Brexit! Wow, who would have guessed. Well if there’s one thing that’s sure about life, it’s change.
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Every other Friday I publish a Tangle Refresher to spotlight tangles from a year ago and I also make an effort to include a useful and interesting introduction to each Refresher. So I encourage you to visit the Refreshers to see what’s new and what might helpful for you.
Today we’re revisiting an introduction from January 2015, but first a welcome note to all my new subscribers. Every day new tanglers join the Zentangle® community and we welcome them all with open arms! This wonderful meditative art form is gaining lucky followers all the time, and I say lucky because it has so many great benefits for everyone and any age.
When you’re just starting out there’s a lot to take in but at the same time the principles are very simple and straightforward, and as CZT Sandy Hunter has written, the “rules” are there for a reason in the Zentangle Method™.
Some time ago a new tangler asked for advice on what to do if you get stuck completing a Zentangle®, and that request prompted the following introduction to Tangle Refresher 95:
Melissa would like to know, “What do others do when they get stuck and are not sure what to put where next or is everything preplanned? [What do you do when] you’re in the middle of a Zentangle or ZIA and just don’t know what to do next?”
Let’s start with advice from Zentangle’s founders Rick and Maria.
The whole idea behind Zentangle is there’s no pre-planning, no expectations, just let go and follow your intuition. Then when you find yourself thinking about the outcome rather than just tangling, Maria recommends going to your “mac and cheese” tangle, the one you love to draw, “the one I start tangling when I need to draw and not think.”
“The charm of Zentangle’s method is that you can relax into the pleasure of creating ‘one stroke at a time’ without concern for the outcome. We often speak of Zentangle as a practice. We never speak of it as a competition.”
“Draw whatever tangle makes you happy at that moment. That is the essence of Zentangle, enjoying putting pen to paper one stroke at a time. It feels so good to enjoy that moment without fretting about an outcome or someone else’s opinion.
So, if you want to learn a new tangle (or explore a new path or try a new food), that’s fine. But most times what you want is a comfort tangle; and then, comfort tangles it is!
* Tried
* True
* Simple
* Familiar“
And remember too, this sage advice from Bijou, “Sometimes I even leave a section blank; which is occasionally my best choice!”
So fellow tanglers, what are your thoughts on the matter? How do you proceed when you run out of steam but somehow feel your Zentangle is not finished yet?
And which ones are your reliable, familiar, comfort tangles?
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The Tangle Refresher series, aka Buried Treasure, spotlights hidden tangle gems from the past. It can remind you of tangles you might not have used for a while or introduce you to some you haven’t come across yet.
Here are five more tangle pattern gems and a Tangle Refresher from a year (or two) ago for your tangling pleasure. Remember to check out the “More Good Stuff” links below too.
BTW as you visit these tangles please do leave a comment of thanks and encouragement to show the artists you appreciate them for sharing their creativity for you to enjoy. And please share a link to your favorite tangles with your followers on all your social media. Thanks!
Zenful tangling!
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Flux |
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Omen |
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Keystone |
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Balo |
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Lacee |
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Tangle Refresher 103 |
More good stuff …
- Expanding your range of options with the Sakura Micron 01 pen
- Add Zentangle® to your travel journals
- New to Zentangle®? The Official Zentangle Kit has everything you need to get started, including a great DVD tutorial by Zentangle co-founder Maria Thomas.
- A great companion to the Kit is the new Zentangle Primer Vol 1 – your CZT-in-a-book by the founders of Zentangle!
- Everything you need to know about creating Zentangle-Inspired Art or Products
- Free Interweave eBook – Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for crafters and artists
- Tangle Pattern Refreshers – the entire Buried Treasure series.
- Find more tutorials on TanglePatterns by visiting the TUTORIALS tab on the pink alphabetic menu bar
- Find a CZT near you – the link to the list of Certified Zentangle Teachers is located in the left sidebar of the site under the heading SOURCE WEBSITES.
- Interested in becoming a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT®)? Here’s more information.
- Linda’s List of Zentangle-original tangles — THE tangles to learn first if you’re new to Zentangle.
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Enhance your Zentangle experience while supporting TanglePatterns: |
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CURRENT EDITION! TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE, 2024 Edition |
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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! |
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"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. |
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| 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. | |
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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 | |
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June 24, 2016 | 
More like this: 
When I get to the “What now?” point, I sometimes use the die included in the Zentangle Kit. If you don’t have the kit, you could use Linda’s Random Tangle Selector!
Wonderful post. Thank you
When I start a piece, I tend to go to the ones I like the most and I have a few that I love to do. As Marie says draw whatever makes you happy at that moment. I have a lot of “happy at that moment” tangles. My sketch book is full of them. It’s funny when I go back through the pages of my sketch book, I didn’t realize it before, but there are a few of preferred tangles that I like. I visit Tangle Patterns often searching for a fun tangle I haven’t tried. The way I find them is just by looking at them, if they looking interesting to me, I’ll try it. I put them in my sketch book for future reference.