TanglePatterns String 025

Here’s another String for your creative enjoyment. This is another one is shared by tangler Hope Martin who also shared String 008.

Given the arrival of Hurricane Sandy earlier this week, it’s a really weird coincidence this one appears today because I scheduled it some time ago. Hmmm … will this become known as “The Sandy String”? And while I have your attention …

I’ve noticed some folks are making the string the main focus of their Zentangle® when actually the string is meant to disappear like magic into your tangles. Normally in a finished Zentangle the string is not obvious. Occasionally you might want to accent some part of it with a border-type pattern but generally it won’t be apparent in your finished art. If you play the slideshow on the zentangle.com home page, you’ll observe what I mean. Strings form the invisible backbone of a Zentangle and that’s part of its magic.

Bear in mind that Zentangle® strings are guidelines. You can use it exactly as it is or adapt it to suit as your Zentangle grows. Start with the string as it’s shown then, as you go, combine sections if your tangles want to, or divide a section into smaller ones. Go with the flow and enjoy.

Please help our community’s String resource grow by sending me yours to share. Remember to keep them simple, Zentangle strings are not elaborate or complicated. For your convenience, below there’s a link to a template to use if you’d like.

If you’d like to share your completed tiles for other to see, add them to the TanglePatterns String group on flickr (see the link below).

Right click and SAVE to your computer; then print.

Lightly pencil the string on your tile and you’re good to go tangling. Enjoy!

Reminders:

• Important: Strings are always drawn in pencil so they magically disappear into your completed Zentangle.
• Use any string over and over again with different tangles.
• There are so many tangles available that your Zentangles will always be different even using the same string.
• Or use it with only one tangle – a monotangle.
• Usually each string will have many options.
• The Border (if one is given) is also a suggestion – use it, change it, or ignore it. It’s your art.
• And remember, in Zentangle there’s no right-side-up!

Related Links

• The Importance of Strings – and String 001
• TanglePatterns Strings group on flickr – for those who like to share their finished art using these Strings for all to enjoy
• Template to submit your Strings for sharing – right click link to save this PDF (or click link to open PDF), an instruction page is included with the template
• Click on the link “STRINGS” on the alphabetic menu bar above for more Strings
• Linda’s List of Official Zentangle® Patterns – the complete list of official patterns (i.e., created by Zentangle® founders Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas), including those not published online

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