“The Zentangle Method is a way of creating beautiful images from structured patterns.”
Here is a collection of Zentangle®-related terms for inquiring minds. Although TanglePatterns is not affiliated with the official site, I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT). Unless noted otherwise definitions in quotation marks are from the official Zentangle® website, zentangle.com.
If you haven’t read this page on the Theory of Zentangle then please do!
As Sandy Steen Bartholomew reminds us in her AlphaTangle: A Truly Tangled Alphabet
TIP: Zentangle is a noun, not a verb. Don’t say “I Zentangled my bathroom floor.” Say “I tangled my bathroom floor.” Other things to say: “I need to create a Zentangle, right now!” “Sorry, I didn’t hear you. I was busy tangling.”
Same goes for “zentangling”… I often see references online to “zentangling”. The correct terms are tangling, or tangled.
We’re tangling, baby, tangling.
Aura
One of six tangle enhancers along with dewdrop, perfs, rounding, shading and sparkle. “Tangles often use parallel or radiating patterns. The simplest example is aura … as you repeatedly outline a tangle, aura expands in rhythmic changing waves.” From Beginning Zentangle by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas (part of the Official Kit).
Border
Step 1 of creating a Zentangle®. A border starts with a lightly penciled dot placed in each corner of the tile. Then a lightly-penciled line connects the dots near the edges of the tile to frame the string and its contents. An example of a border can be seen on this page.
Copyright
What you should know about using the term Zentangle® and using tangle patterns in teaching or your art. Read about it here.
CZT®
Certified Zentangle Teacher® – a designation obtained by attending a certification seminar. Visit the official Zentangle® site for more information on becoming a CZT®. You can also read more about it here on TanglePatterns. Seminars are usually held approximately 3 times a year (February, May, October).
Dewdrop
One of six tangle enhancers along with aura, perfs, rounding, shading and sparkle. Learn all about it from a CZT®.
Illumitangles
Illuminated letters with tangles.
Monotangle
A completed Zentangle® composed entirely of a single tangle.
Orb
“We wanted a word that described this shape’s essence (rather than ‘circle’) . . . so that everyone would understand this shape’s beauty is not its circular perfection, but its organic, full, nourishing, yielding and luscious roundness.”
Perfs
One of six tangle enhancers along with aura, dewdrop, rounding, shading and sparkle. Learn all about it from a CZT®. An example of Perfs can be seen here.
Rounding
One of six tangle enhancers along with aura, dewdrop, perfs, shading and sparkle. Learn all about it from a CZT®.
Shading
Very light pencil shading adds depth and dimension to a tangle pattern. More about Shading here. One of six tangle enhancers along with aura, dewdrop, perfs, rounding, and sparkle.
Sparkle
One of six tangle enhancers along with aura, dewdrop, perfs, rounding and shading. Sparkles are often seen in Maria’s Zentangles.
String
The random free-form penciled line drawn within the tile’s border, creating an area within which one adds tangle patterns to create a Zentangle®. “Strings allow Zentangles to grow without thinking or planning.” An example of a String and an article about the Importance of Strings is here. Sample strings for you to use are here on TanglePatterns (also located on the pink alphabetic index bar).
Tangle Patterns (Tangles)
Structured abstract non-objective patterns created with at most 2 or 3 simple repeating strokes drawn with a fine-nib black ink pen. Tangle patterns do not represent nor are they intended to represent any natural or actual object, figure, or scene. For more about tangles, see A pattern is not always a tangle.
TanglePatterns.com is an indexed guide to tangle patterns published on the web and selected according to my explanation here, under the Philosophy heading.
Tangleation
“A noticeable variation of an existing pattern.”
Tangle Enhancer
One of several embellishments or techniques to enhance a tangle. Aura and shading are the two most often seen. Dewdrop, Perfs, Rounding and Sparkle are the others. Learn all about these from a CZT®.
Tango
” ‘Tango’ is our new term for two tangles dancing together. Just as in couples dancing, in tangle tangos, one tangle is more likely to lead and the other follow.”
Tile
A 3 1/2-inch x 3 1/2-inch (89 mm x 89 mm) square card of high quality paper (“fine, individually die-cut printmaking paper selected for its texture and archival characteristics”). The format of a Zentangle®. So named because completed tiles can be arranged together to create a beautiful mosaic.
Zentangle®
Is more fully described on this “What is a Zentangle” page.
Zentangle-Inspired Art (ZIA)
CZT® Nancy Lubin responded to a discussion here, with this: According to CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher) training, a Zentangle is the form created on a 3.5 in tile, with [abstract] patterns referred to as tangles. Works using these patterns but differing in size or shape or surface are ‘Zentangle inspired Art’.
Zentomology™
Definition coming soon.
Zentomologist™
Definition coming soon.
And for the Official Zentangle Glossary of Terms page, visit the Zentangle.com site.
I am sorry. I just read this and realised that I have used zentangle as a verb at more than one place…without knowing that I was doing a blunder. I’ll try not to do that again ann I’ll try to change it wherever possible.
ZIA as a term, for Zentangle Inspired Art. I wanted to share what the “Zia” symbol means, and it is a very nice tie in to Zentangle as an art. Very Zen in and of itself, term and abbreviation!
The Zia Sun Symbol
The Zia Sun Symbol is featured on the New Mexico flag.
The Zia Indians of New Mexico regard the Sun as a sacred symbol. Their symbol, a red circle with groups of rays pointing in four directions, is painted on ceremonial vases, drawn on the ground around campfires, and used to introduce newborns to the Sun. Four is the sacred number of the Zia and can be found repeated in the four points radiating from the circle. The number four is embodied in:
the four points of the compass (north, south, east, and west);
the four seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn and winter);
the four periods of each day (morning, noon, evening and night);
the four seasons of life (childhood, youth, middle years and old age);
and
the four sacred obligations one must develop (a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of others), according to the Zia’s belief.
The symbol is featured on the Flag of New Mexico and in the design of both the New Mexico State Capitol and New Mexico’s State Quarter entry as well as the state highway marker. But given its history, the pueblo would like
people to first request permission before using it.