Tangle Refresher 147 – Featuring the Zen of Zentangle®

Way back when in the early-ish days of Zentangle, Ohio CZT® (and my CZT#7 classmate) Carole Ohl posted an article called More Than a Metaphor on her blog.

In it Carole describes her experience and personal process creating a Zentangle. Or more accurately, allowing it to create itself.

Carole’s article is a wonderful piece of philosophy, wisdom and encouragement as she muses on these steps:

First, the act of starting a Zentangle.

Here she writes,

As I draw my string, I have to let go of what I may WANT the Zentangle to look like.

I allow my hand to intuitively (without thinking) make a mark.

I have to use and trust my intuition, no matter what my big left brain is trying to tell me (and it certainly has a lot to say: “that’s not pretty enough, that is too much space, that is not enough space”).

The ACT of using my intuition opens up the “intuition pipeline” a little bit more, and the next time I call on my intuition, there just might be an easier flow.

What an important reminder that Zentangle is not about planning and making pretty pictures. It’s about allowing your intuition to flow, “the awareness of NOW“. I ask you, how can you be in the “state of NOW” when you’re busy figuring out how your tile is going to turn out, what it’s going to “be”??

Carole goes on to reflect on these next steps …

Second, the act of choosing a tangle.

And lastly, the act of doing a tangle.

I encourage you to read (or re-read) Carole’s entire article and enjoy the wisdom and insight she shares. Here is her article, More Than a Metaphor.

BTW, Carole isn’t as active on her blog as she once was (and how I miss her wisdom!) because she opened a new bead store called Bead Stash in Kettering OH. However, she’s still very well known in the Zentangle community because each year she publishes her very popular “Tangle-a-Day Calendar“. Check it out!

And check out the tag caroleo for all of Carole’s tangles on TanglePatterns.com.

 * * *

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 to inspire yours. And please share a link to your favorite tangles with your followers on all your social media. Thanks!

Zenful tangling!

Buried Treasure from the tangling past

	Yincut
	Test Pattern
	Schiefer
	C-Six
	Slice
	Tangle Refresher 119

More good stuff …

• TanglePatterns Shading Mini-Clinics  — everything you need to know about shading your Zentangles and ZIAs, and the tutorials are free! Forget about the art rules for shading, this is Zentangle! Part 1 by CZT Marizaan van Beek, and Part 2 by CZT Sandy Bartholomew
• 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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