Know When to Fold 'Em

I've been pretty interested in tangle patterns that look like curling or torn pages.  Check out these interesting patterns by several creative tanglers:

• Tore-Up by Cookie
• Page Curl v.2 by Lizzie Mayne
• That's Torn It v.1 by Lizzie Mayne
• Cartoosh by JayCadien

In a recent piece that I shared with fellow CZTs (Certified Zentangle Teachers), I used a shading technique to create a folded look in my tile.  I received such a positive response and a request for the instructions.

Here are my instructions for what I'm calling MomZenArtist's Folded Tile Technique.  I was playing with a new pattern and wanted to do two tangellations, so I divided my tile into two main areas.  With shading and a few tricks, it ended up looking folded.  I came up with this just by playing, but I don't know if the inspiration came from something I had read or seen before.  If so, please let me know.  I always want to give credit where credit is due!

MomZenArtist's Folded Tile Technique 4.13

I'd love to see your pieces if you play with this technique.  :-)

I owe a lot of my shading techniques to Cris Letourneau.  Check out her awesome shading book, Made in the Shade: A Zentangle Workbook!

My New Tangle: WGT

At my CZT training, Rick and Maria asked us to find something in the hotel for inspiration for a new tangle pattern.  We were to deconstruct the item into individual parts.


After looking at a variety of beautiful picture frames, carpets, fabrics, and wood items, I was still at a loss for a pattern that I wanted to turn into a tangle.  When I went back to my hotel room, I saw an item that inspired this tangle, WGT (weight):

The item reminded me of a globe.

Next it evoked the idea of Atlas with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Basically, the item reminded me of weight since it was a ....

bathroom scale!