Julie writes… I think I say this after every Zentangle Project Pack, but the latest one, No. 23, might be my favorite. Even though I was part of the tangling team, I still followed along with the videos on my own and I loved every single day – even when things did not go quite as planned.   On day 8, I listened and tangled as Molly led us in filling the points around the circle. I even heard her remind us to alternate the points as we filled in the first tangle, but I got so into the flow that I forgot to alternate. "Oh no, I messed up.” was my first reaction.   I felt that initia ..read more

Rick writes... Maria and I always focused on the simplicity of the Zentangle Method. We often say that if you can write your name, you’ve already “drawn” all of the shapes or strokes you need to create Zentangle art. The basic strokes that we use to make all our tangles are: Dot Straight(ish) line Curved line S-shaped line Orb We now refer to those basic strokes as elemental strokes. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Zentangle Method, so it is a good time to tell the story of how the term icso came about. I remember exactly where in our house I was standing when the idea came to m ..read more

Today’s world moves quickly. Sometimes, too quickly. We have become accustomed to having the world at our fingertips and immediate satisfaction. We can order something from certain online retailers and it will arrive at our door that very same day. Behind much of what we experience is automation. There are chatbots and AI, robots for warehouses, and sometimes it is very hard to interact with a real person that actually works for the company we are interacting with. Don’t get me wrong – automation and technology have its place and make our lives exponentially easier in many ways. But there is ..read more

“I think... if it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts.” ― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina Shall we all tangle till our hearts content and celebrate Zentangle love? Tomorrow, it is Valentines Day and what better way to show our love than with a tangle! Tangle along with Molly and Julie as they explore the new 5xPhive tiles (available here!) and a heart shaped string. If you don't have the 5xPhive tiles (yet!) we encourage you to tangle along with what you have at home or in your 20th Anniversary Journal. As you paus ..read more

 Julie writes... A few years ago, I was visiting Amsterdam, NL for work, when I befriended a few fellow tourists for the afternoon as we realized we had similar itineraries. When I told them about my job, they said with amusement, "your job sounds fake." It is not the first time I have gotten a response like that, because sometimes it does sound too good to be true. I get to work for a company I adore, with a mission I believe in and most importantly ... with people that I love. At the heart of Zentangle, Inc is a group of passionate people who pour their hearts into every tile counted, p ..read more

Molly writes: I am very attracted to the philosophy behind the Zentangle Method. Strangely, it was the one thing that was missing in my practice when I first started tangling so many years ago. It was missing because I didn't think I needed it and therefore I clumsily tried to make it work without it. I think I was in denial that it was perhaps something I did need and maybe something I was subconsciously searching for. Once I opened my heart and let go of judgment and expectation, I started to see and feel things in a completely different way. One of the aspects of the Zentangle philosophy ..read more

Julie writes… I have spent a lot of time recently looking through old family photos. I started looking for just a few photos, but next thing I know, it has been hours of sorting through photos. Taking the time to relish the memories, to study the faces of the people in the photos and to reflect on what has changed and what has stayed the same. Sometimes, you do not realize how far you’ve come until you look back at where you started. The same can be said for your Zentangle practice. We recently pulled out some of our very first tiles created using the Zentangle Method. This was a delightful ..read more

I am often asked, “What are the rules for creating Zentangle art?" I always reply with a cheeky response, “have fun!” I know this is not the answer they are hoping for, but the truth is, there really are no rules. There are 8 guiding steps that provide structure. These 8 Steps of the Zentangle Method give you a clear and accessible foundation for creating beautiful art and experiencing all the benefits that this method has to offer. Once you have a solid foundation to start on, there is room for exploration and evolution, but you are always supported by those introductory steps. Today we ar ..read more

Rick writes: Gratitude has always been the foundation of the Zentangle Method. Perhaps that’s because it has always been the foundation of Maria’s and my worlds. I remember when Maria and I were teaching a workshop in New Hampshire. Some of the attendees wanted to know how they could also teach the Zentangle Method. That request inspired our Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) seminars. When we announced our first seminar for February 2009, people asked what qualifications were necessary to attend. Immediately we responded, “Passion and Gratitude!” Our reasoning was that if you had passion a ..read more

It is hard to believe another year has come and gone. As we look back on 2023, we are filled with gratitude for the Zentangle Community and the peace, calm and camaraderie that you bring. One of our favorite ways to connect with the Zentangle community is through our blog. In 2023, we shared 52 posts and you all joined us in thought provoking, problem solving, and Zentangle inspired conversations. Today we share our top 5 blogs of 2023 with you all. If you've already read them, we think they are worth visiting again. If you missed these the first time around, they are not to be misse ..read more