Greetings tangle fans, so good to see you again for our midweek Zentangle® “fix” 😉
Calyx is another fine tangle contribution from Spanish CZT Tomàs Padrós.
Most recently we explored his Nudora tangle and the addition of Calyx is Tomàs’s 40th tangle on the site!
Tomàs writes,
Calyx is an organic and symmetrical pattern where an orb is partially enclosed by leaf-like forms that embrace and contain it. These shapes resemble a small floral calyx or bud casing, which gives the pattern its name. I like the contrast between the delicacy of the calyx, which protects the flower before it opens, and the boldness of the orb—often a symbol of power, centrality, and completeness. This tension between nature and symbol, between fragility and strength, gives the pattern an appealing contrast.
The step-by-step instructions offer two ways to draw Calyx as a standalone motif: a more elaborate version and a simplified one, with clean, easy-to-repeat lines. A helpful tip is included, showing how the curved lines added in the final step tend to aim—without fully closing—towards the outer contours of the central leaf. Each person can find their own way to draw Calyx. Between the most complex and the simplest versions, there’s a whole range of possible variations. Playing with the proportions and curvature of the leaves can be fun.
ZIA tile using Calyx as a square fragment.
Additionally, the design lends itself to various grid structures: a square grid (above) or an ogee grid (below). This makes it very versatile. Turning Calyx into a fragment gives it strong decorative potential for both floral and geometric compositions. It is also easy to modulate using translations, reflections, symmetries, or rotations.
Calyx in an ogee grid surrounded by Ginili.
As with all my patterns, this one emerged spontaneously while playing in my sketchbook. But that doesn’t mean it’s free from the influence of culturally absorbed artistic references. Similar shapes and rhythms can be found in everything from Art Nouveau to Islamic art, as well as in the broader tradition of floral ornamentation throughout the history of art.
Why am I imagining the sweet scent of orange blossoms? For my example of Calyx, after exploring a grid version which I liked very much I decided to be more adventurous and try his ogee grid version using his simplified version for the interior. How Tomàs got such consistently gorgeous orbs is beyond me but it’s worth the effort to try, rounding certainly helps to a degree 🙂
Tomàs illustrates the step-by-step instructions for drawing Calyx below, “The ZIA 3Z tile features several Calyx elements nested within a structure formed by another of my tangles, called Nudora.” As always, masterful shading by Tomàs.
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. “Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable.” ~ Franz Kafka
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 tomasp for more of Tomàs’s tangles on TanglePatterns.com.
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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 regularly repeated arrangement, especially a design made from repeated lines, shapes, or colours on a surface”) and not the repetition of “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:
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
- 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.
- What is a Zentangle? — if you are new to the Zentangle Method, start here for the fundamentals.
- Zentangle terminology — a glossary of terms used in this art form.
- 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.
- 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.
- "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?
- How to submit your pattern deconstruction to TanglePatterns
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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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October 8, 2025 | 
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