TANGLED BY DESIGN

A method of putting pen to paper and following simple patterns on small pieces of paper which does anything but get you all tangled up. Zentangle is a meditative art form in which you tangle on a tile – not for the purpose of creating a perfect piece of art, but for the experience of the creative moment. In that moment, the mind becomes focused, the breathing evens out, and a calmness is found as one’s creativity is given expression and release.

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My GALLERY

This is the set up where I might sit to tangle. Some pens and a pencil alongside some tiles. A Zentangle method sheet to one side. A light on the other side. A piece of chocolate to keep things sweet. A little bag to put things in when I’m done. This happens to be what my seat looked like when I attended CZT training in Newport, RI, in 2023.

You begin with a 3 1/2 inch square tile. It’s beautiful paper. Appreciate the paper. Appreciate the time to sit and tangle, the time to relax, the time to be creative. Then a dot in each corner and a line connecting the dots to create a border. The lines don’t have to be straight. And this border is only a guideline, nothing absolute or definite. Continuing with the pencil we draw a string to break up the white space which can be so intimidating – so big and blank. Now we pick up the pen and begin to tangle. Simple repetitive lines, circles, curves. No mistakes – really – no mistakes. A line goes wonky, it just becomes part of the unique artistic expression. This is what helps create the calmness, the kindness we give to ourselves during this time, to play, to experiment, to just have the experience with no expectations for creating something that is perfect. When we finish the tangles we add some shading with the pencil and then sign with our initials or our chop. Then we admire it. We did this, pretty amazing! Deep breath, we’re pretty amazing.

There are many tools of the trade. Pens of all types. Tiles of all shapes. It’s really all limited only by your own imagination. Just like the border we put on the tile, what we have are guidelines. Where our imaginations can take us is someplace altogether different.

Below is a Zendala, pastel chalk and a gel pen. That is just the beginning. At Zentangle.com there are tons of supplies and ideas. There are project packs to get you started – some even have videos on YouTube – and they come with all the supplies needed!

About ME

Christine

I have been tangling for over 20 years and became a Certified Zentangle® Teacher in 2023. It was introduced to me as a spiritual practice when I was on retreat with other clergy women at a Benedictine monastery. “read more”