In 2007, we started BLOG Zentangle and began our enjoyable series of conversations within our Zentangle community.
In reading through these blog posts with their insightful comments, we decided to bring a few of them to your attention from time to time. It is easy, for me anyway, to sometimes think of old information as stale information. But these insights and conversations are anything BUT stale!
We invite you to go back to the Zentangle Doppelgänger with this post from 2018...
Maria writes...
If we were to humanize our tangles. . . which one would you be?
When we first started speaking about Zentangle, one person spoke out and said Rick was surely Zen and I, of course was tangle. I kind of liked that. You know. . . "Sonny and Cher,” "Burns and Allen,” "John and Yoko,” "Mickey and Minnie,” "Fred and Wilma.” I could go on and on. (but Rick thought maybe it was enough. . .) I love being "Rick and Maria".
Lately, I started thinking about the personification of tangles, giving them character, images, and a history. I soon realized my Zentangle Doppelgänger is, of course (duuuuuuh!) Mooka. I gave it a capital letter, just like me and my chop.
I feel if someone were to describe me and Mooka, there would be lots of overlaps: like being fairly curvy, exuberant, short (but wanting to be taller), we both have a history of art in our lives, we're both move quickly and in unexpected directions, and, we are most definitely a bit loopy. It is my "go-to" tangle, my "mac 'n cheese" tangle, the one that seems to just pour out of my pen, and one I cannot control.
Rick, on the other hand, is without a doubt, Paradox. I was going to write why here, but I asked him to do it instead. (mine would have been funnier). His version is nowhere near what I was going to write, but, Hey! That's cool. Here it is:
I love that by drawing a simple series of straight lines in a particular way, a beautiful curve results. I love that I thought I had come up with this tangle only to discover that it is a generations old quilting pattern. I love how when you put paradox sections side by side a meta-shapes reveals itself; and if you do adjoining sections in different directions different meta-shapes reveal themselves. I love that you can take almost any familiar repeating shape and "paradox" it and discover fresh meta-shapes. I love that paradox's meta-shapes all result in tessellations or repeating shapes that neither overlap nor leave any gaps. I love that you can't predict what those tessellated shapes will look like until you draw them.
And, I guess that says a bit about how I approach the world.
I asked Indy and she said Pokeroot, because a few people commented on Zentangle Mosaic that she was the pokeroot queen. Mazzy said she would be pokeleaf, because, after all, they are sisters.
Molly, immediately said Tripoli, Martha, Mooka. . .she is my first born and all, and she's just recently got the mooka bug and cannot stop drawing this voluptuous tangle. And Nick, well let's just say Hollibaugh and leave it at that.
Soooooo, my dear Zentangle family, what tangle would you be, if you could be a tangle and why? I cannot wait to hear the stories and reasons for your choices.
Give this some thought. It might surprise you what you come up with!
-Maria
Update:
October 10, 2023: If you commented below years ago what your Zentangle Doppelgänger is, is it still the same or has it changed? We would love to know!
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Thank you for everyone who commented on our last blog, When the Student Surpasses the Teacher. We were touched by all of your stories. We have randomly selected Anita Stovall and her CZT, Deb Prewitt to receive a Zentangle surprise. Please send your snail mail address to info@zentangle.com.
KIM VANZYLL czt 16 on
I’d probably come up with a different answer at different times, but today I’d say Tripoli. Because I really struggle to get on with it, to manage it, or like it when I can’t manage it. I lose control of it, or stay too tightly in control so that it lacks life. But… I’m never going to give up on it, because I think it could be quite wonderful one day. And that says a lot about me too!
(Another great post – I love how you prod us to see how Zentangle can make us look at ourselves and our world anew! Never a dull moment… And I love the Marianess of Maria and the Rickness of Rick – you are a great double act!)
Jem on
I think Printemps I would be
Round and comfortable, even cozy
To any tile, it brings beauty
It fits everywhere, without ado
It’s simple, yet quite glamorous too!
And what about the sparkle, isn’t that wow!
Doesn’t that make it so special now!
Yes i think all that is me too!
What a lovely reflection Maria! Enjoyed this!
Rohini Singh on
I would say there is no special Doppelgänger for me but tangles that come from Zentangle Inc. are always best choice for me. I can feel the “heart” inside of those tangles. There are so many others around where I can´t feel anything so I leave them beside. One tangle I use really often is TIPPLE. Easy to do and best tangle to build a connection between all the other tangles on a tile.
Inge Frasch on
Diana Schreur on
Hey did you see, I, Aishwarya Darbha got vanished and CrescentMoon kept narrating itself. Now, that’s why I love being Me(Any Me) !
Aishwarya Darbha on
Aishwarya Darbha on
Maria Tovar (Spain) on
What an interesting psychological exploration! My Zentangle® Doppelgänger would be Bales. Bales is the first pattern I teach in my classes, it’s my favorite pattern and I love teaching, so it’s reflective of me! When new students tangle this pattern they realize they can create something beautiful. This always brings me joy. I like grid patterns and because Bales also has graceful curves it’s somewhat organic which makes it extra special. It’s also a versatile tangle with many variations — similar to me, a person who likes to explore a variety of art forms.
Nancy CZT18 on
I so love this blog post!
Hmmmm….what is my Zentangle Doppelganger? I could go with so many. Mooka definitely has a look in, Pokeroot too but I might go with Tipple!
So simple yet can be intricate and full of interesting detail which can be overlooked.
It is able to adjust and fit in with most things and is very forgiving. Its bubbly nature can spread to other tangles (tanglers) and often helps support them or just fill a little gap. Those Tipple orbs can be big and round and bouncy ( note to self…no more cake!) or small and compact (note to self….exercise and healthy eating!). Then of course a tipple is always nice to have (in the UK ‘having a Tipple’ means to have a little drink!)….and for me one with bubbles in always goes down well! ??
Jo Quincey on
Lydz on
Lynn Noga, CZT8 on
Linda on
Diva Dance, rock-n-roll style is my doppelgänger! I love that with all the “bumps in the road” in my life, I can keep on going with this tangle by auraing around all those bumps.
Heather Jackson, CZT 21 on
My doppelgänger is flux. Its form and flow work for me. They are very satisfying to draw and admire.
Sandi Buchspics on
Laura Oldham on
LInda JF on
Faith Cohen on
Barb Mayo (BAM CZT) on
Barb Mayo (BAM CZT) on
My Zentangle Doppelgänger is definitely Crazy Huggins! It’s a great expression of making your own rules, yet like life, you never know which way it’s going to lead you. The icing on the cake is all the wonderful different ways you can embellish it! Crazy love at first tangle!
Amy WMK on
I’m going with Sanabelle. I love the gentle curves and graceful lines of this tangle. It cloaks me in a peaceful shawl of calm, and it always surprises me at the direction my pen takes when putting down the vertical lines.
Tricia F on
Linda D on
You might think I’d say Mi2 because, after all, I named that tangle after myself. But, no, I must confess that I relate to Rixty! I love the way it travels across a tile (even an Opus tile) with a mind of its own. It can resemble an ancient botanical vine or tiny new sprouts. I also like the way it can loop and connect back on itself. It centers me.
Mimi on
Pat Floerke on