How to draw VERVE

Verve is a tangle pattern from Delaware’s JJ LaBarbera. JJ has shared some very popular tangles with us — Arc Flower and Ticking spring to mind.

JJ says Verve is “really quite simple and will easily fit into a circle shape that pops up in your string.” As you can see here, Verve can actually fit into pretty much any shape and of course shading adds great dimension. When I showed Robert my example he commented, “You really love that shading, don’t you!” Yup. As I’ve said before, sometimes I think that’s my favorite part.

Verve starts “with a 6 and a 9 that wrap around the circle. You can ‘wave’ the stems quite a bit to add interest.” As you see, I made mine wavy. JJ says she has to fight to keep herself from filling every round shape with Verve, but I think you’ll all have to resist filling every empty space you see with it. Wait until you try it, you’ll see what I mean.

This isn’t one of my better examples and I wasn’t planning on posting it. For starters it has NO shading for heaven’s sake. But I decided I’d show you what else you can do with Verve, so here’s my “first draft”.  I drew one circle and a few of its “stems” in a corner of the shape, then added more circles and their stems to fill it. Kind of cool all-over Verve pattern that warrants further experimentation. This is one addictive tangle! No thinking, no planning, just play.

JJ illustrates the step-by-step instructions for drawing Verve here.

Check out the tag jjl for more of JJ’s patterns on TanglePatterns.com.

.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.