I started my zentangle journey when I wanted to find some creative elements that I could include in my bullet journal or planner. In short, I wanted to make the pages pretty. I tried out a few things and as it goes with Pinterest, I stumbled upon the world of tanglers. People who are doing beautiful things! Little artworks that grow out of a single shape and is made through repetition. This is something that resonated with me and I started off with the Inktober challenge of 2020 and was hooked.
What did I need to start:
- A plan
My Creative Crafting WhatsApp group suggested that we join in on Inktober 2020. I found the official prompt list a bit daunting and googled to see what else is available. The zentangle community did not disappoint with a tangle challenge of their own. Clear step outs for every day of October and a Facebook group where you could be inspired by others. It was a challenge where I found something that I loved… which are the best kind!
- A sketchbook
Back in 2007 my beautiful friend, Nicky Wenhold, who worked with me at a printing company, gave me a ring-bound book. It was made up as a mockup to test some cover ideas and it has traveled and moved from various dwellings, from my student life, to my adult life. The first few pages were used for research planning of the literature review of my Masters (2013-2015). And for the rest of that time it just sat on my shelf. Beautiful blank pages just waiting for something. This book has now become my sketch book. It is not fancy, but it is perfect.
- Ink
I started with an Inktober challenge so I of course needed pens. I started off with a pencil, eraser, marker, fineliner and an artist pen. Quite basic. I’ve only recently upgraded a little, but those are still the basic items that I use.
And those were the only things that I really needed to get me on my way.
I am motivated by movement and continuity and because I am still a newby, I am still only following prompts and challenges by the various groups on Facebook.
This challenge started while I was still on leave, so I had the time to sit down and lose myself every morning before the Lilliputians took over my world. I am however now back at work so drawing time is limited. I would however like to show off what I did.
The prompts can be seen here
This challenge was promoted on the 7F5R Facebook page and in order for me to understand what I was letting myself in for, I first had to do a little research.
Reticula refers to the shape that you fill with fragments. Sure, that is very simple but in essence, that is what it is. It is explained more eloquently here. The purpose of the zentangle method is to lose yourself in the process of repetition of shapes. I also found it very interesting that the only shapes you need to be able to make to tangle are
i c s o .
I am still not entirely convinced, but I do have to say that I have always believed that I cannot even draw a stick figure and now look how far I’ve come.
Some of them were done on their own, and some were combined. Here are a few of my favourites.
A few people have asked me why I do this. In my previous post I chatted about only taking with you that which inspires you and I have to say the zentangle groups that I follow are all giving me new perspective new ideas, and I am seeing things that I have never even seen before through Instagram and Pinterest… It has opened up a whole new world for me.
It is a very mobile, very inexpensive hobby. And I love the process of doing very basic things to create something beautiful.
Follow me on social media if you want to see me work my way up to beautiful mandalas!