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What is Zentangle?
Linda Farmer, Certified Zentangle Teacher

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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 235 – Expanding your range of options with the Sakura Micron 01, our random string and how to draw IX, Tatu, Mazorito, Dinoflor, Twilight

Sakura Micron 01 PenIn today’s Buried Treasure we’re revisiting a tutorial where we learn how to expand our range of options with the Sakura Micron pens, including exercises to practice with a “Tiny Tutorial” from Zentangle® co-founder Maria Thomas.

This tutorial is from a few years ago but it’s still as relevant and helpful today as it was then so it’s well worth repeating.

From the original introduction:

Today we’re going to take a look at tangling with the Micron pen because there are Zentangle® newbies who’ve joined us and the rest of us could probably use a good brush-up too.

First we’ll take a quick look at the instrument itself, and then we’ll look at the art of being deliberate and controlling your pen to expand the range of options that you might not realize are available to you in using this tool.

As you may know, the Sakura Micron 01 is the pen of choice for Zentangle. Maria writes, “Rick and I spent countless hours trying out different pens on all types of wonderful papers … We unanimously agreed on the Sakura® Pigma® Micron 01 pen and Fabriano’s Tiepolo paper. We love the subtle things you can do with this combination of pen and paper.”

A Sakura Micron 01 pen on a Zentangle tile

A Sakura Micron 01 pen on a Zentangle® tile

Click here to continue reading “A tutorial on expanding your range of options with the Sakura Micron 01 Pen“.

And be sure to leave a comment to share what you learn about your Microns! 🙂

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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 143 is from Beth Snoderly and was originally posted here.

TanglePatterns String 143

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 (now available in paperback for $23.95, or as an instant download Kindle Edition $9.99, in Spanish here, and in Japanese here)there’s 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, Zentangles should not look like coloring book drawings.

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 the past 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: IX. 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. IX
Zentangle pattern: Tatu. 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. Tatu
Zentangle pattern: Mazorito. 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. Mazorito
Zentangle pattern: Dinoflor. 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. Dinoflor
Zentangle pattern: Twilight. 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. Twilight
Revisit the Tangle Refresher from the past Tangle Refresher 205

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!

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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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7 comments to Tangle Refresher 235 – Expanding your range of options with the Sakura Micron 01, our random string and how to draw IX, Tatu, Mazorito, Dinoflor, Twilight

  • Gem

    Hi Linda, thank you for all you do in encouraging and helping us along our zentangle journey. Wondering if there is somewhere that talks about the Sakura micron PN pens versus the traditional ones. Thanks?

    • Linda Farmer, CZT

      Hi Gem,
      Thanks for your thanks, much appreciated.
      I’m not aware of anything like that although I’m not really clear what your question about pens is. As I’ve quoted Maria above in this post, “Rick and I spent countless hours trying out different pens on all types of wonderful papers … We unanimously agreed on the Sakura® Pigma® Micron 01 pen and Fabriano’s Tiepolo paper. We love the subtle things you can do with this combination of pen and paper.” They did all the research for us and with Maria’s decades of experience as a calligrapher, we take her word for it 🙂

  • Your choice to include my tangle, Dinoflor, in this week’s Tangle Refresher feelS like a message from beyond. On Monday, Dino took his final breath at the ripe old dog age of 17. We miss him very much.

  • Jessica Dykes (aka, Jake)

    My sympathy for Dino’s passing. How serendipitous that his tangle is one of this week’s refreshers.

    For more info on Sakura pens, and other writing instruments and accessories, checkout the “Jetpens.com” website.

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