IZE - a new tangle! (sort of)

Some time ago I was in need of a tangle that called to mind a peacock's tail. You can see that project here. There were a couple of tangles I knew about*, but neither was quite what I wanted, so I designed this one. The version in the tile below is very slightly different from what I finally decided upon and, of course, there are always variations.

Tangles: Ize, Lotus Pods, Seljuk, Spinners, Zewm

Ize (pronounced like 'eyes') is certainly a 'high-concentration tangle' and has more than six steps - sort of an ideal maximum for a tangle. In fact, there are really two sets of steps. 

First is the offset grid, composed of large and small squares, which is an interesting beginning pattern in itself that could be filled in many other ways. It's what I call a vessel tangle. It was first shown in BrixBox from Anneke van Dam, and recently in Reticulous from Heidi Kay. I'll let you check those posts for the slightly different grid step-outs.

Here are two tiles I did recently using this offset grid for a Square One focus on Facebook.

Tangles: BrixBox or Reticulous, Black Pearlz, Dex, Doodah, Tipple, Zonked

The second step is filling the small and large squares. 

The smaller squares are simple. These steps are even a little different from what I used in the colored artwork, but I prefer it.

The larger squares are also fairly simple, but there are a few more steps.

You might find it easier, or prefer the look, to draw a central spine before drawing the second circle, oval, and 'bean'. You can also draw the large circle so the edges touch the square. And you can nestle the bottom of the 'bean' against the previous shape.

Here's Ize larger, and on a bit of a curve.

Tangles: Ize, Munchin, Paradox, Pearlz, Tipple

I've been staining tiles with hibiscus teabags, and this is one of those. The first image is basic Ize with no shading; the second image is with embellishments and shading. I used a Gelly Roll pen for the purple fills; I find it a nicer purple than the micron, which is almost black.

* The other tangles that call to mind peacock tails? One is Pavonia (from Angie Shade). Another is Peafea (from Amélie Liao).

BTW: It's getting harder and harder to keep track of tangles and names. If this pattern has been presented elsewhere, or if the name has been used already, please let me know!

Teabag stains

Recently I noticed a hibiscus teabag in the kitchen sink and was struck with the beautiful, rich red of the water seeping from it. I decided to try staining some paper and saved a few more teabags. It's curious how the pink/purple shows up so well on gray paper, but not at all on white or tan. Still, the grays are lovely.

Here's the first tile I did with the first small batch of stained tiles. I've used some of the teabags three or four times and they're still staining very nicely.

Tangles: Ayame, Finery, Mooka elements

I added some white vinegar to the water in which I dipped the teabags, but I'm still rather concerned about fading. Most of these stained items will likely become ATCs or bookmarks - things which will generally not be exposed to light. The ATC below is at the lower left in the selection of stains above.

Three zentangle-tile-sized pieces.

Henrike Bratz, a CZT in north Germany near Denmark, contacted me on Instagram about the colors not showing on some papers. She advised me to put a dab of lemon juice on my finger and touch that to the dried stain. It worked beautifully, as you can see below. Apparently the acidity of the lemon juice is what's needed.

Here are two tiles done for Hanny Nura's Full Moon Mosaic on Instagram. The first uses the tile in the lower right above.

Finally, every time I looked at this next tile I saw a little crab. So that's what it is.

Less can be more

Tangles: Crazy Huggins, Pearlz, Tipple

"Less is more" - often credited to Dutch architect Mies van der Rohe, but opinions differ. Someone later countered with "Less is a bore" which is closer to my style of art and décor!

I need to remind myself that not every section of a Zentangle drawing needs to be filled with tangles. It can be very effective to leave an area of plain (or almost) paper. This could mean a section of a tile that is enclosed by other sections, leaving a blank space in the 'middle'. The tile below began with a simple string of two overlapping squares.

Tangles: Beadlines, Pearlz, Seljuk

CZT Sue Clark's Tri-Shape string idea often works well for me. Read about that and see more examples of leaving blank space here.

