Pop-Cloud is a fun tangle pattern “with a maze-like quality” from Carla du Preez of South Africa.
It reminded Carla “of clouds and pop-corn, hence the name.”
“I first saw a tangle pattern on a cellphone and knew I had to see more. Once I had googled this phenomena, I was smitten. I printed out some images and used them during a Creative Movement session with a group of dancers. Then I was fortunate to have a lesson with CZT Marizaan van Beek, a most gifted teacher.” (You may recall that Marizaan recently shared her Angel Fish tangle with us.)
Carla writes that the first pattern she learned from Marizaan was Zentangle’s classic Crescent Moon tangle, which is drawn using the tangle enhancing technique called aura. Pop-Cloud was inspired by this technique as well as Zentangle’s characteristic “drawing behind”.
For my example I discovered if I drew Pop-Cloud “upside down” from Carla’s steps, it was easier for me to control the loops and their spacing. Any way you draw it, it’s a simple, fun tangle that looks especially effective with a touch of shading. Pop-Cloud is a fun and easy continuous line tangle, looks great from all four sides and makes an excellent filler tangle.
Here are Carla’s step-by-step instructions for drawing Pop-Cloud, and her lovely shaded monotangle.
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.
Check out the tag carladp for more of Carla’s patterns on TanglePatterns.com.
.oOo.
Share your tangle on TanglePatterns
Everyone is invited to share patterns on TanglePatterns.com, you do NOT need to be a CZT. In order for patterns to be considered for publication they must be submitted to me by email. In other words you have to let me know about them.
For a submission to qualify as a tangle it must be a genuine pattern (“a repeated decorative design”) and not “a thing to draw”.
From The Book of Zentangle:
“Keep it Non-representational. Zentangle artwork is intended to be non-representational. Zentangle’s elemental strokes are also non-representational.
We don’t teach complex elements such as hearts, stars or flowers. Tangles are also non-representational.”
Remember that tangles never start with pencil planning.
"A tangle has no pre-planning with pencil guidelines, grids or dots, no erased lines."
If you need a refresher on what makes a tangle, read the A PATTERN IS NOT ALWAYS A TANGLE page on the ZENTANGLES menu bar at the top of any page.
For details on how to submit your pattern for consideration visit the SUBMIT YOUR PATTERN page on the top menu bar of any page on the site. On that menu you will find these two pages:
The first page includes instructions on how to prepare and send your JPGs. (Please save me time and do not send PDFs). It also includes a link to this PDF submission form.
When your examples include additional tangles from the site, please list them in your email. (This saves me time and my memory some wear and tear.)
If your pattern is posted on your blog, attach your steps and tile JPGs to your email and be sure your email includes the direct URL so I can link to it.
And remember, to quote Zentangle's co-founders Rick and Maria: tangles should be "magical, simple and easy to create", non-objective patterns of repetitive strokes that are easy to teach and offer a high degree of success to tanglers of all ages.
"Keep the tangles as little like 'drawing something' as possible."
.oOo.
|
.oOo. |
|
Enhance your Zentangle experience while supporting TanglePatterns: |
|
CURRENT EDITION! TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE, 2024 Edition |
|
 |
The 13th Edition of the TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE is an instant-download 109-page interactive digital eBook/PDF containing approximately 2,000 tangles on the site from May 2010 through December 31, 2023. It's a great resource and a must-have digital tool for using the site. Visit the STORE > E-BOOKS page and help keep TanglePatterns.com going by getting your copy now! |
|
"Linda, Thank you! I was relying on too few and getting stuck after 3 years of daily working with Zentangle. This has inspired me to ‘begin again’ with renewed excitement." ~ Barbara R. |
|
| See the BOOK REVIEWS page for more details on its features and view a sample page. Note: this is a digital product you download immediately when you place your order, nothing will be physically mailed to you. | |
| GIFT ORDERS FOR ANOTHER PERSON: To give the TANGLE GUIDE as a gift, visit this page to place your gift order. | |
| If you're new to Zentangle® and tangling, my TanglePatterns.com BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO ZENTANGLE is just what you need to get started. Also available en Français and en Español. | |
|
|
|
 |
This is the only Zentangle book you'll ever need: the fabulous Zentangle PRIMER Vol 1. It's your CZT-in-a-book by the founders of Zentangle®. Visit the STORE tab on the top menu bar or click on the image. For more about the content and to read the rave reviews, visit the BOOK REVIEWS tab. |
| NEW! Now available in KINDLE format for $9.99. Spanish Edition here. Japanese Edition here. | |
| "Absolutely the best Zentangle Book yet! As an accomplished artist I used to think I did not need instruction on this art form. How wrong I was! My tangling improved by leaps and bounds after reading this book. If you think you have Zentangle down then you need this book more than ever!" ~ Kris H | |
|
|
|
|
.oOo. |
|
July 30, 2012 | 
More like this: 
Fun! Beautifully simple, yet impressive. Thank you.
Really nice tangle, Carla–very lively and graphic. I like its dimensionality and depth. Thank you –I was looking for something like this for a Zentangle I’m drawing, even as we, um, text! Thanks!
Could we talk a little bit sometime about shading? I need some pointers in this area, love tangling! On a train trip recently a college girl leaned over and asked me what I was doing…. “well,” I said, and got out paper and pen for her and some tangle ideas. She was in heaven! Gave her the website and she was so delighted!
The best thing to do is just experiment with a well-worn lead pencil and a tortillion (blending stump). There is a page about Shading on TanglePatterns.com top menu (TIPS & TOOLS > SHADING), and I heartily recommend Sandy Bartholomew’s “Totally Tangled” for excellent lessons on shading. But, that having been said, I’ll see what else I can come up with for you on the subject … stay tuned …
Fun pattern, thank you Carla! Started drawing this one and didn’t want to stop; I ended up with a “Pop-cloud” that could have held enough rain to end ALL droughts in the world, LOL.
Linda’s right–shading is a matter of experimentation, as well as practice. I didn’t use it the first couple of ‘tangles I did, but then got up the courage to go ahead; now I can’t imagine any pattern without it!
Awesome! Love doing it!
I saw this pattern in someone’s Zentangle tile, and thought I’d try it, even though looking at it, it didn’t appeal to me. One try and I was hooked – this tangle is so much FUN and it is pretty easy, too! I’ve noticed before that I’m often surprised by tangles that don’t immediately appeal to me visually – they’ve become favorites. So many many thanks to you Carla for coming up with this very different, and very entertaining tangle, and to Linda for publishing it!
I’ve started making notes on the stepout pages in my notebooks – rating tangles as to their Pleasure, Effort, and Zen (P, E, and Z). So far it seems that P=Z most of the time. This one got a P=10, E=1, Z=10!
Following up for those wondering … Pop-Cloud was just shown on CZT Jane Goddard’s tile demonstrating Sarah Fowler’s Esher tangle.
The idea is very simple and fun. A playful tangle with a fun swinging deconstruction.