It’s Monday and of course that means it’s time for another super easy tangle to explore.
And as Saturday, July 21st, was Belgian National Day … the lovely Vea tangle is from Belgian CZT Ria Matheussen, who writes:
I’m always on the hunt to find new tangles.
From the first of July, new collections of the winter fashion are already available and I have seen a lot of tangles in these clothes…
So I began to search different textiles and have found for the third time inspiration on a beautiful African textile.
I simplified a bit the pattern. With a little bit of imagination, you can recognize a kind of sea shell.
Shells remind me always of our holidays on the seaside. When we (my brother, sister and I) were kids, we spent every year a few weeks at the Belgian coast and I have nice memories of that time. Our mum used to protect us against the sun with a cream of Nivea from a blue box. I’m almost 64 years and this box still exists in the same form. When I think about the sea, I always see Nivea in front of me and that is why I chose the name VEA for this tangle.
I have two variations included and then the tangle looks completely different: more like little flags.
This is an uncomplicated tangle, looks cheerful and is easy to combine with other tangles.
In my composition on a tan tile, I have tried to create a bit of a sunny atmosphere with tangles that remind me at the beach: Molygon, Méringue, Shiraz, Festune and Vea.
I am often challenged in producing the smooth curves of Ria’s first step. Sometimes I get part the way through and my brain throws a different curve into the stroke or they turn out very uneven. What I’ve found is that placing a row of evenly spaced tiny dots such as I’ve shown here acts as a target for starting and stopping the elongated S shapes that create the regular wavy line — and plots the line in the direction you intend it to go. (When you look at Ria’s inspiration image, you can see an example of this on the fabric.) You could go further and place additional dots where the “waistline” of the S would be, then connect them with alternating C curves.
Ria illustrates the step-by-step instructions for drawing Vea here and she includes some variations to explore as well as featuring Vea in the pretty ZIA Zentangle tile she just described.
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 comment helps motivate them to continue to share!
Check out the tag riam for more of Ria’s tangles on TanglePatterns.com.
.oOo.
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:
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."
.oOo.
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." 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.
- 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 SUBSCRIBE page on the top menu bar of any page on the site 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!
.oOo. |
|
Enhance your Zentangle experience while supporting TanglePatterns: |
|
CURRENT EDITION! TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE, 2024 Edition |
|
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! | |
"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. | |
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. | |
|
|
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 | |
|
|
.oOo. |
Another gorgeous pattern, Ria! Thank you!
Thank you so much for your kind comment Jennifer. I’m glad you like this pattern. I think there are still other variations you can make. Wish you succes and quality time while tangling!
Tres mignon il resemble a une dentelle.
Google: Very cute, it looks like a lace.
Merçi beaucoup Yvette, je suis heureuse que tu aimes ce motif simple qu’on peut combiner facilement avec d’autres motifs. Je vous souhaite succès et plaisir pendant “tangling”!
Google Translate: Thanks a lot Yvette, I’m glad you like this simple pattern that can be easily combined with other patterns. I wish you success and pleasure during “tangling”!
I always look forward to trying your patterns, Ria. Thank you so much. Linda Dochter, CZT
That is a wonderful compliment Linda, thank you very much.
Wish you all the best and especially fun while tangling!
Hello Ria/Linda,
This is one very lovely tangle..So simple yet elegant !!!
Beautiful!!
Thank you very much for your kind feedback Sharon. Wish you succes and pleasant moments while tangling!
Looks simple, but had trouble getting it to look right. This will take some practice but see lots of variations to it as well.
Yes, maybe a little practice is necessary but when you will succeed (and I’m sure you will) you can easily create your own Vea. I wish you succes and thank you for your kind feedback.
So pretty. Hopefully, eventually I can get it to look this nice.
I’m sure with a little exercise you will succeed. Thank you very much for your kind comment!
Awesome tangle! I love ? it.
Thank you very much for giving me a nice comment. I hope you will enjoy using Vea in your work.
This is beautiful and I can see the possibility of many more variations. Thank you so much, Ria!
I also very much appreciate your sharing the fabric that was your original inspiration.
Altogether, you give my mind wings.
P.S. To me, my first thought seeing the tangle was the gorgeous pattern on Viceroy butterfly wings.
Thanks for the lovely side trip into butterfly world, Donna. What an interesting website! For those interested in creating a garden for butterflies, have a look around gardenswithwings.com. A delight.
Thank you Linda for placing a link to create a garden of butterflies. We all love butterflies, don’t we!!!
Thank you also for the lovely presentation of Vea.
Yes you can make many variations on this one. I’m very grateful for your nice compliment and hope you will have many wonderful moments while tangling.
P.S. I’m fond of butterflies, because we have now an unusual very hot and dry summer I see many of them and that makes me glad! Thanks for the link.
dear Donna, I have put my answer to you on a wrong place, sorry!
Lovely. I see gothic fans within this tangle. I like it! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your kind comment Joan, I’m glad you like this new tangle that you can draw in many different ways. I wish you success!
Ria. I really like your Vea. Especially your variations. I am going to play with them right now. Thank you for sharing. Nancy
I’m very glad with this nice compliment. I’m sure you gonna find more variations and I wish you succes.Greetings from Belgium