This is an inverted version of a card I have already shown. Kind of puts a whole new perspective on it and now I want to invert all the others.
So, I've been going overboard on learning about Zentangle patterns, as I tend to go overboard on every new enthusiasm. Funny thing, I've known about these patterns for years, but it didn't "click" until about a month ago. This is why I collect and keep books on crafts I have little direct knowledge of.....you never know when that will become the most desired information ever....
Anyway, for some years I have been looking at Tanglepatterns.com, run by Linda Farmer. Here you will find a vast dictionary of patterns sorted by (endlessly imaginative) names. Much more than a dictionary, it includes short essays, a multitude of links for each tangle, examples, special techniques, products to buy and comments from users. Patterns appear to be designated as original patterns, those created by CZTs (Certified Zentangle Trainers) and even people with no such titles after their names. It would take a person a very long time to absorb all of the information available on this website, and more is being added weekly. There is information about what makes a Zentangle pattern and how to submit your own inventions, which might well be featured if they are deemed to be original enough. The tanglepatterns site takes it's inspiration from this next site, which seems to be more about general organization of learning techniques.
The official Zentangle site, started by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts, is here: https://zentangle.com. This isn't a dictionary site, but rather where it all began. There are two things going on in Zentangles: the actual patterns and variations and the philosophy/rules and regs associated with it. Humans have a way of doing things like this, organizing and categorizing things to a very fine point. While things with excessive, ritualistic structures seem more like religions than art, I still appreciate the art. There is a newsletter and a blog, though the blog does not seem to be updated recently. Then, there is this: https://zentangle.com/blogs/blog/seriously-updated. There is trouble in Zen paradise.....though it seems the trouble has boiled over some time ago and perhaps accommodations have been made.
Which brings us to the "competition": Creative Pattern Tangling. I am going to indulge in some "both-siderism" here.....as an outsider, I do not need to take sides; I discovered the other site thanks to the details in the link challenging its existence, above, and while it does have some (perhaps significant) overlap, but it also has a multitude of other patterns and some useful ways of categorizing them. I haven't visited this site enough to know it well, but I can sense a slightly different philosophy of what makes a pattern worth identifying and teaching to others. There is more of a "this is just art that we share" feel than a self-help philosophy feel to the site. This site has it's own extensive index of patterns, philosophy of design, training programs, CPT (instead of CZT) coaches, etc. etc. The organization of the website is as impressive as Linda Farmer's site, with patterns sorted by skill level, type of pattern, function, etc. There are less strict expectations of products to buy. Each site has its loyal followers. I will absorb all I can from both and keep a similar safe distance from controversy.
Other Zentangle and pattern resources
NOTE: more recently discovered resources will be added at the end.
There are many tanglers to be found on Instagram. Searches for topic should include #zentangles, #zentangleart, #zentangleinspiration, #zendoodleart_feature, #patterndrawing, #creativepatterntangling, #zentanglepatterns. These are probably divided between the two different camps mentioned above. But once you search by a topic you can hone in on who produces the patterns that you like the best and follow that person individually. I am fascinated to find that it is one of those art forms that is very popular in other countries as well as the US. Some people were already artists when they became entangled, you can tell by the materials and methods used to produce designs,. Other people are more like me, posting things as a way to say "Look what I did!" with more enthusiasm than polish.
Individual blogs
Margaret Bremner's Enthusiastic Artist goes beyond the mechanics of Zentangles to making art. She seems to post about once a week.
Tickled to Tangle, Adele Bruno's website, features work from various contributors and has a series of tangle challenges, starting with a string and requirements for tangles to include, thus giving access to a lot of different styles and interpretations.
One Stroke at a Time, Anita Westin's blog, features both the author's Zentangles, but also some fascinating studies of patterns in art and architecture that can lead to developing new Zentangles.
Time for Tangling, the author's name is Linda. This is a link specifically to her linked index of all tangles that she has posted about.
Endless blogs, I will never finish if I try to cover them all. For my own part, I am looking for the ones that combine patterns with other art forms and general pattern study. I may come back to this post and add more, or perhaps start a new reference page to my blog.
Here is a blog of blogs with a list of 35 Zentangle sites. It is a site that wants you to join in order to follow the links, but direct searches for each blog should bring up the same results.
Pinterest: You can do a Pinterest search for "Zentangle" and will get a huge range of everything from individual art posted on blogs to things that people want to sell you. There seems to be an unusual amount of the second category, not at all visible in less trendy forms of art and craft.
Here is Ina Sonnenmoser's collection of Zentangle-like instructions from Pattern Collections, https://www.pinterest.com/inasomo/zentangle-step-by-step/ that will keep you busy for years. You can find a lot of other sites by taking a look at who she follows on Pintangle.
Zentangle mandalas: I haven't yet found a website that deals exclusively with mandalas created using Zentangles, but you can apply them to any mandala design once you have the basics for drawing one, and there are a lot of individual examples out there. How to Draw a Mandala is helpful, as is this tutorial on Boho Berry, which gets more into the use of technical drafting tools.
Design and pattern theory: Here is a list of symmetry and pattern design resources from Artlandia, which makes a pattern creating plug-in for Adobe Illustrator.
And a very nicely interactive website on the theory and practice of tessellations called tessellations.org.
In addition:
do a Google search for "patterns in nature" images.
do a Google search for "types of tessellations" images
do a Google search for "types of symmetry" images
do a Google search for "Zentangle mandalas art" images
And, last but not least, those old fashioned things known as books. Which you can take with you where there is no electricity and the batteries will never go dead, the screen will never crack, and you won't run over your allotted minutes. Just don't leave them out in the rain or in the vicinity of vengeful cats. I only have one book on Zentangles right now, The Great Zentangle® Book by Beate Winkler, CZT, & Friends. The tangles range from simple to pretty complex and it will be quite a while before I learn them all. Beyond that, the two best sources for basic patterns and instructions are on line and linked to above, tanglepatterns.com and Creative Pattern Tangling.
That's all I can deal with for now. I do have a love of lists. None of my lists, or looking at other people's inspired works, count for as much as starting and producing a series of designs. You will start out as an absolute beginner, and end up at what ever level you need to be to produce personal satisfaction.
MORE RESOURCES
do a Google search for "zendangles", the science of adding various dangly bits to drawings
do a Google search for "zendalas", the word for Zentangle mandalas that I was looking for
do a Google search for "zengems", which is the highly specialized skill of drawing a regular black and white Zentangle background, leaving room to "mount" a full color, highly realistic hand-drawn gemstone.
All of this demonstrates the human urge towards intricacy and complexity, the fine tuning of a new art/craft form.
My newest books:
Made in the Shade: a Zentangle® Workbook, by Cris Latourneau, which is really a workbook where you get to try out shading and is already proving its worth, and
Zentangle® Dingbatz by Brian Crimmins, CZT, on filling in little spaces with selected shapes....another workbook style book.
I really need to turn this post into a Page and keep it updated.
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