On July 29, Ina Sonnenmoser sent us an email that said, in part, “I herewith request a public apology and removal of the blog post within 7 business days. Alternatively, you will face a lawsuit for defamation of character.”
We want to reduce the tension. So, we edited the original post to remove our analysis. The edited version appears below.
However, we need to maintain an online record of the specifics of the June 1, 2018, blog post that compared the Zentangle Method with what Ina calls her “intellectual property.”
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When Ina Sonnenmoser of Germany offered “Certified CPT Coach” training in “Creative Pattern Tangling,” numerous people contacted us to express their concern. So, we took a closer look.
The quotes that follow are used in the same context as in their source documents:
- Creative Pattern Tangling – Beginners Guide – Vol 1
- Mindful Drawing & Creative Pattern Tangling – A guide for creating harmony in the brain through artful meditation
- Coaching Creative Pattern Tangling Vol 1
These quotes are either equivalent statements or direct quotes from our Zentangle books, our Zentangle website, or material that we teach in workshops and CZT seminars.
Ina describes:
- Using a “square artist tile,” “draw a border” in pencil to “define the area in which to draw.”
- Draw a “string” by “allowing your pencil to dance over the paper” in “loops, waves or straight lines to divide the area into sections. The individual areas can now be filled with patterns.”
- To “create a tangle” use “pigment pens” “with a nib size of 0.1.”
- “Fill the first section with the pattern.” “Focus on each line, take your time, do not think about the next stroke.” “Turn the tile” “multiple times” “ensuring a comfortable position for your hand.” “Draw all [straight] lines pointing downwards.”
- Using a standard pencil, add “shades of grey” and “add the finishing touch” so “your artwork will come to life” because shading “adds depth to the design.” Don’t be “overly concerned about the light source” because you “use shading to enhance a pattern.”
- Use a tortillion to “distribute the graphite” and push “the graphite further down between the fibers” of the paper.
- “The final step is to sign the artwork.”
Additionally:
- Patterns are based on shapes such as
- “line”
- “S-shape”
- “The circle or orb”
- “C-shape”
- Pattern “Step-Outs” use the Zentangle convention of red and black lines in sequential steps.
- “Some step-outs contain suggestions for variations (also known as tangleations) of the pattern.”
- When drawing circles “try drawing the shape the opposite way.”
- The “importance lies in the process, the tangling, not the outcome.”
- Tangles taught include:
- “Crescent Moon”
- “Printemps”
- “W2”
- “Shattuck”
- “Paradox”
- “Cadent” Reborn
- “Striping”
- Fife, renamed “Flower of Life”
- also:
- “aura”
- “highlighting” (our “sparkle”)
- “rounding”
There’s so much more — about muscle memory, “putting pen to paper,” pain management, relaxation, about not judging or grading artwork, about walking through a class and praising students’ artwork, about creating a state of “flow,” how to apply these principles to your life — all the things we write and talk about.
Additionally, “Coaching Creative Pattern Tangling Vol 1,” has a chapter “Money, money, money” where Ina describes how she expects Certified CPT Coaches to compensate her whenever one of them gives a class to a paying student. Ina writes [color and emphasis hers]:
Then in the next paragraph:
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In a public letter to us, Ina wrote:
“First and foremost, please do not confuse CPTs way of creative drawing with your copyrighted method of teaching, as these are entirely different approaches as you would know.”
To research what differentiates “CPT’s way of creative drawing” from the Zentangle Method, we explored her website’s CPT section:
People familiar with the Zentangle Method can compare these statements with Zentangle’s “tangleations” and “reticula and fragments.”
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The only quoted material used which is not related to the Zentangle Method are Ina’s comments on Karma and getting paid. Those limited quotes are included for the purpose of criticism and comment under the Fair Use Doctrine (Section 107 of the Copyright Act).
For your reference, here are the links for the documents quoted above.
-
Creative Pattern Tangling – Beginners Guide – Vol 1– US$5.00
http://pattern-collections.com/index.php/2018/05/21/creative-pattern-tangling/ -
Mindful Drawing & Creative Pattern Tangling – A guide for creating harmony in the brain through artful meditation.– (unavailable on May 31, 2018)
http://pattern-collections.com/index.php/2017/11/27/mindful-drawing-and-creative-pattern-tangling/ -
Coaching Creative Pattern Tangling Vol 1(unavailable on May 31, 2018)
http://pattern-collections.com/index.php/ebooks/become-a-creative-pattern-tangling-coach/
Rick and Maria
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Postscript
Sacred Doodles and Carol Edmonston
In the original blog post, Ina posted links to articles which insinuate that we plagiarized Carol Edmonston’s “Sacred Doodles.”
