CZT Family Tree: Ildica Boyd

We always say that the Zentangle Method attracts really awesome people. We have had the pleasure of working with wonderful Certified Zentangle Teachers (CZT) all over the world and we are excited to share these wonderful people with the entire Zentangle Community. Through our series, CZT Family Tree, we will introduce individual CZTs.

Today, we are excited to introduce Ildica Boyd!

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Name: Ildica Boyd

CZT#: 27

Hometown: Christchurch, New Zealand

Favorite tangle: Very hard question to answer! Perhaps ones that have embellishment options like tripoli or quandary, or tangles that develop unexpectedly like ratoon or noom repus, or better still ‘Tango a Tangle’, I love dancing two tangles together.

Favorite place to tangle: When on my own, in my studio (I prefer a desk to focus and rest my drawing arm), or if I’m out and about - with other people!

How I use the Zentangle Method in my life: I came to Zentangle by accident, I was at my parent’s house and saw a very interesting looking book on my mum’s desk and asked her about it. “Oh,” she said, “my sister gave it to me, but I haven’t had time.” Hmm, Christmas present to me I suggested – and so she passed it on and that started my tangling. Some months (and lots of tangles later), I became a CZT, and my journey teaching it had begun.

And to finish the story, some months later someone gave my mum the book for the second time, so thinking that this was a sign that someone was trying to tell her something, she found time to delve into it the second time round, and between my Mum, her sister and I, we swap artwork and pictures of what tangling we’ve been up to.

How I use it now - In many different ways: To tangle for myself, for a clearer head space; to do ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art) for birthday cards, bookmarks little craft projects as gifts; by teaching it, making people feel more confident about their own tangling ability; and for ‘Community Wall Tangling’ projects, where I put up a very large piece of paper and get a heap of people involved to join me and fill the giant ‘tile’!

My favorite story or memory about teaching the Zentangle Method is: This would have to be watching the realization appear from within – they can do it. Watching and experiencing how a new tangler reacts, as they produce a beautiful tangle. With so many tangles, and teaching in group classes, it is also delightful to see kindness, how someone struggling with one is encouraged by others to keep going and show them fabulous or quirky attributes within that they themselves don’t see.

It can be strange to watch one person really having to concentrate with a tangle, while their next-door tangler thinks it is easy; only to have the roles reversed on the next tangle. It’s just a lovely illustration of how we are all unique and think slightly differently. Then when they are all finished, their tiles come together in a beautiful mosaic, and they all work. I do like to have hidden layouts in strings too, so when the mosaic comes together at the end, there might be a hidden mega pattern, or bigger string result that only appears as the tiles all come together.

As well as group Zentangle classes I started setting up ‘Community Wall Tangling’ Events locally. For this I buy a huge roll of Fabriano Academia paper 10 m by 1.5 m long, and with board markers – a 01 micron might take a while – I tangle a border with lineal tangles and then pencil in a giant string. It is then displayed on a wall in a local community centre. Invites go out to the known local tanglers, and anyone and everyone to whom tangling might be new, but who want to join in, to come along and add some tangles. The results are fabulous!



A mixture of existing tanglers and people completely new to tangling produces an incredible community collective piece of work! All the contributing ages and individuals with all their different tangles and styles of penmanship work together on a big scale. So, it doesn’t always need to be a 3.5 inch square tile. The bonus part is then to display it locally in our local library afterwards - this one was 6.5 m long.

Although an alternative solution is to chop the paper to a more manageable 1.5m by 3 m dimensions, so people can work on it from a table too – and even if it’s not 7 m long (the longest I have done) it is still an effective display on the wall even at that scale.

Through my experiences as a CZT, I have learned: That I also love what my students teach me, whether it is looking at something differently or in an unexpected way, I love being surprised. I like random, I’m an ‘off on a tangent’ kind of person, (my husband is always amazed at how many different ways I can make him a cup of tea!) It is always fun to find a new line, shape, curve, route, twist, or embellishment to add to the ‘options’ collection! I have also relished the supportive tangling community from around the world.

If I’m not tangling, you will find me…: Enjoying our country’s big back yard usually tramping (walking/hiking) or doing something with fabric – sewing, embroidery or weaving, (I originally trained as a woven textile designer) – so it’s a passion for patterns whether in fabric or on paper is obviously what I’m attracted to.

Mosaic Name: ildica_TangleatioNZ_CZT27

Website/Blog: TangleatioNZ.nz