had to learn more about this American artist, starting with this intro from her Wikipedia entry,
Lee Bontecou (born January 15, 1931 in Providence, Rhode Island) is an American sculptor and printmaker and a pioneer figure in the New York art world. She kept her work consistently in a recognizable style, and received broad recognition in the 1960s. Bontecou made abstract sculptures in the 1960s and 1970s and created vacuum-formed plastic fish, plants, and flower forms in the 1970s. Rich, organic shapes and powerful energy appear in her drawings, prints and sculptures. Her work has been shown and collected in many major museums in the United States and in Europe.
There are many references online and this one from the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles entitled Lee Bontecou: A Retrospective from 2003-2004 states it was “the most comprehensive exhibition ever assembled of this influential 20th century American artist—one of the few women artists to receive major recognition in the 1960s.” The page linked has a fine selection of Bontecou’s works (I recommend using the “Image Gallery” link on that page to view the images).
About her Lee-Bee tangle, Sue writes:
In my Zentangle® practice, I happened to be playing around with pentagons. These began to take on the character of Bontecou’s mobile shapes — really just a hint or reference. I had fun extending the lines from one to create the next shape, varying the size, adding enhancements such as auras inside and rounding on some of the outside angles, even trying different fill patterns.
Sue included several beautiful ZIA tiles demonstrating how this tangle can be explored.
Two more ZIA tiles the first explores Lee-Bee with Starsky embellishments, the second a Starsky monotangle.
More Lee-Bee explorations with other tangle fills and embellishments.
For my example of Lee-Bee, I really could have used a larger space to accommodate the sweeping lines that give this tangle its dynamic energy. A Zentangle tile is a good-sized canvas for it.
Sue illustrates the first set of step-by-step instructions for drawing Lee-Bee below, this illustration demonstrates in Step 5 how the tangle grows outwards once the first few steps are done.
Image copyright the artist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Please feel free to refer to the step outs to recreate the tangles from this site in your Zentangles and ZIAs, or link back to any page. However the artists and TanglePatterns.com reserve all rights to these images and they must not be publicly pinned, reproduced or otherwise republished. They are for your personal reference only. Thank you for respecting these rights.
In this second set of steps, Sue includes an example of how Lee-Bee can be used as a ribbon or border-style tangle.
And just for good measure, three additional tiles illustrating Lee-Bee.
As you enjoy any of the tangles on the site, please leave a comment of thanks and encouragement to show the artists you appreciate them for sharing their creativity to inspire yours.
Check out the tag sues for more of Sue’s tangles on TanglePatterns.com.
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January 17, 2018 | 
More like this: 
Sue AND Linda ~ This is one of the most exciting introductions of a new tangle I have read anywhere!! I am instantly inspired to take up pen and paper and begin my own exploration. I LOVE seeing so many variations on this page. What a wonderful jump-start! Sue, excellent stepouts and BEAUTIFUL examples. Thank you!!
Love the lyrical possibilities of this tangle. Can’t wait to just let it flow! Mary D’Angelo
What a lovely, lovely tangle, so simple, with the ability to become complex. It is so expressive and versatile, limited only by ones imagination and creative flair. Thank you for sharing.
Another winner in my book! Thanks!
Wow, I love this pattern immediately. Wonderful Lee-Bee explorations. Thank you for sharing!
What a wonderful tangle and story as to where it came from. Very inspirational. I love this style of Lee Bontecou. This sort of art has always intrigued me. Now, thanks to you, Sue, I can let my pen take me on this journey too. I can see so many possibilities. Thank you so much for sharing this with us Sue Schneider (from another Schneider 😉 )
I like it – A LOT! Thank you!
My first thought was …”Wow”! This is a really neat and innovative tangle pattern. I can’t wait to try it out…very inspiring, thanks Sue!
This looks quite intriguing! Another must-try.
Lee-Bee is certainly going into my collection of organics. It also proves once again what I’ve heard Maria Thomas say that “Any tangle can be a border tangle.” All depends on filling a rectangular piece of string.
Really nice with many possibilities. Thank you for sharing.
It somewhat reminds me of Neuron, one the earliest patterns I liked.
Very nice! First tangle in a while that I just had to stop everything I was doing and play with it on a book marker. Thanks for a great new tangle.
Absolutely stunning tangle! Thank you so much for your creativity and for sharing it with us!
Really, this is the best pattern that has come out in awhile!! LOVE IT! So many options and variations!!! Tangle on xox
Sue this really looks like a fun tangle. Loved the story and will definitely give this a try.
Linda I love that you always add something extra too.
Thank you both…
As always,,,,you combine a basic tangle that can stand alone and then add so many possibilities for enhancement. So creative and so beautiful! YAY SUE!!!
This tangle is very interesting and absolutely original. You have total control of this pattern. It shows that you are its mother. Your examples are brilliant and very stimulating. Congratulations!
Thanks for so many lovely comments.
As much as I love all the Zentangles, this has to be my favorite! I love the back story on it. I’m going to spend some time with Lee-Bee. Thanks so much for sharing this one!!!
This pattern almost dances as it moves across the tile. It is free, whimsical and yet graceful! I love it and I am anxious to try it. Thank you so much for sharing.
What a stunner! It’s been a while since a tangle stopped me in my tracks, but this one has.like the best of any attachments form, it’s both simple and complex. I think I’m going to take my pens away now and play with this for several days. Just leave a message at the beep..
Sue, thank you for Lee-Bee (I’ve just spent hours playing with it!) and for introducing me to the work of Lee Bontecou (spent more hours reading about this amazing woman!).
Hi Sue, I grew up outside Pittsburgh and went to the museum often. Now I live near Providence and find the coincidence telling. Thank you for this tangle. I love the Asian feel to it.
Very cool tangle! I love it! Thank you!
Sue, I love this tangle! It is so much fun to draw, and so versatile. Thank you!
Dear Sue, the Lee-Bee tangle grabbed me as soon as i saw it. Its lovely dynamic eye catching…it’s all good & beautuful things. Thank you kindly for sharing your lovely inspirational work.