CZT Lynn Mead shares her unique Tree of Life Labyrinth string in a step-by-step tutorial

Hi everyone! Here’s an extra special weekend treat for your Zentangle®-inspired tangling explorations.

I came across CZT Lynn Mead’s Tree of Life Labyrinth tutorial recently and asked for her permission to share it with you. To my delight she readily agreed.

Lynn is from Monroe, Washington, and she has several tangles on the site. You will also want to check out the links to her Dewdrop, TransluZENce and Zentwining tutorials on the Zentangle Terminology page.

Here’s Lynn’s article, with many thanks to her for graciously agreeing to share this with us here on TanglePatterns.

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Recently I wanted to draw a freehand labyrinth. I like the quality of a simple freehand labyrinth and had used the “connect the dot” method in the past starting with a cross in the center. I tried to recreate that version but found that I couldn’t remember exactly how I had done it before. As I was trying to figure it out I stumbled on to this variation that turns out to be very similar, but starts out a little differently. To me it resembles a tree, so I have decided to call it the Tree of Life Labyrinth.

Following is the step-out to create this labyrinth on a 3 1/2 inch tile. As you will see, I have used a numbering system to indicate how to draw the lines. It may seem complicated at first but once you understand the process and draw the labyrinth you will see how naturally it flows from one step to the next until the labyrinth is completed.

STEP 1

Place a dot approximately 1/8 inch [about 3 mm] to the left of the center of the tile.

Note: placement of this dot will determine where and how your finished labyrinth is placed on the tile.

STEP 2

Place a dot horizontally approximately 3/8 inch [about 9.5 mm] to the left and right of the first dot.

STEP 3

Using the same 3/8 inch spacing, add five more dots below the first three dots to create a square.

As a reference for the remaining instructions I am assigning a number, 1 through 8, to each of these dots.

STEP 4

Connect dots 2 and 4 with an inward curved line. Do the same for dots 2 and 5, 4 and 7, and 5 and 7. This will form a curved diamond shape in the center of the square of dots.

STEP 5

You will draw the labyrinth from the center out. Start by drawing an upward curved line connecting dots 2 and 3.

STEP 6

Continue with an upward curved line connecting dot 1 to dot 5. This line should aura the first line keeping the distance between the lines roughly equal. Turning the tile as you draw will help you keep the spacing consistent.

STEP 7

Connect dots 4 and 8 in the same manner.

STEP 8

Continue by connecting dot 6 to dot 7.

STEP 9

Finish by starting at dot 7 and adding a final line around the outside of the labyrinth. Stop at the bottom and add a slight downward curve to create the entrance.

STEP 10

The completed labyrinth is now ready for you to travel to the center and back by adding tangles along the path.

This labyrinth suggests a tree to me so I called it the Tree Of Life Labyrinth and filled it in with tangles accordingly. It was a lovely meditation for me.

Here is another drawing I made using this labyrinth. Masking fluid was used for the labyrinth with water color marker added over that. When you remove the masking you end up with a white line.

I feel that drawing a labyrinth freehand adds another level to the meditative experience. I hope you give it a try and don’t worry if it is not centered on the paper, that just makes it more interesting.

As usual I encourage you to try anything you see in this blog post in your own work.
Blessings,
Lynn

NOTICE: All images in this article are © Lynn Mead and used with permission. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

For Lynn’s original post on her website visit this link.

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Meet Lynn:

About Me, Lynn Mead

One of the underlying principles of the Zentangle Method is “the elegance of limits.” I live with the elegance of limits every day. I was born with several vision issues which can be quite limiting. As I grew, my brain learned ways to cope with them. To me, how I see is normal. I didn’t realize until I was older, that my normal is not the same as others. I believe my ability to visualize, see connections, and turn them into art, is a direct result of my brain having to make sense of what I see. So while it may seem ironic that someone with vision problems would be a visual artist, to me, it is a perfect example of adapting to limits, seeing things differently, and using that to create.

I was introduced to Zentangle in 2013 and immediately knew I had found an art form that would help me express myself and grow as an artist. It was during this time that the idea for my Tangle Decks took root. When I went to Providence RI in 2014 to become a Certified Zentangle Teacher, I already had a prototype of Tangle Deck 1 and it was released soon after. I can’t believe that was 7 years ago. Since then, there have been four more decks; Tangle Decks 2 & 3, Tiny Tutorials, and the Tiny Tangle Deck. I have grown as an artist, been able to educate and inspire others through my Tangle Decks, collaborated with other talented tanglers, and taught at some of the premier tangling conferences. But the best part is the wonderful friends I have made in this worldwide tangling community.

I live and tangle in Monroe, Washington USA. If you would like to know more about my work or Tangle Decks please visit my website.

For future reference you can find this article on the TUTORIALS and the STRINGS tabs on the pink alphabetic tangle menu bar.

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