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Linda Farmer, Certified Zentangle Teacher

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How to draw CATNIP

Zentangle pattern: Catnip. 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.Hi there and welcome back.

WELL. That was a plot twist I absolutely did NOT see coming. I’ll need to stock up with fresh Sakura Micron 01’s … mental health supplies 🙂 … and focus on Expect Good Things.

German tangler Maria Alexandra Japes shares her cool Catnip tangle with us today.

She writes,

I’m Maria Alexandra, RiaLex for short, from Germany and I discovered Zentangle® at the beginning of 2023. Since then, I’ve already worked through several project packs and I’m planning to take part in the CZT certification in Germany next year.

I discovered this pattern on a catnip cushion, hence the name catnip.

For me Catnip was a bit of a challenge. I started with the grid you see on the right, then added the large orbs in between where they fit in columns (see the inspiration above, and Maria Alexandra’s tile below). The first time I made the grid I made the mistake of adding the large orbs in every diamond space – that does NOT work 😉 After the large orbs, then the additional connecting strokes are added … very, very slowly! For some Catnip will come easily, for others like me it will be a slow and steady build. A bit like a challenging Sudoku.

Maria Alexandra illustrates the step-by-step instructions for drawing Catnip below and she features it in a simple, striking monotangle.

How to draw the Zentangle pattern Catnip, tangle and deconstruction by Maria Alexandra Japes. Image copyright the artist and used with permission, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Image copyright the artist and used with permission, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. These images are for your personal offline reference only. Please feel free to refer to the images to recreate this tangle in your personal Zentangles and ZIAs. However the artist and TanglePatterns.com reserve all rights to the images and they must not be publicly pinned, altered, reproduced or republished. (Small side note: if you look at the legalese in Pinterest, you are legally responsible for obtaining permission to post every photo that gets ‘Pinned’. Giving credit or sharing the source link doesn’t count.) Thank you for respecting these rights. “We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.” ~ Albus Dumbledore

As you enjoy any of the tangles on the site, please leave a comment of thanks and encouragement to show the artists you appreciate them for sharing their creativity to inspire yours. Your thanks helps motivate them to continue to share! And please share a link to your favorite tangles on social media. Thanks!

Check out the tag mariaj for more of Maria Alexandra’s tangles on TanglePatterns.com.

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A gentle reminder: Please help NOW to keep TanglePatterns online for another year!

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Share your tangle on TanglePatterns

Everyone is invited to share patterns on TanglePatterns.com, you do NOT need to be a CZT. In order for patterns to be considered for publication they must be submitted to me by email. In other words you have to let me know about them.

For a submission to qualify as a tangle it must be a genuine pattern (“a repeated decorative design”) and not “a thing to draw”.

From The Book of Zentangle:

Keep it Non-representational. Zentangle artwork is intended to be non-representational. Zentangle’s elemental strokes are also non-representational.

We don’t teach complex elements such as hearts, stars or flowers. Tangles are also non-representational.

Remember that tangles never start with pencil planning.

"A tangle has no pre-planning with pencil guidelines, grids or dots, no erased lines."

If you need a refresher on what makes a tangle, read the A PATTERN IS NOT ALWAYS A TANGLE page on the ZENTANGLES menu bar at the top of any page.

For details on how to submit your pattern for consideration visit the SUBMIT YOUR PATTERN page on the top menu bar of any page on the site. On that menu you will find these two pages:

    1. How to submit your pattern deconstruction to TanglePatterns, and
    2. Why hasn't my pattern been published?

The first page includes instructions on how to prepare and send your JPGs. (Please save me time and do not send PDFs). It also includes a link to this PDF submission form.

When your examples include additional tangles from the site, please list them in your email. (This saves me time and my memory some wear and tear.)

If your pattern is posted on your blog, attach your steps and tile JPGs to your email and be sure your email includes the direct URL so I can link to it.

And remember, to quote Zentangle's co-founders Rick and Maria: tangles should be "magical, simple and easy to create", non-objective patterns of repetitive strokes that are easy to teach and offer a high degree of success to tanglers of all ages.

"Keep the tangles as little like 'drawing something' as possible."

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Related Links

  1. Looking for tangles by Artist or Type? For details visit the ABOUT > HOW TO FIND TANGLES BY ARTIST OR TYPE page on the top menu bar of any page on the site.
  2. What is a Zentangle? — if you are new to the Zentangle Method, start here for the fundamentals.
  3. Zentangle terminology — a glossary of terms used in this art form.
  4. How to use the site — an excellent free video tutorial showing how to use the site as well as pointing out lots of useful features you might have missed.
  5. Linda's List of Zentangle-Original Patterns — here is the complete list of original tangles (aka "official tangles") created and introduced by founders Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, including those not published online. If you are new to the Zentangle Method I highly recommend learning a few of the published Zentangle classics first.
  6. "A Zentangle has no up or down and is not a picture of something, so you have no worries about whether you can draw a hand, or a duck. You always succeed in creating a Zentangle." Thus patterns that are drawings of a recognizable naturalistic or actual object, figure, or scene, are not tangles. A pattern is not always a tangle — here's what makes a tangle. TIP: tangles never start with pencil planning.
  7. How to submit your pattern deconstruction to TanglePatterns
  8. For lots of great FREE tutorials on TanglePatterns, click on the TUTORIALS link in the pink alphabetic menu bar below the tangle images at the top of any page.
  9. Strings! Have we got STRINGS! Click on the STRINGS link in the pink alphabetic menu bar below the tangle images at the top of any page for 250 different (free) Zentangle-starters. More than enough for any lifetime!
  10. Never miss a tangle! FREE eMAIL NEWSLETTER - visit the SUBSCRIBE page on the top menu bar of any page on the site and sign up to get notices delivered free to your inbox.

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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.

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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6 comments to How to draw CATNIP

  • Mary

    Maria, thank you for sharing catnip and I love it because it is a little challenging as Linda says! I also like Linda’s idea of trying catnip on a grid, too! Thanks to both Maria and Linda for bringing this lovely tangle to everyone!!! Have a great day, Ladies!

  • Lianne

    oh! I love a challenge. Am looking forward to trying catnip.

  • Jan Brandt, CZT 12

    RiaLex, I love the look of your new tangle! And I love the name. 🙂 Your steps look clear, so I’m looking forward to drawing it soon. Thanks for submitting it to tanglepatterns.com!

  • Les Boumans

    Dear Linda, thank you for the lovely e-mail messages. I was offline for a few days, so I am sorry, you only hear a reply now. I’m just dead pleased that YOU and your lovely SITE are here, and may you continue with the help of all the gorgeous folk, who continue to send in their gorgeous drawings on a daily level, Bless you, and Bless them all!!! Thank you ALL, I profit ( in joy and pleasure each day when the e-mail Tanglepatterns fall into my inbox.) Love to all, Les:) XXX

  • Sharon Wrench

    Such a lovely patttern! It may take a little practice, but it is so pretty! Thank you for sharing!

  • RiaLex

    I would like to thank everyone for their kind words and wish you all lots of fun discovering catnip

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