Those insinuations are false.
We did not learn about Sacred Doodles until almost four years after we developed the Zentangle Method. As soon as we learned about it, we reached out to Carol and we informed the patent office.
- Fall of 2003, we develop the Zentangle Method.
- September 19, 2005, we file a patent application.
- Around January of 2006,* we learn about Sacred Doodles. We reach out to Carol. We send her a letter and a Zentangle Kit. We may have had a phone conversation, but we’re not sure; it was over a decade ago. [Updated below**]
- January 27, 2006,*July 18, 2007, we file an Information Disclosure Statement with the Patent Office informing them of our discovery of Carol’s work. As patent filers, we are obligated to report any potential prior art we discover, even after we file our initial claim. The date and contents of our disclosure are a matter of public record.
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If you find any errors of fact in this blog post, please let us know.
Thank you.
Rick and Maria
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* August 3, 2018 -- We filed our first Information Disclosure Statement with the Patent Office regarding Sacred Doodles on January 27, 2006, not July 18, 2007 as first stated. We resubmitted it on July 18, 2007, in the format for websites as requested by the Patent Office.
** August 3, 2018 --Carol recently responded in one of the blogs Ina posted which falsely insinuates and wrongfully states that we plagiarized Carol's work. Carol confirms that we did have a conversation and that our approaches are different from each other. Carol wrote (in part):
"I can’t remember exactly when Rick and Maria contacted me, but we did connect. For me it was refreshing to connect with other ‘doodler’s, especially those open to exploring the world through spiritual study. I can’t remember what path they were on, but mine is based on Hindu teachings. After our conversation, they sent me one of their Zentangle kits. What became apparent to me, was while we shared similar thoughts about the benefits of doodling, our approach to the “how to” was different."
Raven Gerson on
I memorized the above poem (“Eletelephony”) in the 1950s, when it appeared in Jack & Jill Magazine.I would call it a “verbal tangle!” As I read this series of posts and comments, it immediately came to mind. I avoid facebook, twitter, instagram, or any other social media apps precisely because of all the flamers’ endless spats. It is just too exhausting. I do hope the Zentangle blog is not going to devolve into two (or more) polarized camps engaged in endless bickering? It is a refuge for me, and for many other tanglers, I’m sure. I’m not a patent or copyright lawyer, and therefore do not pretend to offer an opinion on matters far beyond my ken. Let the lawyers argue it in the only place it counts, a court of law, not the court of public opinion, which counts for nought. Meantime, I’ll just be tangling and “Zenning out!”
Jake on
Marsha Clemans on
As a newcomer to tangling and to this dispute, I am dismayed at the nature of the comments that I am reading. As a student of Zen, it becomes clear that the intention of Zen is lost on many.
Rick, it would seem to me that your argument that the Zentangle method is different enough from Carol Edmonston’s should apply to the difference between Zentangle and Ina’s method as well. You can’t argue both sides of the coin. What makes me sad is that you claim to have ‘invented’ some of the methodology of others that have come before. I don’t begrudge you turning it into a business, but neither should you pass yourself off as the originator of such things.
There is room for ALL to enjoy the benefits of a mindful practice. A mindful practice in daily life can apply to many things – eating dinner, doing yoga, riding a bike, doing your work, tangling, etc. Whether you follow the Zentangle method or CPT should matter the least. What you get out of it is what counts. If I am happy drinking Pepsi, that doesn’t lessen the happiness of those drinking Coke, n’est pas?
Peace to all
I also read the blog post that you claim has accused you of
India on
Maddie on
Out of the 22 comments so far:
11 are negative (7 of those are from Tricia Long accusing Zentangle of various things while trying to advertise her own CPT business at the same time)
9 comments are positive or neutral
2 are from Rick & Maria
The numbers speak for themselves.
Sadie Slays on
According to a “Written Opinion” of the International Searching Authority. mailed on Nov. 8, 2006, they too cite “Sacred Doodles”.
It would seem you are mistaken about when you learned of “Sacred Doodles”.
Tricia Long on
Given a choice between teaching Zentangle or Creative Pattern Tangling I will continue on my path to teach the art of Creative Pattern Tangling.
Good Day
Tricia Long on
@ Tricia
As of May 31, 2018, Ina presented the above quotes as her own and claimed them as part of her ‘intellectual property’. As we’ve explained, those quotes, along with others, in combination with a number of illustrations, are virtually identical to portions of our copyrighted materials. Ina also indicates that she’s using this “intellectual property” for material gain. Therefore, we felt it important to present the similarities as we found them so that people could draw their own conclusions.
We won’t reply to inaccurate, irrelevant, and misrepresentative arguments, including false equivalencies, ad hominem attacks, and appeals to pity, as none points to any errors of fact.
