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What is Zentangle?
Linda Farmer, Certified Zentangle Teacher

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RANDOM SELECTOR

Use this Random Tangle Selector with your TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE to help you select tangles. See Pages 7 and 9 of the Guide for instructions. You can also use this to select random Strings: simply pop in any number in the range of 1 to 250.

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Tangle Refresher 208 – The magic of auras, our random string, plus how to draw Ratoon, Cee, Delys, C-rendipity and Flevo

Tangle Refresher!It’s always useful to refresh ourselves by revisiting  basic concepts.

Adding an aura is one of the key magical “devices” of the Zentangle Method™ and that’s what we’re taking a closer look at today.

When you’re tangling and you don’t quite know what to do next — aura!

You never know where it’s going to take you AND your pen control skills get a good workout.

This is well worth repeating:

Today I thought we’d explore the creative possibilities of auras as explained by Zentangle® founders Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas.

In Zentangle we frequently use the term “aura“, which is one of six tangle-enhancing techniques, along with dewdrop, perfs, rounding, shading and sparkle.

From the Zentangle blog:

“In the Zentangle Method, a line tracing around the outside or inside of a tangle is called an aura. It’s like a halo. It’s like ripples that radiate on calm water.

Aura-ing is a good example of drawing in a Zentangle way for two reasons: (1) you don’t need to figure out where to draw, you just trace what’s already there; and (2), you can’t usually tell what the shapes of the next few auras will look like so you just enjoy the one you’re drawing at the moment.

Aura-ing is a basic component of many tangles. That’s why we teach crescent moon first in our introductory classes.

Aura-ing is a great exercise in awareness, control of pen and focus. It’s a good reminder to rotate your tile as you tangle. It encourages a tangler to not pre-plan the outcome of a completed Zentangle tile.”

water-aurasIn this post, in her own inimitable way, Maria explores innovative ways of adding auras to your tangles, including:

  • using a different shaped line for the aura
  • using different shaped auras, one after the other
  • tangling the space between two auras, and
  • using another tangle as the aura

Check out the post and see what interesting ways you can come up for using this simple but creative technique to enhance your tangles.

And be sure to enjoy the inspirational Zentangle examples!

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Many tanglers like to use these occasional Tangle Refreshers as their Zentangle® challenge-of-the-day.

This TanglePatterns String was selected for today – either to go with today’s Buried Treasure or just to use as a starting point for your day’s tangling. The RANDOM TANGLE SELECTOR in the left sidebar makes it simple to choose a String-of-the-Day from the 250 free strings in our resource. Or just click on the STRINGS tab in the pink alphabetic tangle menu bar and choose one at random yourself.

Think of this as your tangle Challenge, if you’re so inclined. TanglePatterns String 054 is from Hope Martin and was originally posted here.

TanglePatterns String 054

Right click and SAVE to your computer; then print. Pinning or republishing content from this site is not permitted. Copyright notice is posted on the bottom of every page. Thank you for playing nice and respecting these rights.

Remember that Zentangle strings are always drawn freehand in pencil so that they magically disappear when you’ve finished tangling the tile.

A string is a simple device to “divide your drawing surface into sections to be filled with tangles“.

In the Zentangle PRIMER Vol 1 (available in paperback for $23.95) there is an entire section devoted to Strings which in part explains:

As you tangle, your strings disappear as if by magic. This adds to the charm and unified appearance of your completed art. If you had used a pen to draw your string, you would still see the initial sectioning in your completed creation.

Strings are not intended to be the focal point of your tile.

More String advice from The Book of Zentangle (now available in paperback for $19.95):

A string is a useful reference, but it is not an impenetrable barrier. Practice going outside your string. It will help increase your ability to think outside the box.

To download eBooks containing all 250 TanglePatterns Strings, visit the STORE > EBOOKS page.

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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 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
Zentangle pattern: Ratoon. Image © Linda Farmer and TanglePatterns.com. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may use this image for your personal non-commercial reference only. The unauthorized pinning, reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Ratoon
Zentangle pattern: Cee. Image © Linda Farmer and TanglePatterns.com. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may use this image for your personal non-commercial reference only. The unauthorized pinning, reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Cee
Zentangle pattern: Delys. Image © Linda Farmer and TanglePatterns.com. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may use this image for your personal non-commercial reference only. The unauthorized pinning, reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Delys
Zentangle pattern: C-rendipity. Image © Linda Farmer and TanglePatterns.com. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may use this image for your personal non-commercial reference only. The unauthorized pinning, reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. C-rendipity
Zentangle pattern: Flevo. Image © Linda Farmer and TanglePatterns.com. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may use this image for your personal non-commercial reference only. The unauthorized pinning, reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Flevo
Revisit the Tangle Refresher from a year ago Tangle Refresher 180

More good stuff …

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Enhance your Zentangle experience while supporting TanglePatterns:

CURRENT EDITION! TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE, 2024 Edition

TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE, 2024 Edition 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!

"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.

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.
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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.

Zentangle Primer Volume 1 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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4 comments to Tangle Refresher 208 – The magic of auras, our random string, plus how to draw Ratoon, Cee, Delys, C-rendipity and Flevo

  • I enjoy your website. Thank you for all you do.

    BTW, the link to Tangle Refresher 180 is broken. 😉

  • Lise Bélanger

    Bonjour Linda, merci beaucoup pour ce beau et utile site.

    J’ai voulu m’abonner à tanglepattern et on m’a dit que j’étais déjà abonnée, mais j’en aucun souvenir. Donc j’ai demandé à changer mon mot de passe et tout est allé bien jusque là.

    Le système dit qu’il ne peut pas me loguer. ???
    Pouvez-vous m’aider svp.

    Merci

    • Linda Farmer, CZT

      Hi Lise,
      I’ve just checked and your subscription is active which means the newsletters are being sent to your gmail address. If you are not receiving the email newsletters in your inbox, they must be going to your spam folder. Be sure to add my email address to your Contacts/whitelist as well as feedblitz@mail.feedblitz.com so your subscriptions aren’t blocked by your spam filter. This is the service that delivers the emails to you on my behalf. Hope that helps and thanks for your lovely compliment 🙂

      Google Translate:
      Salut Lise,
      Je viens de vérifier et votre abonnement est actif, ce qui signifie que les newsletters sont envoyées à votre adresse e-mail. Si vous ne recevez pas les newsletters par e-mail dans votre boîte de réception, elles doivent aller dans votre dossier spam. Veillez à ajouter mon adresse e-mail à vos contacts / liste blanche ainsi qu’à feedblitz@mail.feedblitz.com afin que vos abonnements ne soient pas bloqués par votre filtre anti-spam. C’est le service qui vous envoie les e-mails en mon nom. J’espère que cela aide et merci pour votre beau compliment 🙂

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