Hello friends and welcome to this month’s Buried Treasure and Tangle Refresher. Today we have gems in more than one way!
Earlier this week when we explored Barbara Johnson’s DiaRay tangle, she pointed out one of the ways to embellish it was to add a gem in the center. That reminded me of this great tutorial from CZT and Tombow signature designer Marie Browning. My original introduction to her tutorial goes like this:
For quite a while now some tanglers have been bitten by the craze of including colored gems in their Zentangle®-inspired art.
I think this trend gained traction late in 2015 when when Japanese tangler Kae Yoshino [and now CZT] published two tutorials on her blog in Japanese illustrating how she added gems to her Zentangle tiles using watercolor pencils, colored pencils, and a white gel pen or white acrylic paint.
If you’re not familiar with working with colored pencils and how to layer colors, this can be a little challenging.
However today CZT Marie Browning is going to show you how to use the richly-colored Tombow markers to EASILY create beautiful gems for your artwork. And the Tombow markers blend like a dream on Zentangle tiles with the colorless brush blender. No experience required.
Visit this page “How to Draw Gems with Markers and Colored Pencils” for an easy 4-Step tutorial from Tombow’s signature designer and CZT Marie Browning. The article includes links to Kae Yoshino’s tutorials (now in English) as well as several more gem tutorials.
Marie’s tutorial includes a free downloadable PDF for you to try your hand at adding colorful gems to Marie’s lovely ZIA dragonfly as she has done here.
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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 218 is from CZT Damy Teng and was originally posted here.
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!
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Ratoon |
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Q-Mi |
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Isla |
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Bartom |
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Eyedazzler |
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Tangle Refresher 219 |
More good stuff …
- The Importance of Strings in Zentangle – and String 001
- Zentangle Primer Vol 1 – your CZT-in-a-book by the founders of Zentangle! Now available in softcover, or as an instant download KINDLE Edition.
- 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 a jackpot of free 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 9, 2023 | 
More like this: 
That “bejeweled” dragonfly is spectacular! Dragonflies are one of my favorite insects, and I love watching them perform their flight maneuvers as they go around catching smaller insects themselves. To see one decked out in one of my favorite art forms—drawn jewels—is even better. I definitely have to use a tutorial to get my gems up to par because I want them to be as beautiful as the ones on this dragonfly are!