The Zentomology of Tangles

Today as we travel in the Zentangle Time Machine we are taking a brief stop at the point in time when we first introduced the concept of the Zentomology system of tangles. 

A few years into the birth of the Zentangle Method, the energy and interest in the art form was accelerating. The community was growing and with that came chatter. I don’t mean gossip-like chatter. I mean that Zentangle enthusiasts were talking about the Zentangle Method artform. It was like we suddenly had our own secret language. From the beginning we had names for tangles and names for the various steps and supplies. It was what helped us identify the approach and guide people through processes. As time went on the vocabulary around the method began to grow. We came up with names for tangling techniques and then we found ourselves naming types of tangles and words that described tangles. It was magical how it all organically came together. And before we knew it, there really was a language around the Zentangle Method.

Later in 2020, we introduced Project Pack No. 10 which featured a custom booklet to create tangled legends. Each legend was thematic and shared information about categorizing tangles. This project pack is a great way to learn a bunch of tangles and goes on to be a valuable and beautiful resource. 

 

In 2022, a group of over 250 CZTs gathered to study and learn about the Zentomology system of tangles at a special zenAgain event. Here we worked with CZTs on the major categories of tangles that we use for teaching. We explored how new and old tangles fit into these categories and how to share that with others.

We then took a step into uncharted territories and surprised Zentangle enthusiasts with something different. Project Pack No. 19, the 12 Days of Zentangle in 2022, was all about Zentomology and the surface was BIG! This pack of materials came with a custom template printed on Tiepolo paper. It is a dream to work on, and each lesson explored different tangle genuses and guided tanglers through creating a larger tangled work. This project was and is exciting and educational. There is a sense of accomplishment when completing a piece of art this big and it is worthy of a prominent featured spot on your wall. This is a not to miss Project Pack.

In 2023, we released Project Pack No. 20 and did another deep dive into a particular tangle genus. This time we explored the category of blossoming tangles. These tangles make wonderful monotangles. They tend to be more involved. The lessons are informative and detailed and leave you creatively satisfied. Although the materials for this project pack have been retired, the videos are still available on our YouTube Channel. You can easily participate with a pack of Zendalas and the specified tools. 

 

Later that year, we released Project Pack No. 21 which was all about organic tangles. Though we had previously studied this category in Project Pack No. 9, this series took it in a totally different direction. This pack was a deep dive into a world that combined botany and tangles. It is playful, imaginative and has a crafty twist. If you have any soft spot for flowers this is a pack not to be missed. The result is one you will revisit repeatedly. 



In 2025, we introduced our Legends of Zentangle Series. Inspired by the legend and icosahedron die in the original Zentangle kit, these sets include unique thematic legends to help navigate your tangling practice. Each one with a different theme. So far, we have released five different sets; the Legend of Lady Aura, the Legend of Strings, the Legend of Organic Tangles, the Legend of Reticula and Fragments and the Legend of Zen and Tangle. The Organic Tangles and Reticula and Fragments sets are a great way to play with tangle genuses and dig into the study of tangles. 

Have you invented a tangle genus of your own? Let us know in the comments! We will pick a commenter at random to receive a Zentangle surprise!