How to draw VERTIGO

Hi there and welcome back for Friday’s tangle.

Vertigo is from tangler Elena Ratkevich (who also goes by the name Alena Light) and it’s her first on the site. Eleana writes that she was encouraged to submit this tangle by Spanish CZT Tomàs Padrós.

Elena introduces Vertigo and also shares two additional versions of it including one suggested by Tomàs,

It’s a simple design made of rotating angular lines, creating a beautiful and intricate filler for any space.

The basic tangle works well in any polygon—I especially enjoy filling triangles and squares with it. It’s built from consecutive angular lines drawn clockwise or counterclockwise, and you can even change direction mid-pattern to add a unique twist.

Vertigo is aptly named, it might make your head spin a bit as you tangle it. This is definitely a tangle where I found turning the tile for each stroke helped keep me on track. And anyway, as Elena notes you can change directions mid-pattern so if things go off the rails a bit … no mistakes! 😉

Elena illustrates the step-by-step instructions for drawing Vertigo below and includes a ZIA grid-based version within a variety of polygons.

In this version Elena demonstrates “An alternative sequence, suggested by Tomàs Padrós, makes it especially approachable for beginners.”

How to draw the Zentangle pattern Vertigo, tangle and deconstruction by Elena Ratkevich. Image copyright the artist and used with permission, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In this third version, “organic variation reveals just how fluid and versatile this tangle can be. With a slight curve to the lines, it adapts gracefully to any shape.” This is similar to the famous Scottish architect Charles Rennie Macintosh’s iconic art nouveau / art deco rose.

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. Republishing images isn’t allowed. Thanks!

Check out the tag elenar for more of Elena’s tangles on TanglePatterns.com.

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." 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.
   • Un motif n’est pas toujours un tangle — Qu’est-ce qu’un tangle ?
   • Un diseño no es siempre un tangle — ¿Qué es un tangle?
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 Here's how to SUBSCRIBE button (top of left sidebar on any page) and sign up to get notices delivered free to your inbox.
11. If you have questions about the TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE, visit the BOOK REVIEWS tab on the top menu bar of any page on the site for COMPLETE details!

.oOo.
Enhance your Zentangle experience while supporting TanglePatterns:
LATEST EDITION! TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE, 2025 Edition
	The 14th Edition of the TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE is an instant-download 117-page interactive digital eBook/PDF containing over 2,000 tangles on the site from May 2010 through December 31, 2024. 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.
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.
	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.
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
.oOo.