Zentangle Blog | Do More Art with Zentangle

Testimonials

I’m thrilled when people take my classes or workshops and offer honest feedback and testimonials. Here’s just a few recent comments I’ve received.

I was looking for a hobby – one that was creative. Pegi visited my home and privately taught me how to tangle in September 2013. It has changed my life and the way I look at everyday objects. I see repetitive patterns everywhere now! The time I give myself daily for my Zentangle practice seems to fly by, and a sense of calm peace takes over as I enter ‘the zone’ and I feel totally carefree. I love the portability factor and that I take Zentangle with me to work. I just slip a few tiles, a pen and pencil into my handbag and I am ready to tangle just about anywhere anytime.

– Mindy D., Southampton, NJ

As an interior designer, I have always had an artists eye. I’ve taken plenty of art classes and had much success. Pegi taught me Zentangle at my hotel and I was hooked. I loved my Basic 101 class taught by a Certified Zentangle Teacher, she made everything so easy and fun! I use Zentangle in my day to day life in designing thank you cards for my business and personal life. I am so excited about it I turned several friends on to it and they took the Basic Zentangle 101 class too! Now when we get together, we always tangle a while for the sheer fun of it.

– Sandy S., Albuquerque, NM

Private Zentangle Classes & Workshops

Private Zentangle events can be at your campus, office, church, home or other meeting location.

The minimum price is only $75 for any private class in the Portland Oregon area plus nominal travel expenses. We can do your home or even a quiet coffee shop.

For groups of 3 to 8 people at your location, simply budget for $45 per participant for “Zentangle Basics Class”. Give me a call for details and to book your date!

Private Zentangle workshops and classes are available upon request and some of the options include:

Zentangle Basics – includes a Zentangle Mini-Kit for each participant. One-on-one classes are $75 and group rates are $45/person, allow 2-2.5 hours. This is the most popular private class that has been done for church groups, social gatherings, schools, and others. Highly recommended!
Beyond the Basics – requires Zentangle Basics class first. Bring your mini-kit. Group rates are $45/person, 3 hours review and evaluation of current skills and learn additional tangles and techniques.
Shading and Dimension – requires Zentangle Basics class first. Bring your mini-kit! Group rates are $45/person, 2-2.5 hours.
Zentangle on Fabric – requires Zentangle Basics class first. Includes all supplies for you to keep. Group rates workshop is $75/person and 3-3.5 hours long.

If you have friends who have never done this amazing artwork before, then let’s all do “Zentangle Basics” where a Zentangle Mini-Kit is given out to everyone! Keep tangling – stay happy!

Learning Zentangle is fun and easy. Join a class today and find out. Learning from a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) like Pegi is a blast! According to the folks who created Zentangle, practicing several time a week can help with:

Handwriting
Eye/hand coordination
Creativity and personal expression
Problem solving
Cross-cultural understanding, using various cultural symbols such as Indian henna patterns, Celtic knotting, Zuni pottery, Maori tattoos or Islamic tiling
Relaxation and focus
Confidence
And more…

Check out the calendar and join a class today. If you want a private class for yourself or a gathering, contact me.

What’s Zentangle?

The Zentangle Method is a simple to understand, fun art form that is created with pen and pencil using simple repetitive patterns. The resulting tangle is often quite surprising because, unlike many other art forms, no preplanning or background in art is required, yet the result looks quite complex.

Zentangle was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and is a trademark of Zentangle, Inc. To learn even more about Zentangle, please read more here on my site or visit zentangle.com. Thank you.

Benefits and Uses

Below are some of the benefits and uses that I and others have experienced or are planning.

I have used Zentangle tiles to give as gifts to very important people in my life.

I have made tangled gift tags.

I find that tangling helps turn off the chatter in my mind.

I always purchase 3.5″ square frames at used goods stores when I can find them. I use these frames to showcase some of my favorite tiles. When the mood hits, I change out the tiles for new ones, and file or give the older ones away.

I find that tangling helps me to relax and get a feeling of general well-being.

I have tangled gift cards and greeting cards.

I am tangling in my journal and sketchbook.

I tangle in a tiny sketchbook I keep in my handbag when waiting for appointments.

