TanglePatterns String 100

Fanfare!!! Whoo Hoo … We’ve reached the 100 String milestone in our resource! And our milestone String is shared by Zentangle® co-founder Maria Thomas for your creative enjoyment.

This also means the TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDE, Volume 2 (String 051-100) will soon be available in the TanglePatterns Store and I’ll announce when it’s ready.

Sometimes just getting started is the hardest part and by having this great Zentangle resource to refer to (and the Random Tangle Selector in the left sidebar which also works for Strings) there’s nothing stopping you! Many thanks to the contributors in our community who share their string ideas with us and make this handy resource available to everyone.

This is a good occasion to reiterate that Zentangle strings are guidelines and when used properly they are meant to disappear into your Zentangle. In reminding us to use pencil for the string, Maria writes:

“This allows you to use it when you want … and not use it when the opportunity to do something fun comes up. Like blending tangles, one to another, or morphing them, Escher-like. And it creates a more feathered boundary, a more magical look. If you create your string in pen, this opportunity disappears, and your Zentangle has a more ‘coloring book’ look. Which is fine, if that was your intention.”

CZT and book author Sandy Bartholomew has also written about the use of Strings in Zentangle:

“It is also very easy to see the difference between Zentangle art and Zentangle-like art. One dead giveaway is the dark lines outlining the ‘strings’. Strings are guidelines that fade into the design when used properly.”

If you are new to Zentangle and not too clear about Strings, please see the “Related Links” below and visit the first link: The Importance of Strings.

You can use a string 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.

You can 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.

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

Reminders:

• Important: Strings are always drawn freehand 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 – a way to share your 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. The template helps make all the Strings consistent in size for the site.
• 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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eBooks available from TanglePatterns.com

TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDES, Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Sure you can download the strings from the site but this saves you tons of time and as always your purchase helps keep TanglePatterns going and growing. Each STRING GUIDE begins by describing the importance of Strings in Zentangle® and then presents 50 strings from the site’s resource. Strings are given in two formats to jump-start your Zentangle creativity: three pages contain “at-a-glance” size images of all 50 strings, followed by 13 pages of full-size traceable images. Additional String suggestions by several CZTs are also provided. As an added bonus, beginning with Volume 2 each guide also contains blank String Organizers for you to record and organize your own favorite Strings.

TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDE, Volume 1 (Strings 1-50)
	VOLUME 1 - STRINGS 001-050. A 22-page PDF eBook.
TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDE, Volume 2 (Strings 51-100)
	VOLUME 2 - STRINGS 051-100. A 24-page PDF eBook includes bonus blank String Organizers to organize your own Strings.
TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDE, Volume 3 (Strings 101-150)
	VOLUME 3 - STRINGS 101-150. A 24-page PDF eBook includes bonus blank String Organizers to organize your own Strings.
TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDE, Volume 4 (Strings 151-200)
	VOLUME 4 - STRINGS 151-200. A 24-page PDF eBook includes bonus blank String Organizers to organize your own Strings.
TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDE, Volume 5 (Strings 201-250)
	VOLUME 5 - STRINGS 201-250. A 24-page PDF eBook includes bonus blank String Organizers to organize your own Strings.
Visit the STORE > E-BOOKS page for more information and support TanglePatterns.com by getting your copies now!