Our Zentangle journey's are not linear. We go up and down, forward and backward and sometimes all over the place. Some days we push limits, boundaries and explore new ideas and techniques. Other days, we stick with the tried and true and the comfortable.
If you tangle often, you may find that you go through phases of different tangles, styles and techniques that you focus on for a period of time and then you move on to something else.
In this blog series, we will periodically share some of the tangling trends that we, here are Zentangle HQ, are currently excited about.
Molly writes...
Over the past few months, Martha and I have taught two workshops that dug deep into working with just black, white and shades of gray. We utilized Sakura's Micron gray pens and played with Generals sketch 'n' wash pencil. I really fell in love with these tools and how they create layers and textures. I love the shading process of tangling and the gray pens really compliment the graphite. In addition to all the gray tones, I love to go back in at the end with the black Micron and finish it all off with General's charcoal white pencil. I am sure I will return to playing with color soon but for now this seems to be my go-to palette of choice.
Martha writes...
We all have our daily habits, small moments of activity, nourishment, or pause that if missed, the rest of the day goes haywire. Habits, whether good or bad, eventually evolve over time. What once was a morning jog has become a morning coffee walk with the dog. In the past, I used to try to set aside a specific time to tangle each day and when I did, it felt wonderful! But when I didn’t…it felt like I had somehow failed. Recently I decided on a different approach. Like a lot of people, I spend most of my workday in front of a computer. I've shifted my “habit” of making a special time and place for tangling to always having a tile (or two) in progress right at my side. I’ve found that by adding to a composition throughout the day, I can draw inspiration from many types of influences. Toggling from screen to paper and back again gives me a sharper perspective of my work and leaves me with both a feeling of accomplishment and creativity. Having a tile that is an ongoing project has really allowed me to tangle truly unplanned with no expectations other than to enjoy the process.
Rick writes...
Maria turned me on to this technique as a way to add subtle graphite shading. Instead of placing the graphite with the pencil directly on the tile, place a large area of graphite on a separate piece of paper using the side of your pencil. Then rub that area to load your tortillion with graphite and use the tortillion to transfer the graphite to the tile. This gives you more control, particularly if you want only a hint of shading. Remember, you can always go back onto your tile to add more graphite with your tortillion or with your pencil. I like to use the back of a tile because the texture "holds" a lot of graphite, at least at the beginning. Once you've gone over that area with your tortillion it smooths out and you'll want to load up another area like on the tile in the picture. The reason for the blue tape is my tortillion started to unwind and it was still in good shape.
Julie writes...
Oh! I wish I could tell you, but I can't.. not yet! I have been completely consumed with the materials in Project Pack No. 18 and while I would love nothing more than to share with you all right now, my lips are sealed until August 12th!
Share with us in the comments what your current favorite tangle, trend or technique is and we will choose a commenter at random to receive a Zentangle Project Pack No. 18!
carmela on
Evy Browning on
Amanda Peart on
I have been revisiting May’s mental health month videos as often as possible. For me, they are allowing me to start a more consistent practice. Their simplicity makes them attainable/doable but also allow for added creativity on days when I’m more inspired or have more time.
Jane on
Viv on
I love project packs and I have almost all of them, but I haven’t finished all of them. The day has too few hours. 😁
Thank you for your constant inspiration.
Joanna Kohl on
Anita Aspfors Westin on
Lisa Hoesing on
As a newer CZT (CZT36), I’ve started making stepouts of tangles that are “new to me”. This gives me a quick reference when I want to teach a particular tangle in a workshop. I also mark each page with “B” for beginning, “I” for intermediate or an “A” for advanced (in my estimation). Depending upon my “audience” this helps me find a tangle quickly when I want to use it in a workshop, as the stepouts are filed in groups. This allows me to be organized, confident and calm so I can introduce the Zentangle method in a professional manner – put my best foot forward, so to speak. I know as time marches on, I won’t need these crutches, but for now! I want to thank everyone for the terrific tips and techniques they post. They’re very helpful and inspiring!
LaJuania on
As a newer CZT (CZT36), I’ve started making stepouts of tangles that are “new to me”. This gives me a quick reference when I want to teach a particular tangle in a workshop. I also mark each page with “B” for beginning, “I” for intermediate or an “A” for advanced (in my estimation). Depending upon my “audience” this helps me find a tangle quickly when I want to use it in a workshop, as the stepouts are filed in groups. This allows me to be organized, confident and calm so I can introduce the Zentangle method in a professional manner – put my best foot forward, so to speak. I know as time marches on, I won’t need these crutches, but for now! I want to thank everyone for the terrific tips and techniques they post. They’re very helpful and inspiring!