Try drawing a very simple string and use only 'border' tangles on the lines of your string.

Tangles: Dewd, Knase, Lamar, Seljuk, Snailz, Tri-dots

Shading (as usual!) can be quite effective.

Tangles: Black Pearlz , Msst, Zonked

 Here's a recent one that I think is quite fun.

Tangles: Beadlines Firecracker, Knightsbridge, and a Black Pearl(z)

ValenTangle 2020

For the fifth year Dutch CZT Marguerite Samama presents ValenTangle, a two-week "challenge" incorporating hearts from February 1-14.  She writes,

"For me, ValenTangle has truly become a mid-winter blessing. I believe it is important to actively nurture joy, playfulness and connection. To me it is vital to experience and express gratitude. ValenTangle has little to do with romantic love. I see it as an act of self care."

This is the first year I'm participating and I didn't get every day done, but here's what I managed.

February 1 - Use Marguerite's own new tangle V&A. It makes a lovely border.

February 2 - Use the tangle Trinity from Stephanie Kiefhaber (essentially a triquetra) and incorporate hearts. I used a tan tile that had three orbs in Twink paints.

Tangles: DooDah, Pepperish, Skye, Trinity 

February 3 - Use a heart variation of the tangle Minstrel from Hannah Geddes, a variation of Demi from Geneviève Crabe.

February 4 - Work with triangles in a hexagon.

Tangles: Beadlines, Black Pearlz, Gneiss, Opus, Tipple

 February 5 - Incorporate hearts into the tangle Starsky from Sue Schneider.

Tangles: Pearlz, Starsky, Zonked

February 6 - A mosaic using a geometric string provided by Marguerite.

February 8 - Choose a tangle that's new to you, and incorporate hearts. I chose Moonwaves by Jenna Black. I'd done it one time previously, but it's still new to me. I'm calling this one "love volcano"!

Tangles: Krli-Qs, Moonwaves, Striping (sort of)

February 12 - Use the tangle Kahla from Anna Gabrovec, and incorporate hearts. I found the spacing of this tangle tricky, but I really like its Celtic look.

Tangles: Black Pearlz, Kahla, Skye

February 13 - Revisit the string from day 2, but on a larger tile, and with curved/angled lines from the central orb.

A very HAPPY HEARTS DAY to you all!

Anthem

Anthem is tangle from CZT Jody Genovese. It was recently featured as the focus tangle on the 'Square One, Purely Zentangle' Facebook group.

Here are two classic tiles featuring Anthem.

I liked it so much I thought I'd do a whole page of it it my Book (that non-journal/non-sketchbook I've been filling recently). I did the initial drawing in black ink, and then - because it reminds me so much of crystals - I decided to add some rainbow colors.

The page is quite wrinkled, and some grays bled through from the obverse page where I'd tried something with a lot of water that didn't work as I'd hoped! (That post is here.)

Cubine and Fassett: peeking through

Cubine and Fassett are two tangles that appear to offer a hole, passage, or window.

• Cubine is an 'official' tangle, from Zentangle. Step-outs are here.
• Fassett is a tangle form Lynn Mead, CZT. Step-outs are here.

Each of these got a page in my Book.

I began this page with a large Chebucto across the page, then continued with Cubine elsewhere.

Originally I had thought to do some triangle-based tangles in some sections,
but I realized that it would detract from the effect of the tangle.

These 'holes' offer an opportunity to peek through at something on the other side. The windows need to be large enough to house another tangle (or whatever).

Here's a simple example of Cubine, looking at stars. I've given each square a two-sided 'front'; I think this gives the squares a little more substance.

Here's an example using a variety of shapes (suggested by my string) and sort-of-Hollibaugh through the holes.

And here's a tile I just finished with overlapping Cubine, and Morse running through and behind.

Hexes in my Book

In ongoing decluttering I found a small, square sketchbook from the two years I lived in China. I wasn't interested in keeping most of it but there was a page investigating triangles and hexagons. It's really amazing the variety of stars, boxes, snowflakes, cubes, diamonds, chevrons, tunnels and more that can be achieved with these simple repeating shapes. I glued the page into my Book and expanded onto the sides.

