One Zentangle a Day

impossible to judge a life’s work that is ongoing, it is impossible to judge a tile half-tangled. I always tell my students, “Every piece of work goes through an ugly stage. The key is to work through it.” Leave all expectations, criticisms, and comparisons behind each day when it is time to tangle. Each Zentangle tile will be unique and different. Some will be prettier, others stylish, dynamic, animated, or a feast of contrasting tones for the eye. Each will have strengths and weaknesses, and together they will create the mosaic of your Zentangle journey. The important part is to tangle every day.

The Supplies Needed to Create a Zentangle Tile
    There are few supplies you’ll need. Try to use the best materials possible because your work is worth it, and it makes a difference in the quality of work you do. If you work on a piece of scrap paper, the paper has been deemed junk, so there is no concern about the quality of work done on the paper. A lack of focus results in work being sloppy, random, and careless. When we pick up a piece of quality art paper, our senses are awakened by the feel of the paper; our attention is piqued. We appreciate the weight, texture, and aesthetics as we hold it and place it down on our work surface. Our attention has been shifted from the world around us to the project before us. Because the paper has worth, our attention turns to focusing on creating each stroke and the piece of art before us.
    See page 30 to learn these tangles.
    ZENTANGLE TILES
    A Zentangle is always created on a 3 1/2 × 3 1/2-inch (8.9 × 8.9 cm) tile. That is one of the few rules of Zentangle. The official and original Zentangle tiles are heavy, have a deckled edge, and are created from an Italian-made paper, Tiepolo by Fabriano, which has been making paper for more than three hundred years. Tiepolo is used by printmakers around the world. It is a thick paper with a 240-lb weight, and it has a definite weave to its surface.
    I remember being so shocked when I received my first Zentangle tiles in the mail. I tend to choose smooth-surfaced papers for drawing. When I sat down to create my first Zentangle tile, I soon saw the wisdom in the choice of papers. The woven texture on the surface of Tiepolo causes you to slow down as you draw, thus giving you more control of the pen as you create the strokes.
    You know you are using an official tile because the back has a red square with an original Zentangle printed beside it. There are two lines also printed on the back. These can be obtained from your local Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) or on the Internet from www.zentangle.com . To create your own, I suggest a parent sheet of good-quality art paper, of a heavier weight, that you can find at your local art store. By going to the store versus online you can feel the surface and weight of the paper. Measure, then tear or cut the paper into tiles. Use a Pigma Micron 005 pen to create the two 1 1/2 inch (3.8 cm) lines on the back. You will need seventy-five to one hundred tiles to complete the daily Zentangle tile, and you may choose to do some of the daily ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art) on the tiles.
    Black Zentangle Tiles
    These can also be purchased from a local CZT or online. Create your own by cutting or tearing black drawing paper into the same size as Zentangle tiles. Ten of each should be enough.
    Zendala Tiles and Artist Trading Cards
    The same art done on a 4 1/2-inch (11.4 cm) round is called a Zendala, which comes in the original white. An artist trading card (ATC) is 2 1/2 × 3 1/2 inches (6.4 × 8.9 cm) and is a wonderful platform for creating Zentangle Inspired Art. They come in both white and black. Zendala tiles and Zentangle artist trading cards are available from your local CZT or online. If you are creating them, use the same paper you choose to create the Zentangle tiles. For the Zendalas, cut 4 1/2-inch (11.4 cm) circles. For the ATCs, cut or tear the paper into 2 1/2 × 3 1/2-inch (6.4 × 8.9 cm) cards. Use a Pigma Micron 005 pen to draw two 1 1/2-inch (3.8 cm) lines on the back of each tile or card. Ten ATCs and six Zendalas should be enough.
    ARTISTICO WATERCOLOR PAPER
    This paper is sold in a parent sheet at the local art store or online. Artwork done on other sizes of paper is called Zentangle Inspired Art, or ZIA. It is a good idea to purchase this in the parent sheet, which is 22 × 30 inch (55.9 × 76.2 cm). The paper can then be torn or cut to desired size for projects.
    Clockwise: (A)