While tangling, I feel more at ease , focused, and quite centered.

I’ve tangled my paperboard check filing box using a sharpie marker.

I’ve entered strings and tiles into challenges and depository sites.

I’ve tangled just to secretly give the tile away by leaving it in some public place.

I find great enjoyment in reviewing tiles I have created in the past.

I take great pride in my art form of choice.

I am thrilled that I am a prolific early artist creating nearly daily.

I have tangled the Desiderata. Poems look great when bordered in tangles.

I plan to tangle a bamboo container that I keep my fresh Zentangle and Apprentice tiles in.

I am preparing to tangle “found poetry”. Look that up on the Internet. It is pretty interesting.

Others have tangled white shoes and boots, even a car!

Others have made holiday ornaments from their tangles and tiles.

Others have tangled in their scrapbooks and diaries.

I get to name my tangled tiles. That’s fun!

I have tangled Zentangle Tiles – Ensemble Sets and my own original ensemble and have framed them.

I have purchased Maria & Ricks 102 Tangles – Signed Print and have had it framed.

This is what Rick & Maria say about:

Benefits and Uses of the Zentangle Method

It is fascinating to learn how other people are using the Zentangle method. Here’s a list of benefits others enjoy from practicing the Zentangle Method. This list continues to grow as people apply the Zentangle Method in ways we never considered.

Relaxation
Journalling
Insomnia (Improved sleep by creating a Zentangle before bedtime)
Self-esteem
Inspiration
Panic attacks (For fear of flying, creating a Zentangle during takeoff and landing)
Modify behavior
Create beautiful works of art
Nurture and develop creative abilities
Relieve stress
Improve eye/hand coordination
Develop/rehabilitate fine motor skills
Team building and group focus
Therapy
Anger management
Addiction therapy tool
Early artist development and appreciation
Increase attention span and ability to concentrate
Home schooling
Brainstorming
Problem Solving
Design inspiration
Stretching and warm-up for artists
Stress reduction

It’s Easy and it’s Fun

In our hurried lifestyles, we frequently forget to take a bit of time daily to have some fun. Part of the beauty of Zentangle® is that it can be done any time, anywhere, for any reason, or for no reason at all. All that is needed is a pen and paper. Creating these miniature works of art helps us to slow down a bit, and have fun while doing it. I don’t know about you, but for me, creating original art makes me feel great! The comments I hear from others make me believe they feel great about their creative art work too! Come join us. It’s Easy and it’s Fun!

Who Can Zentangle?

Just about anyone can Zentangle®. Here are some ideas on what it takes to effectively take the classes offered.

You understand the language the CZT® is speaking.
You can use a pen comfortably
You have a desire to create even if you think you ‘can’t draw’
You’re interested in learning about Zentangle®.
You’re into having a good time.
You want to be surprised about your results from the very first Zentangle.

The process of tangling is very relaxing with just a little practice. All skill levels and abilities are welcome to take classes. Pegi Schargel, CZT likes to teach students age 8 and above.

Supplies and Products

Using the Zentangle Method to create original abstract art is easy and portable. Although all you need is a surface to draw tangles on, a pen, pencil and your finger to smudge the pencil shading, I recommend using the best materials that you can afford. This instills a sense of greater value in your work. You will slow down and take your time and concentrate on each stroke you intentionally make. As you experience the process and flow, you may find your day to day concerns and stress slip away. I do.

Rick and Maria, the founders of Zentangle have done all the work in selecting the right pens and paper tiles to use after testing many materials. The official 3-1/2″ square Zentangle tiles are made of 100%cotton fine Fabriano Tiepolo Printmaking paper. The Sakura Pigma Micron pens boast fade resistant archival ink that flows without skipping, feathering or bleeding with the lightest of touch.

When I switched to exclusively using these materials, I noticed a huge difference in the way the paper hugged the pen tip, it felt velvety. I could actually feel the quality difference. I found when I used quality materials, that I actually cared more about my art. I imagine you too will be able to feel the difference if you are using other paper to start your tangling on. I will be selling Zentangle tiles, Sakura Micron pens and tortillions in my Store in the future. Please support my small business by buying your supplies through me. I will make a small profit. I thank you.

