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Advice for New Tanglers

Advice for New Tanglers

Maria writes...

Hello everyone. It's a great day to tangle! I was thinking about new tanglers, and the questions and doubts that may concern them in the beginning. I have been doing this so long now that I have almost forgotten what it was like to wonder "what was the next step?", "did I do this right?", "will this look good?".  

Then it came to me! There are so many seasoned tanglers, with so much knowledge, experience, passion, gratitude...that maybe, just maybe they would be willing to give just one piece of advice to the person just starting out on this magical journey. 

And, just maybe these bits of wisdom might be valuable to the not so new tanglers, too!

So, please, send us your best piece of tangle wisdom/advice in a comment below, and we'll randomly choose from the comments to send Zentanglish goodies!

Oh...my suggestion to new tanglers: Take chances.


This tile was a monotangle called “well well well." After I thought I was done, it seemed it just needed more. I boldly added radiating straight lines from the largest orb, and pencil shaded every other section to create a “folded” effect. 

 

 

When finishing this cluster of energetic Mooka, I added a dark background for some drama. (I painted a walnut ink onto the white tile). Added the tiny white dots after the ink was very dry. 

 

 

When finished with the center of this tan tile, I drew a few very thick black lines radiating out from the tangling. They were rather “V” shaped. Then added the white lacy lines in an aura around it all. Then,(!) I spotted a pair of tiny embroidery scissors on my desk, and, clipped the V’s out quickly...before I could think of reasons not to!

 

-Maria

Bijou

201 comments

  • Don’t spend all your drawing time on social media ooo-ing and ah-ing about what others are doing. Although it’s good to get inspiration in small doses, there is a tendency to compare and devalue your own work as a result. And comparison is the thief of creativity! Voice of experience!

    Anna Houston on

  • My advice is to keep all of your tiles – even those that you don’t like or those that are incomplete. As you progress it is great to look back and view your Zentangle history. You may be surprised to find that as you view the tiles through “different eyes” the tiles you didn’t like look a lot better with the passing of time. :o)

    My second bit of advice is that when you draw a tangle, draw it large. You can do this in a journal or on a larger tile. After you are comfortable drawing it larger it may find it easier to draw it smaller.

    Maureen Stott, CZT on

  • I’d say to not get wrapped up in wanting to learn too many tangle patterns. It’s easy to do that. Practice, practice, practice the ones you know and do them a bit different each time. The best zen comes from having a pattern memorized so you can just do one stroke at a time without thinking about what comes next. And BREATHE!

    Deb Bowyer, CZT on

  • I share with my students that these little squares of art are yours and no one can do it quite the way you do!

    Lynette Menichelli on

  • Finish your tile! It may not be going as planned or expected; but if you persist, you may be surprised by the result.

    AndreaR on

  • “Breathe ~ Relax ~ Smile ~ Appreciate” Adopt this mantra for your Zentangle art and for your life. If you don’t like the tile you just created…Go back to the beginning ~ take a deep breath ~ and start again. Remembering Anything is Possible One Stroke at a Time™

    Lois Stokes on

  • Be adventurous! Let go of trying to figure out what it’s going to look like, and let the tangles come to your mind. Don’t worry about whether you ‘always’ draw the same tangles. If you are enjoying the process of drawing, if you feel a calmness and simple pleasure in the pen moving across the paper, you are succeeding. My mantra is ’it’s about process, not outcome."

    Rhonda Roy, CZT22 on

  • My advice to new students is always to trust the process and just believe that whatever you are doing is exactly what you are supposed to be doing in this moment.

    Deb Prewitt czt8 on

  • Play with tangles. Use a journal and draw the same tangle lots of different ways. If it is a grid tangle draw it in different types of grids or try taking it out of the grid. If organic tangle draw it small, big, change the shape a little. Just have fun with it!!

    Nancy Loomis on

  • Set aside quiet uninterrupted personal time, and with your favorite pen in hand, begin with a familiar and comfortable tangle. The flow and rhythm will guide the process to a surprisingly beautiful and most satisfying experience.

    Judith Barrie CZT 17 on

  • Always find something positive in what you have done. Don’t beat yourself up if a tangle doesn’t look like you think it should. Embrace what you did and be proud of your work. Only you know what you were aiming for when you started. Relax and just get into the moment and concentrate on each stroke. Have fun with it!

    Jodi Ballenger on

  • My best advice- forget about perfection!

    Rita Miller CZT on

  • Don’t compare your work to others. Put pen to paper as often as you can and your style and joy will flow out of your pen to your paper.

    Debra Castaldi on

  • Look at what others have created and use it for guidance and inspiration, but don’t try to copy it. Make it yours. Let yourself try something different. Zentangle is about the process, not the outcome.

    Ruth Johndrow on

  • If in doubt, start with the basics. With so many talented people creating Zentangles, it can be very over-whelming looking at them all. I still enjoy working with a handful of basic tangles, and find that there are endless different Zentangles I can create with them. Enjoy the journey!

    Josephine, CZT14 on

  • Let yourself have fun with it. If I tell myself I’m just playing, I’m better able to relax and let what happens just happen. And be gentle with yourself. And just do it as often as you can on whatever surface you can! Enjoy!

    Sandy Kelley-Jones on

  • There is no CTZ in Poland, so it looks like it is here. That’s what I advise my friends who want to start their adventure with Zentangle. You are a great inspiration for creative people around the world.

    Deni on

  • 1. be compassionate and be kind to yourself. try whatever you want, but don’t be harsh to yourself. try not judge yourself s
    2. pattern is everywhere. go out and find any pattern, deconstruct it and try.

    henri czt18 on

  • My advice: be bold!
    Be bold in taking the first steps in Zentangle, but also in the way you tangle and in your use of pens! Be bold and choose a different (new to you) tangle on a regular basis, be bold and play with them, explore the possibilities. Be bold and choose a different pen from what you’re used to. Be bold and use a different pen width, be bold and color parts of your tile in with black. Be bold in every way you can think of!

    Ilonka Weerts on

  • Take a workshop with a CZT if possible. Honor yourself by using the best materials you can afford. (Sakura Micron 01 Pen and Zentangle tiles) Draw often using the tangles you learned in your first class. Alter these tangles by drawing them larger or smaller, darker or lighter, more shaded or less, add auras and combine tangles. Follow the 8 steps of tangling you will learn in a CZT lead workshop.

    Bette Abdu, CZT 1, 4, & 28 on

  • I promise you, you will be amazed and pleased when you finished your tile. You will be touched in your heart.

    Sabine Abel CZT 30 on

  • My advice to new tanglers: I find that the tiles I am most happy with only have one or two tangles in them. Concentrating on a single tangle, playing with it and learning it intimately brings focus and simplicity to your work.

    Pam Hartz Miller, CZT13 on

  • Draw something every day. Carry a pen and a small journal with you at all times. You never know when you will have an opportunity to tangle. Breathe. Enjoy!

    Terri Young, CZT 16 on

  • My advice is to be true to yourself. As you tangle more you will find your own style and rhythm. Also – SHARE IT! If you have a local fair, enter a piece sonothrrs can see how awesome Zentangle is. Invite a friend to come over and him/her Zentangle and create together. Have lots of fun!!!

    Betsy on

  • You don’t need to be an artist to tangle! One of the hardest but most important things for me to remember is to not compare my work with others. Just enjoy your own Zentangle journey!

    Lisa Burns on

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