The 8 Steps:
1. Gratitude
The Zentangle Method begins and ends with gratitude. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Then take a few moments to be thankful for being able to take time for yourself, Feel the paper, and appreciate its quality.
2. Corner Dots
Use a pencil to place four dots in each corner of your tile. They can be spaced however you want. This and the following two steps overcome the intimidating barrier of the Blank Page.
3. Border
Still using a pencil, connect your corner dots to create a border. The line does not need to be straight or even.
4. String
With a pencil, lightly divide the area inside your border into sections. This imposes an “elegant of limits.” The pencil markings are suggestions, not requirements. You can use them or ignore them.
5. Tangle
Now the fun begins! Put down your pencil and use your Micron pen. Fill each section with a tangle. Be mindful, and focus only on your current stoke and tangle.
Remember, that pencil lines are only ŭsuggestions. You can combine sections, add more strings, or ignore them.
When all your sections are filled, you are ready to shade.
Shade
Using your pencil, add graphite to your tile. Don’t worry about the direction or quality of light.
Don’t be afraid to add lots of graphite. A darker shade is more effective. Use a tortillon, blending stub or your finger to “invite the graphite into the paper.”
You can also add enhancers, redraw faded lines and touch up areas at this point. This is called “adding love.”
Sign and date
Initial the front of your piece and at the back write your name and the date. You can also write any notes about the piece. Congrats. Your tile is complete.
Appreciation
Finally, hold your tile at arm’s length and turn it around. Take time to appreciate your art and the experience of creating it.
Tangle Borealis 