Zentangle Classes are for artists and those who doubt they are…

Many of us seem to have a deep inner need to create art and it starts early. Simply give a child crayons and paper and they don’t stare at the blank page with apprehension, they begin naturally creating. This need to create stays with us, for some it is further developed, and for others it gets buried in day-to-day life and we only wish we’d make the time to satisfy that creative need. As an adult self proclaimed ‘non-artist’, the idea of taking drawing classes may seem intimidating and even thinking about painting may leave us feeling tense unless we’ve had some training and encouragement. Expressing our creativity is extremely valuable to our wellbeing and sense of self worth. Today there is a way for the non-artist, and artist alike to have fun while creating artwork on Zentangle® tiles using archival pen and pencil even in your very first class!

Take my classes simply “Because You Can Do More Art!”. Tangling is something intriguing that almost everyone can do and be successful at and satisfied with. The outcome should pleasantly surprise and impress you. Creating even your first few tiles fills you with self confidence and the pleasant sense of accomplishment. You may find yourself saying, “Wow! I did that?” Practicing the Zentangle® Method, you gain experience and a library of Tangles to call upon and add to your portfolio. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of tangle patterns to choose from, and I will show you resources to find these tangles on the Internet. One of the great things about taking lessons from a CZT® (Certified Zentangle Teacher) is that you get to learn a non-published pattern reserved for CZTs to teach before it is released to the general public.

Zentangle® is exploding with popularity, and if you are one of the lucky people who resides in the greater Portland Oregon area you have Certified Zentangle Teachers (CZT) available to help you start your Zentangle Journey off with a solid foundation. Sign up for the Basic 101 class. Then you can take any of the other classes offered. Having a CZT assisting and guiding you along the way will help you understand and appreciate the Zentangle Method so that you can begin creating beautiful abstract art in your first hour of class!

Pegi Schargel, CZT

Trust in a professional. Pegi Schargel is a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) in good standing and personally trained by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, the founders of this amazing art form, in Providence, RI. She is authorized to teach The Zentangle Method and to sell Zentangle Products. Pegi furthers her Zentangle education by attending Zentangle University and by maintaining a daily Zentangle practice.

Flying and Tangling

What better way to enter ‘the zone’ and pass the hours than to tangle while flying across the country? I was happy to not be playing computer games for a change on that flight back to Portland, OR. I was nearly finished creating a Zentangle tile and planned to create more tiles when my Sakura Pigma Micron 01 spewed its awesome ink onto two fingers on my left hand. I should have quit tangling after the pen oozed its luscious black ink out the tip, but no, I couldn’t stop. I wrapped the pen in newspaper supplied by the steward and slipped the malfunctioning pen into its cap and placed it into my handbag, I pulled out another Sakura Micron 01 pen.

Everything was going fine as I was finishing up the tile, then spurt! The second pen did more than slowly ooze its ink. It leaked fast and made quite a mess. The business-suited gentleman next to me reached into his briefcase and pulled out some paper napkins. I cleaned up the best I could at 35,000 feet. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Sakura Micron 01 pens, I buy them by the baker’s dozen from ScrapbookPal.com and take advantage of the free shipping for orders over $25. On future flights, I will store my pens in plastic baggies in my suitcase and practice my tangles in my sketchbook using my matte black Fisher Space Pen – I’ve used it on several flights without any problem! This was my experience, your mileage may vary.

Update June 28th, 2014: I could not resist tangling again on a cross country flight from Providence, RI to Portland, OR. This time, I stored my pens in a plastic baggie and brought my own napkins. I would like you to know I had no problem what-so-ever with leaking pens this time! The woman sitting next to me said she would pay me $50 cash on the spot for my custom tangled tile/pencil storage bag that I tangled at the CZT Seminar. BTW, Molly Hollibaugh did a great job teaching that fabric tangling class! I should have taken my traveling companion up on the $50 offer! This is but one example of many ways to make money with Zentangle. I have been stopped by staff when teaching tangling in a hotel lobby and was asked if my work was for sale. At that time I was too reserved and unsure of myself to say yes, I will sell you a tile of your choosing.