United States has been observing Mental Health Awareness during the month of May since 1949. Each year, businesses, organizations, schools and individuals dedicate this month to acknowledge those effected by mental illness and present innovative ideas, events and programs that support the treatment and prevention of Mental Illness. Many individuals that suffer from mental health symptoms have found that creating art can be used as a therapy and have very positive effects on their condition. Even those not suffering from mental illness have found that a regular practice of creating art can be nurturing for relieving stress, increasing confidence and...

Julie writes...   As Zentangle artists, we have more tools in our toolbox (pencil pouch?) than just our pens and paper. It has become abundantly clear over the past few months, that our most valuable tools are the philosophies and lessons we learn practicing the Zentangle Method. Sometimes when you start a tile, you have no idea where it is headed. You just tangle away, taking things one stroke at a time, free to move this way and that. Other times, when you start a tile, you have a plan. Maybe you were inspired by another tile or had a vision...

In a recent blog post, Tangled Manuscripts, I showed an inspiration for a tangle and asked for step-out ideas. It turns out that Maria Vennkens had already deconstructed and named this tangle otto almost a decade ago!    Here's a related version she did of the tangle sweda.     Michelle Dugdale, CZT, also approached this pattern by defining the negative space triangles. Notice that she begins with connecting the triangles to each other. When looking to deconstruct a pattern into a tangle, it's often helpful to begin with the repeating negative spaces. Marie Antoinette approached this pattern a little differently and developed...