Inspiring Zentangle Projects: Exciting new ways to creativity

By Jane Marbaix

Zentangle is an accessible and creative artform that is immensely popular around the world. In this innovative book, certified Zentangle teacher Jane Marbaix presents a range of projects designed to free up creativity and improve tangling skills.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcturus Publishing
• Release date: Jul 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781784285098

Jane Marbaix

Jane was the first Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) to teach in the UK, having trained in Massachusetts with Zentangle founders Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts. She teaches all ages, from children to seniors, at regular workshops as well as weekly sessions near her home in Buckinghamshire.

Book preview

Book cover

Zentangle®, the Zentangle logo, Anything is possible one stroke at a time, Bijou, Certified Zentangle Teacher, CZT®, Zentangle Apprentice®, and Zentomology are trademarks, service marks or certification marks of Rick Roberts, Maria Thomas, and/or Zentangle, Inc.

PERMISSION TO COPY ARTWORKS: The written instructions, designs, patterns and projects in this book are intended for the personal use of the reader and may be reproduced for that purpose only. Any other use, especially commercial use, is forbidden under law without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Dreamweaver stencils are available from www.woodware.co.uk and www.stampendous.com

This edition published in 2016 by Arcturus Publishing Limited

26/27 Bickels Yard, 151–153 Bermondsey Street,

London SE1 3HA

Copyright © Arcturus Holdings Limited

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1956 (as amended). Any person or persons who do any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

ISBN: 978-1-78428-509-8

Dreamweaver stencils are available from

www.woodware.co.uk and www.stampendous.com

CONTENTS

Introduction

Basic steps

Projects

Fun for all ages

A–Z of tangles

INTRODUCTION

Our world is made up of patterns, whether in art, in nature or in the built environment – yet you may not always have noticed them unless they are especially eye-catching and obvious. Once you learn the Zentangle Method of drawing, though, you will see them everywhere you look.

When I did my Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) training in the USA, I noticed that I and my colleagues were seeing patterns all around us as if our vision had suddenly become clearer. Today, I can’t help finding patterns even in quite mundane surfaces such as floors, curtains and railings.

So what is Zentangle? In the words of Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts, the creators of this wonderful way of drawing, ‘Zentangle is an easy-to-learn, relaxing and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns.’ It’s as simple as that!

Maria is a lettering and botanical artist, while Rick is a musician with many talents. He was a monk for 17 years, which enabled him to recognize that the calm and focused state Maria was in while she was doing her artwork was a form of meditation. From there, the couple set about finding a way to share this state of mind. Together with their daughter Molly Hollibaugh, they now hold seminars in Providence, Rhode Island for anyone interested in becoming a Certified Zentangle Teacher.

Can anyone tangle?

If you can hold a pen and make a dot, a line, a curve, a circle and an S-shape, then you can tangle. All you need is a couple of pens, a pencil, a paper stump for blending and a piece of paper and you can get started. The patterns, or tangles, are deconstructed into easy-to-follow steps, known as ‘step-outs’. On www.tanglepatterns.com, a website run by Linda Farmer CZT, you will find an amazing number of tangles for you to try.

To begin, draw a ‘string’ – a pencil line that divides your surface into sections. Then pick a tangle and fill one of the sections you have created. Continue by filling each section with a different tangle and that’s it!

The Zentangle Method does not focus on the outcome – that might be stressful if you have pre-conceived ideas about what your work will turn out like. Instead, as in life, the focus is on the journey, not the end result. So don’t plan it, and don’t feel the need to try hard – just relax and see where it takes you! It is always a surprise when you see what you have created.

Tangling stills the mind and relieves stress, so it’s a good idea to keep a small sketchbook and a pen and pencil with you. Then, whenever you are kept waiting for an appointment, a train, a friend and so forth, you can take out your book and pen and start tangling, passing the time pleasantly rather than tapping your feet.

Like so many others all over the world, you will find Zentangle inspirational and it will increase your focus and creativity. This book is full of ideas and inspiring projects from many other CZTs worldwide. There are also contributions from people who are not CZTs – I learn from my students as well. I hope that with the help of this book you will be able to train your mind towards relaxation and focus and you will create work so beautiful you will wonder how you achieved it.

If you wish to find a CZT in your area for some hands-on advice, go to www.zentangle.com and look under Learn More, where you will find a list of qualified teachers.

BASIC STEPS

Zentangle art is created on a ‘tile’, which is a 9cm (3½in) square of paper or card. Using a good-quality surface such as Fabriano Tiepolo printmaking paper or a smooth watercolour paper will give you the best result. For drawing tools, I recommend a Sakura Pigma Micron 01 (0.25mm) pen, with an 08 (0.50 mm) pen for filling in darker areas. For pencil shading, use a 2B pencil as this soft grade can be easily blended using a paper stump (tortillion).

Creating a Zentangle design