Basic Tangles Again

I made another Basic Tangles "wreath," this time on canvas for easier portability.  Basic tangles that students learn in the beginning can be combined into elaborate and interesting pieces.  I followed the same steps--borders (this time, drawn using some of my kitchen pot lids!), string (it's pretty much a wavy line with a few extra divisions), and tangles.  It's on a 12 x 12" canvas I bought at Target, using an Identi-pen and a Fabrico gray shading marker.

And it looks great on my new Zentangle gallery wall!

Tangling with History

I taught my first public adult Zentangle class on Thursday night to five enthusiastic students at the historic house.  It was a fundraiser for the education programs at the house and the first in a series of adult and youth classes.  Everyone was so enthusiastic and asked for the next class!  

Until then, here is the one I taught . . . .

Zentangle 101 Adult Class

I had a few displays around the room, including an Opus with many basic tangles and a few of my favorite tiles.  All of the students received my basic beginners kit, with Micron 01, pencil, tortillon, official Zentangle leaflet, my Yankee Tangler mini-brochure, the "Anything is possible" bag, and a bookmark.  

I introduced Zentangle, with its mindfulness-creativity paradigm, as a way for adults to (re)connect with their creativity.  I gave some of the origin story, of Maria filling in an illuminated letter and being in such a flow that she didn't hear Rick enter.  We talked about how patterns have been around time out of mind and how Zentangle sets up a structured method for using them.  We did a singing bowl meditation focused on the breath, with the mantra, "May we be peaceful, may we be happy, may we embrace our creativity."

      

First string--rectangle base with Z-string above.  We did crescent moon, hollibaugh, knightsbridge, and printemps.  

We looked at the class mosaic and they had questions about some other tangles, so I did an impromptu second tile (instead of the Bales monotangle I was considering.)  It was a loop-string with pokeroot, flux, and zensplosion folds.  Those don't blend well together, but the tangles were fun to learn (and the ones they requested.)  I also demonstrated punzel.

At the end, we talked about the next class (more tangles and a project), supplies and where to find them, and other recommended resources.  The list I handed out is below.  

I've heard from most of the students--they are practicing and having a great time.  Goals accomplished!

Happy Tangling!!

Recommended Resources

Tools

• Pens:  Sakura micron pens  01 and 08, Identi-pen (for treated fabrics, wood, or ceramics), Sharpies for rocks, shells,  etc
• Tiles:  Official Zentangle 3.5 x 3.5” tiles or Studio Series’s Artist Tiles
• Sketchbook:  any unlined book (I like heavier watercolor or sketch paper)
• Frames:  black or white 4 x 4” frames at Target
• Mod Podge and Mod Podge for fabrics to prep canvas, wood, and other surfaces

Books

• Marie Browning and Suzanne McNeill's The Joy of Zentangle
• Beckah Krahula's One Zentangle a Day
• Sandy Steen Bartholomew's Yoga for Your Brain and her two card decks
• Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas’s The Book of Zentangle and The Zentangle Primer

Websites and Apps

• www.tanglepatterns.com  A compendium of many tangle patterns
• www.zentangle.com The official site, with products and updates, including free newsletter
• Zentangle Mosaic app—free “waterfall” of people’s artworks; paid subscription allows more access
• ABCs of Zentangle YouTube videos by Dilip Patel

SaveSaveSaveSave

Peace

Opus Tile of Basic Tangles

Class Preparation

I've got a string of public introductory classes over the next two months, both youth and adult, and I've been getting ready.

Today, I ordered postcards, stickers, and business cards featuring my "Tangled Heart," above.

I've also been practicing basic tangles and strings for the adult class this Thursday.  Granted, I've added some small advanced touches as I practiced.

Crescent Moon, Florz, Hollibaugh Printemps, Perfs, and Flux

Flux, Crescent Moon, Hollibaugh, Printemps, Zander, Springkle

I'm really looking forward to the class. I have eight people coming on Thursday, all new to Zentangle.

More on that soon.

-=-=-=-=-=-

I've also started a list of some basic tangles that encompass many techniques, including auras, "drawing behind," grids, organic, and "drawing towards/drawing away from self."  I've also included a list of "doo-dads" or extras that many of us add to the edges or corners of our strings, extending outside of main design.

 Basic Tangles for Beginner Classes

(I've used the ones marked with an *asterisk.)

Auras

*Crescent Moon

Tripoli

Sez

Quipple

Fassett

Hurry

"Drawing Behind"

*Hollibaugh

Squid

Tagh

(many organics)

Grid

*Florz

Chillon

Bales

Flukes

Patena

*Knightsbridge

Cubine

‘Nzeppel

Yincut

Emingle

Keeko

Organic

*Printemps

*Pokeroot

*Flux

Rixty

*Msst

*Tipple

Nipa

Floo

Ahh

Purlz

Indyrella

Drawing Away/Towards Self

*Static

Eke

*Ing

Meer

Striping

Rain

Echoism

Orlique

Shattuck

Extras--these are sometimes added to corners, extending outside of the string.

Fescu

Springkle

Zinger

Sedgling

Indy-rella

Bumper

Floo

Ynix

Opus

Perfs

spirals

loops

The Good

A good reminder for Zentangle . . . and everything else.

Summer Zentangle Classes!!!

Zentangle Classes at The Perry House 

with The Yankee Tangler

Adult Zentangle 101

Thursday, July 14, 6:30-8:30 pm OR Thursday, August 11, 6:30-8:30 pm

Class fee:  $25, includes supplies

This 2-hour class encourages adults to connect with their creativity by using the Zentangle® method.  

Youth Zentangle 101

Thursday, July 28, 3:30-5:00 pm OR Thursday, August 25, 3:30-5:00 pm

Class fee:  $15, includes supplies

This fun 1 1/2-hour class builds on children's creativity by playing with patterns using the Zentangle® method.   Recommended age for this class is 7 years old and up.

To register: 

Registration is limited and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Email perryhouse1128@sbcglobal.net with your name, phone number, email address, class, and number of registrants.  

Full class fee is payable to The Perry House Foundation by cash or check the day of the class.

Questions?  Call the Perry House at 203.377.3779

 

What is Zentangle®?

Zentangle® is an easy way of creating beautiful images by drawing structured patterns called tangles. It is a proven method to promote mindfulness and fosters self-esteem, focus, relaxation, creativity, and stress relief. People of all ages and skill levels can create Zentangle® art and have fun in the process!

 For more information, visit www.zentangle.com

The Yankee Tangler

Jamie Johnson is a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT), trained by the founders of Zentangle®, Maria Thomas & Rick Roberts.

 

Jamie also holds a Ph.D. in art history and has more than a decade of experience in museum education.  She emphasizes the mindfulness aspect of Zentangle practice, focusing on process before product.  She is excited to share Zentangle with others looking to explore their creative sides.

 

“Anything is possible…one stroke at a time.™”

The Perry House

The Perry House Foundation was established in 2004 to oversee the restoration of the c. 1690 homestead and to ensure its continuing role in welcoming visitors, teaching history, and participating in the life of the community well into the future.  The Perry House is located at 1128 W. Broad Street, near the Stratford Public Library.