LaJuania on
Wendy Need-Beak on
As a newer CZT (CZT36), I have started a file of stepouts for Tangles that are “new to me” so that I can easily go back and have a reference. This has helped me organize tangles that I want to teach in workshops. I’ve alco marked each stepout page as “beginning” “intermediate” or “advanced”. Depending on my “audience” I can focus on a particular group of tangles without having to fumble around.
LaJuania on
Lovely article! I recently got the grey micron pens and I love them. I saw the Zombre technique presented by Julie on the app sometime back which is my current favourite! I am yet to explore the technique more but hopefully I can do it soon!
Suchitra Komandur on
Gloria Lenzen on
AndreaR on
I recently completed and submitted a
sketchbook to the Brooklyn Art Library’s annual sketchbook project (Vol 19). Mine is a mixture of sketches, poetry, watercolor, and Zentangle of course! Mooka, flux, orbs, tipple, n’zeppel, divadance, striping, and zinger, are all favorites and featured heavily in my sketchbook. Funny how my muscle memory just naturally gravitates to those old stand-bys, often without conscious thought. Sometimes I surprise myself, as if I was drawing in a trance. Black and brown Sakura pigma micron pens, shaded with graphite, highlighted with General’s white and pastel chalks, gel pens in white or gold, and Prismacolor pencils are my faves. But I did experiment with bolder colored brush pens on a few pages, as well as blue and white, which I find very calming and soothing.
It’s the first art journal I’ve done, but it won’t be the last! It’s a great way to challenge yourself to learn, experiment, and try new tools, techniques and materials.
Now, I’m practicing in prep for the upcoming CZT#39 Zoom class in September! Getting my workplace and tools in order, doing lessons from the Primer. Very excited about learning new tips, techniques, and tangles from the masters!
Jessica Dykes on
I’ve been teaching Zentangle classes at the senior center in town since I got certified back in October 2018. This is a real joy and an extreme passion of mine. I feel the juices flowing and very alive working with the seniors.
I know I’m not a failure as far as my daily practice goes, but instead of person with a very full life who tangles when she really is in the mood for it. So rewarding then!
Mary Illana Perrin CZT On July 26, 2022 on
I try to spend the first 15 minutes of my work day tangling but invariably it doesn’t work out. But I love the idea of moving between tile and screen in any odd moments. I’m loving making bookmarks for gifts by using decorated letters or crazy Cadent and the nifty embossing tool.
Gill Green on
Kathy Y. on
I am new to Zentangle. Still trying to learn and I really love Rick’s tip. Can’t wait to try it. Shading is still a work in progress for me and is sometimes darker than I want so this tip excites me.
Rhonda on
I have been tangling in an accordion journal. The first thing that I told myself was to not worry about the sheer size of the project and that it will gradually fill up “One Stroke at a Time”, each page leading on from the previous. I found that Rick’s technique of using a separate sheet of paper to load the tortillion with graphite also worked beautifully with the coloured pastel pencils, and is perfect for shading between glace pen lines where the pencil might struggle!
Catherine Gisby on
Debbie Collins on
Motion and emotions have been guiding my tangling the past 7 weeks. Trains, planes, boats and autos … Culminating in several rollercoaster rides at Knott’s Berry Farm!
Riding a rollercoaster is fabulous inspiration for drawing strings. It’s how our pencils must feel swooping around on our tiles.
Seeing my daughter in person after 3 years provided an emotional burst of happiness to my tangles.
Returning home today I feel like tangling while traveling has given me a trip diary of tangles inspired the various modes of travel, from the vectoring of planes to the yawing of a boat … All of of it became lines and patterns infused with emotional reunions.
Ann Baum on
Missy Keller on
I love tangling as a reflection of the patterns echoed in my present day, dictated by the seasons, what I’m doing, what I’m passionate about, right now my horses and gardens.
I’m mid flight into a deep dive of tangling in a style that encompasses the style of leather tooling. Trying to comprehend and translate the lines and impressions left by leather tools into Zentangle stepouts and shading is challenging. One particular aspect that I’m excited about is how Zentangle lends itself to leatherwork through my all time favorite, Mooka!!!
So grateful for Zentangle 🥰
- Dixie
Fort St. John BC Canada
Dixie Stewart on