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What is Zentangle?
Linda Farmer, Certified Zentangle Teacher

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How to draw ASUHANA

Zentangle pattern: Asuhana. 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.We’ve reached the middle of the week, and another inspiring tangle awaits.

The sweet Asuhana tangle is Japanese CZT Minako Sayama’s third tangle on the site. Previously we shared her Koyuki and Mo-Bu tangles.

Minako introduces Asuhana and explains her inspiration, shares tips for tangling it and explains the meaning of its name:

I created a new tangle called Asuhana, inspired by the fireworks of Nagaoka, Japan.

To draw Asuhana, begin with repeated V-shaped strokes radiating from a center point. Add drama to the strokes, and finish with small dots around the motif.

It can be drawn as a single motif, or repeated to create a larger and more dynamic cluster. I enjoy how the simple strokes create a sense of movement as they spread outward.

The Nagaoka Fireworks Festival carries deep wishes for remembrance, rebuilding, and peace following the devastation of World War II. Inspired by this story, I wanted to create a tangle that expresses thoughts and wishes reaching toward the future.

The name Asuhana means “a blossom connecting our thoughts to tomorrow.” Asu means “tomorrow,” and hana means “blossom” in Japanese.

I hope Asuhana will bring joy to many people and that everyone will enjoy discovering their own creative possibilities with it.

For my Asuhana example I used Minako’s illustrations as a starting point. With its star-like vibes, this is a nice possibility for seasonal tangling. Glittery ink time! 🙂

Minako illustrates the step-by-step instructions for drawing Asuhana below where she demonstrates several ways of varying it and gives some unique ideas of ways to add graphite to this radial style tangle.

How to draw the Zentangle pattern Asuhana, tangle and deconstruction by Minako Sayama. 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. Any republication or reposting of these images is expressly prohibited. Thanks!

Check out the tag minakos for more of Minako’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. What Makes a Zentangle tangle? 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, and 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 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.

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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 downloaded immediately when ordering, 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.

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®. For more about the content and to read the rave reviews, visit the BOOK REVIEWS tab.
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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