Rick writes:
In 2007, we started BLOG Zentangle and began our enjoyable series of conversations within our Zentangle community.
In reading through these blog posts with their insightful comments, we decided to bring a few of them to your attention from time to time. It is easy, for me anyway, to sometimes think of old information as stale information. But these insights and conversations are anything BUT stale!
Today, we invite you to revisit this post from 2020...
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Kirsten asks, “So many Chops! I feel like mine changes too much. Have you done a class or blog on developing our Chop? I would love to spend some time with Zentangle Chops.”
Thanks, Kirsten. Great question.
First, let’s explain the chop. From Wikipedia: “. . . in an East and Southeast Asian context, [a chop] is a general name for printing stamps and impressions thereof which are used in lieu of signatures in personal documents, office paperwork, contracts, art, or any item requiring acknowledgement or authorship.”
As part of step seven of the eight-step Zentangle Method, you put your chop on the front of your tile to identify yourself as the creator and to take ownership of your creation. Some create chops with their initials. Some create unique icons or symbols. In the non-representational spirit of tangling, you only put your chop on the front of your tile. The back is for your name, date and other info like the place or a special event.
Now, for your question.
I love that your chop changes a lot. What you might think of as uncertainty, you can also interpret as searching and testing. For example, when you try on shoes to find the perfect pair, you do not think that you should not have tried on the ones you didn’t buy. Nor do you think that this is the last and only pair of shoes you will wear.
If you are like most people, you already are known by different names. Using Maria as an example – with our grandchildren, I call her Mèmè; with our children, Mum; with our friends, Maria; and when we are alone, Babe.
I suggest that you see yourself as your own work of art – one that proceeds in a Zentangle way, one stroke at a time. According to many traditional cultures, you transform your name as you transform yourself. Certainly, it makes sense to change your chop.
Your "given" name may be static, but you are not static. A chop is a great icon to change as you change. It makes sense that you will change it more often in the beginning as you begin to catch up with all the changes you’ve been through so far.
Approach your changing chop as yet another part of a process for you to enjoy. Again, in keeping with the shoe analogy, you can enjoy trying on different shoes even if you don’t buy any.
Here is a sampling of how Maria’s my chops have changed through the years
To see how we incorporate our chops into our tangles, search through our tiles on the Zentangle Mosaic app (No charge to search images on the app)
I asked Maria her thoughts on this and she replied,
“In creating your chop, you can explore different combinations of the initials in your name. Use one, two or three or more if you have them. Or, none at all. Your chop can be a symbol or icon that you create.
Start by playing around with two initials. Stack them, reverse them, rotate them and “glue” them together in different ways. You can encase them:
“It doesn’t need to make sense to anyone but you.”
"Use scripts if that appeals to you."
"Look up famous logos and monograms and get inspired by ones that 'speak' to you. I don't mean to copy them; but maybe one little thing about it stands out, even something as simple as a line under a letter."
"Play like it is your job! But remember you will be using it often so "KISS" (Keep It Simple Sweety)."
As an example, Maria combined “A” with each letter of the alphabet:
Maria created artwork for our upcoming online Zentangle CZT Seminar, November 8-10, 2020. Here's a partial peek:
Monet's words apply as much to ourselves as to any thing or narrative we might encounter. And in the context of this blog, "Zentangle: see for yourself!" could just as easily read, "Zentangle: See yourself!"
Thank you again for asking that question. We look forward to seeing the next version of your chop.
Enjoy!
With best regards,
Rick
P.S.
Norman Rockwell changed his signature every time he signed a painting!
R
where specifically can i exhibit my Zentangle artwork or enter an art show
Mary B Good on
Anita Aspfors Westin on
Greetings from Tasmania, Australia. I’m glad that you change your chops Rick and Maria because they, in themselves are pure art. I have found that my chop has remained the same for over 50 years! To me, it is perfect and symbolic of the result at the end of final ink spot.
Penny Lane on
Thanks Rick for the insight to the development of the “Chop, chop” and suggested ideas of how to develop a chop.
Margaret Hart on
Sue Lesle CZT on
I intentionally change my chop each time I made it. I’ve been doing this since I was a child, and love seeing what it expresses each time I make my mark. I change my chop, change the ink colour, change the location where I place it. Life changes and I change, so it makes sense to me that my chop always changes. Thanks for the repost on this blog!
Jenn Brayton CZT36 on
Katie Moon on
Thanks for a good reminder. I’ve been stressed about finding “my chop”. I still want to create a better one but let go of the stress to find it, and think of the one I use that it is “the chop for this time”. Thank’s for wonderful and interesting thoughts! ❤️
Annika Wiener CZT on
Hi Rick and Maria. Thank you for this great reminder, I will for sure use this in my explanation to my students. There is so much more than ‘just’ a signature. The beauty of Zentangle once more. Bye bye 👋🏻
Irene Lammerse CZT on
Suzanne Fluhr CZT 18 on
Anna Vermillion-Hoss on
Kathy McMurtry on
Rimona Gale on
Sandra Thimgan on
romeo rich on
Mary Lou Dean on
Michael De paula on
artist to showcase their work and for collectors to purchase pieces by both new and established artist. As a member I have been told that each artistic work has to be signed on the front. I am a new artist working with Zentangle and I will have to introduce the concept of a chop when I start to display my work. Since this is standard practice for Zentangle I am sure I can get away with it.
Judith Thompson on
Thank you for this explanation. I did not know what “chop” was although I was guessing at its meaning. Just started looking for something different. Such encouragement for me to continue. Hoping to join you in November, just looking for God’s inspiration.
Thank you for Zentangle!! It gives JOY to my life.
Emily Watroba on
The next day I started up with a morning tangle. And suddenly my chop appeared to me! I actually liked it and started to use it!
Thank’s for the inspiration! 🤗
Annika WIener on
Monet’s quote says it all. I too have recently renewed my chop and as always learned so much from your blog. Looking forward with so much anticipation to November. :-)
Anna Maxheimer on
- Vandana (13 September 2020)
Vandana Shenoy on
Thank you for the Chop inspiration! I have taken the opportunity to consider them differently. I searched monograms and ranch brands to find elements that speak to me.
Looking forward to November!
KIrsten on
Thank you for this inspiring blog. One of the things I most appreciate about The Zentangle Method is that “it doesn’t look like A Thing.” I had not heard that quote from Monet before but it is so appropriate. He was, after all, masterful at not painting A Thing.
Linda Dochter on
great insight! I love the idea of playing around with this. So far mine is really just my initials. I love the sneak peek with the Monet quote, and I can hardly wait for November!
Kelli on