If anyone finds any errors in the facts in this blog post or in this comment, please let us know.
Thank you.
Rick Roberts on
I noticed last night that under your FAQ section of your web site where you answer the question concerning if someone can teach the Zentangle method you corrected your error where you stated that the method was copyrighted and removed that sentence. Thank you for clearing up that misconception.
Tricia Long on
It has been my experience with reading public blogs with a comment section that the blogger is interested in hearing the thoughts, ideas, and opinions of others and open to having an honest debate.
Now that you have had time to read Ina’s response and comparison of Zentangle vs CPT, as well has the comments posted here, I would hope that you intend to answer my valid observations and questions on the topic. Seeing how all of this has taken place very publicly I would appreciate the answers to my previous questions posted either as comments here or in a separate posting. I won’t take up your time repeating thsee questions so please refer to my previous comments on this blog post. If you do not have a response I can only come to the conclusion that you have no way of refuting what I said.
Tricia Long on
Dear Rick and Maria: Wouldn’t it be time to admit that you made mistakes? To admit that you were bullying Ina and asked your friends to do the same? It’s about time to apologize to Ina. Everything else is half-hearted and embarrassing. Show us your Zen-heart!!
Staub Korn on
We expect situations like this one will continue to come and go. We trust that each person will come to his or her own conclusion.
I encourage all readers and commenters, pro or con, to not lose your balance in this, or any, discussion.
Our best good wishes on this beautiful day.
Rick and Maria on
What if we silently just leave her be to stew. I’m now angry. ( my problem) but I hate that I’m harshly feeling towards the whole thing. It is obviously not a zen kind of thing I know Zentangle saved my life LITERALLY and I am forever grateful. CPT is a cheap knock off. Lord help me but she is not the victim.
Laura Story on
The only nasty comments are again from the ‘zenful’ followers. Interesting… Special when it’s obviously that they still have no clue about the topic.
Rick it would have been a greater move to disable comments. But I guess that is not what you would want anyway :-)
Greetings Nicole
Nicole Dreyer on
To My Zentangle Family on
What will be, will be but I, for one, am a firm believer in karma.
Many other folks have printed/published books with familiar Zentangle language, but they always gave credit to Rick & Maria & the Zentangle Method. They probably also submitted their books to them for preapproval.
This is really a shame. 😪 If Ms Ina had only shown them (Rick & Maria … and ALL of us) respect in the 1st place. Such a sad situation!
Randall Taylor-Craven CZT-13 on
What will be, will be but I, for one, am a firm believer in karma.
Many other folks have printed/published books with familiar Zentangle language, but they always gave credit to Rick & Maria & the Zentangle Method. They probably also submitted their books to them for preapproval.
This is really a shame. 😪 If Ms Ina had only shown them (Rick & Maria … and ALL of us) respect in the 1st place. Such a sad situation!
Randall Taylor-Craven CZT-13 on
Thank you again for the transparency, and that includes leaving the nasty comments up for all to read. The same people snarking about you leaving the comments alone would be the same ones screaming the loudest about “censorship” if you deleted them. The best way to handle it is to leave them alone and let your readers draw their own conclusions. The negativity these comments display is very revealing to all.
The critics are doing themselves a serious disservice by coming here with a negative attitude and clearly looking to start trouble. Why would I want to learn anything about “zen” and “stress relief” from such toxic people? Critics, if you’re so confident that your way is better, then go build your business up instead of coming here and trying to tear someone else’s work down. The fact that you’re here whining (leaving multiple comments in some cases) reveals to the rest of us how insecure you are in your own product.
Sadie Slays on
And I think its no wonder someone would use red for something like this because its a signal color. Blue has low contrast to the black of the lines and yellow is to light to see good on white background… yeah you could use violett or pink, but yellow, red and blue are primarys so its natural to think about them first I think.
Christina W. on
Jane Reiter, CZT#10 on
Is stress reduced when I create art? Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. When it does it is a happy by-product of the creative process but it is not confined to one particular art form. Perhaps now that you recognize the differences between CPT and Zentangle you can let this go. This does not do anyone any good.
BTW…you didn’t answer my question about copyrights. (Remember, the fact that a “method” can not be copyrighted.)
Tricia Long on
Tricia Long on
Thank you for the update, Rick.
Just a side note to Tricia: I teach Zentangle but I assure you I am not teaching art, I am teaching a method of stress relief that changed my own life. Art will inevitably result but, as I tell my students, pattern drawing has been around since the neolithic age, this art is about the process not the product.
Cheers,
K2
Kelley Kelly, CZT on
Charlotte Carpentier, CZT on