Opposite that page seemed perfect for another go at CZT Cherryl Moote's tangle Hexonu, a much more random (and zen!) version of hexagons. Done large, they can be filled with other tangles.

ZIA Ideas - Tree trunks

In my on-going, randomly occasional, posts about tangles that can be used in Zentangle-inspired artwork, here are some tangles that I've used for

  TREE  TRUNKS  

CRUZE from CZT Caren Mlot. Find step-outs here (scroll down).

"Meteor Shower" - 9 cm. square
(c) Margaret Bremner

DIVA DANCE from Zentangle, for CZT Laura Harms. Find step-outs at this link.

"A Windy Day" - 9 cm. square
(c)2018 Margaret Bremner

PRESTWOOD from Margaret Bremner. Find step-outs at this link. 
Shown below is a variation of this tangle.

"Splendiferous" - 9 cm. square
(c)2018 Margaret Bremner

ZANDER from Zentangle. Watch Molly draw it in this video link (about halfway through the video).

There are many tangles that begin with a zigzag line - angular or curving - and could be used for a tree trunk:

HIBRED (from Zentangle): in the Zentangle newsletter here.

PUFFLE from CZT Sandy Hunter. Find step-outs at this link. Scroll way down.

WUD from CZT Joni Feddersen, and a 'ribbon' variation of mine, can be found at this link.
ZEDBRA (from Laura Harms and Margaret Bremner): earlier on my blog here.

ZEWM (from CZT Amy Broady): on Amy's blog here.
KNASE (from Zentangle): I recently learned that this is pronounced 'nase' not 'naze' or 'k-naze' (which I'd been saying for years). Pictured below. Step-out from CZT Holly Atwater, with thanks! 

"Black Walnut" - 9 cm. square
(c)2018 Margaret Bremner

Knase step-out courtesy of CZT Holly Atwater, with thanks!

PALM TREES are somewhat different and sometimes have a more square grid look. I don't see palm trees much where I live, so I don't draw them often. From left to right here is Beelight, a variation of 'Nzeppel, sort of Purk, and Tortuca (all from Zentangle).

"Baobab Fantasia" - 9 cm. square
(c)2018 Margaret Bremner

No doubt you can think of lots of other possibilities!

ZIA Ideas: Roofs

"Early August" detail, (c)2015 Margaret Bremner
Tangles on the roofs: Crezn't, Flukes, Tagh

Shelter from weather. Star-gazing platforms.

Here are some tangles that may give you thoughts of

 ROOFS 

CREZN'T (from Margaret Bremner)
Shown on the left roof above, and in this detail from "Cloud Cover". Find step-outs at this link.

FLUKES (from Zentangle)
Shown in the middle roof of the top image, and in "No. 6 Fairy Lane" below. Find step-outs at this link.

PALREVO (from Karry Heun)
Shown below in a detail from "Cloud Cover". Find step-outs at this link.

SHING (from Margaret Bremner)
Shown below in a detail from "A Little House on the Prairie". Find step-outs at this link.

SHINGLE (from CZT Maria Copetas)
Find step-outs at this link.

TAGH (from Zentangle)
Shown on the right roof of the top image, and on the right edge below. Find step-outs at this link.

UP AND ACROSS (from CZT Suzanne McNeill)
Find step-outs in Suzanne's book Zentangle 2 - Ideas for Scrapbooks and Journals.
See an example on the right in the image below. This picture is the cover image of the 2019 Tangle-a-Day calendar, available here!

"Be Home for Supper" (c)2015 Margaret Bremner
Tangles on the roofs, left to right: Palrevo, Knightsbridge, Tagh, Shing, Zewm, Up and Across

Many square-grid tangles, if you done on an angle and in the right context, could look like a roof. Try Emingle, Tortuca, Warble, and Beelight.
You can also use many tangles designed as borders, but do several layers instead of just one.

Have fun!