#1 - This is the first in my series of fountain pen, shimmer and sheen ink tests.
I am currently using the 2019 Gratitangles list. The first tangle is Rain.
What ink could me more appropriate than the Jacques Herbin Stormy Sky ink! This ink is a deep, flannel grey color with very tiny, sparse gold flecks. It worked well in the fountain pen and covered nicely in the areas that are filled in. The drying time on a standard Bijou tile was very reasonable.
Did you notice that I skipped a number in this series of ATC cards? While this one was actually the sixth one I did, I saved it for the last because of the way it came out.
Ok. I had this idea about using Paradox to make a symmetrical design. I think it sort of worked… but not at all what I imagined it would look like!
ATC #6. Project done!
Sometimes the simplest tangles can have a powerful impact. It depends on how you treat them.
Here, I used Hollibaugh, but gave it a bit of a curve. Then I made it holey!
And a little touch of blue just makes it magical.
ATC #11
Zentangle drawn on a cut down, grey, Official Zentangle tile using a blue, Micron pen, cobolt, Copic Multiliner, and white Gelly Roll. Shading done with graphite, Copic marker and colored pencil.
“Fishy, fishy in the brook, Daddy catch him on a hook, Mommy fry him in a pan, Johnny eat him like a man.”
– Unknown
Looking for a simple tangle that can be use in a variety of ways? Take Indy-Rella out for a spin!
Depending on how you draw it, you can suggest flames, or fish. You can add them to the ends of Fescu, turning them into some kind of plant, or follow various contours to create a nice, organic fill.
Diva Dance is such a fun tangle. Although the concept is very simple, it can morph to fit almost any shape. Or, it can take on a life of it’s own, depending on the variation.
Here, it has been wrapped around itself in a spiraled style that gives the appearance of full-blown blossoms.
ATC #9.
Zentangle drawn on sahara, Fabriano Tiziano using a black and tan, Micron pens and white Gelly Roll. Shading done with graphite pencil.
Aquafleur, the tangle used on the heart-shaped string was one that I didn’t understand well for a long time. I tried it, as it was shown to me, and I just couldn’t figure out how those ribbons wrapped a given string.
Finally, one day, I just sat and played with it in my sketch book. And all of a sudden, it just “clicked” for me.
Here, it is used in an elegant, but simplified version. It’s easier to understand when wrapped around a single, simple shape.
If you follow me, then you know I’ve done this tangle, which can look like a sprig of Rosemary, or a pine bough, or a feather, many times before. I enjoy drawing it and it’s one of my favorites.
ATC #7.
Zentangle drawn on sahara, Fabriano Tiziano using a black and tan, Micron pen and gold gel pen. Shading done with graphite pencil.
Tangles: Marasu Tipple Verdigogh
Note: Some of the inks used did not scan well. There are silver and copper dots which here, appear to be orange and white.
There are a lot of differences in composition when you work on a rectangular piece, as compared to a square. However, this one works on either. The only difference is that I like it better with a horizontal emphasis. On the square version, I liked it better with a vertical emphasis.
Printemps is one of my favorite tangles.
It can be made large, with a heavier hand and used as central motifs. It can be drawn small and numerous to fill in a background.
You can completely cover an area with it, overlapping where needed, or you can leave negative space around and between each fragment.
No matter the over-all concept, it’s a wonderful tangle to draw for the Zen flow!
Ruutz, a tangle created by Eni Oken, is a wonderful subject for tangle fractalization. I chose, in this example, to use a different color ink for each iteration. My hope was that the designs would appear to fade out going into the background.
If you want more information about this tangle technique, check out Eni Oken's Fractalized Tangles Lesson Bundle !
ATC number three… done!
Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a black, Micron pen and a brown and grey Copic Multiliner. Shading done with graphite pencil.
Perhaps those pumpkins are taking on a life of their own; creating a ballet as they rise up. They leave the garden trellises behind as they creep around the Halloween garden!
Another ATC.
Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a black, Micron pen. Shading done with Distress markers and colored pencil. Decorative elements added with various gel pens.
Tangles: Crazy Nzeppel Mooka
The Hunter’s Moon has passed. The pumpkins are ready for picking. Soon, there will be the smell of freshly baked pies in the air!
This ATC was created with these in mind!
Zentangle drawn on Strathmore Vellum Bristol using a black, Micron pen. Shading done with graphite pencil. Highlights created with colored pencil.
Tangles: Gourdgeous Icanthis
Pink and grey is one of my favorite color combinations. So I thought I would give it a try on one of the new, grey tiles from Zentangle.
Here is a quick study on a Bijou tile, using Molygon, wrapped around a central orb and filled with Marasu.
I think it’s interesting enough that I may repeat something similar on a standard-sized tile.
Zentangle drawn on an Official, grey, Zentangle Bijou tile using a pink, grey and dark grey, Uniball Signo pens. Shading done with graphite pencil. Highlights created with white colored pencil.
On Saturday, I participated in a Studio Tour for the Artist’s Group that I belong to. My studio was the second one in this particular tour.
I created a Zentangle “make and take” project for the visitors to give those in the group who were not familiar with Zentangle to either sit down and do while here, or to take with them and do at home.
I used the tangle Verdigogh because it looks a bit like a sprig of Rosemary, which is a symbol of remembrance.
This is my first Zentangle created on a new grey Zentangle tile. This new color was just released by the company this week.
The color is a soft, light grey, that looks good with the entire range of Zentangle tools. I love having a grey tile because it allows me to add both shading and highlights for a full range of values.
Right now, you can get the tiles in various sizes from your local CZT.
Most of the time, now days, I draw the “crazy” version of Nzeppel, rather than the “grid” version. So I thought I would do this for a change of pace.
I decided to add an internal aura to each bubble, just to provide some interest. That lead me to making the colored border.
Zentangle drawn on an Original, Zentangle Bijou tile using a black and a brown, Micron pen. Shading done with colored pencil. Border colored with Copic marker.
I liked yesterday's grid tangle tile so much, I decided to do it again!
I love the way Dex creates the illusion of depth in the paper. It’s as if you could enter one of the fragments and set up a room to sit and relax in.
Zentangle drawn on an Official, Zentangle Bijou tile using a black, Micron pen. Shading done with graphite pencil.
Tangles: Dex
It’s interesting how, as your Zentangle practice evolves, you sometimes veer away from grid-based tangles, preferring flowing, organic, individual elements.
Every so often, I feel an urge to return to those structured reticula, filled with repeated fragments. There’s something soothing about drawing them that fills you with peace and zen-flow.
For this small, Bijou tile, I chose Yincut. It is actually one of my favorites because of the overall look of the finished piece. It reminds me of an old-fashioned, lithographic print.
My second Aura Timeline tile!
You can read more about this project here. Zentangle drawn on Stonehenge White using a black, Micron pen.
How do you Aura?
Here you can see my first exploration of this basic, Zentangle technique.
Auras are a mainstay of tangling. We generally think of them as drawing a parallel line, a little bit away from a previous line or shape.
But did you know that they could be so much more? That they could actually be part of your overall design?
Follow along with Eni Oken’s Aura Timeline Lesson , and learn how to take auras from boring to beautiful!