How to draw BWIYA

As unusual as it might seem, barbed wire seems to be a popular inspiration for tangle patterns lately. As Suzanne McNeill tells us in her recent video there are over 2,000 known patterns of barbed wire. I guess if it makes a good fence it makes a good border too, right? (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

Bwiya was also inspired by barbed wire — Australian barbed wire — as this pattern comes from Anne Marks of western Australia. This is Anne’s first pattern on TanglePatterns. I suppose you pronounce it “bee – wiyah”, as if you’re from New Jersey?

Anne writes,

“I am an art teacher, senior secondary school. Have also taught Graphics and Textiles, so am interested in all things decorative. I enjoy embroidery, calligraphy (have written 2 books for students), card making, photography, painting and of course teaching. My job is part-time so I also run a ladies art and craft group for our church. Some of the ladies have started tangling with great enthusiasm.

I live in county Victoria in Australia. I love to try out new things and new media, so have taken to Zentangle like a duck to water! Of course I couldnt last long without exploring tangling with colour, paints, markers, different papers, stamps, 9 tiles, and making my own designs! Next round is doing larger pieces. It never ends. I have found great inspiration too from other peoples work, and am sincerely grateful for the wonderful ‘tangle patterns’ website.”

Anne illustrates the steps for drawing her Bwiya tangle below.  I found I got better results if I combined steps 2 and 3, making kind of a 6-shape in each direction. That helped me keep the “wires” aligned better. But that’s just me …

Image copyright the artist and used with permission, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Please feel free to refer to the step outs to recreate this tangle in your Zentangles and ZIAs, or link back to this page. However the artist and TanglePatterns.com reserve all rights to these images and they should not be pinned, reproduced or republished. Thank you for respecting these rights.

Here’s a Zentangle® by Anne featuring her Bwiya tangle and several more barbed wire variations.

Zentangle featuring Anne Marks’ Bwiya tangle pattern. Used with permission of the artist. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Thanks for sharing your Bwiya tangle with us, Anne!

Check out the tag annem for more of Anne’s patterns on TanglePattterns.com.

Related Links:

• Suzanne McNeill’s video about barbed wire

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