TANGLES BY THE SEA

I recently took a class that featured the Mexican embroidery art of “Otomi” in a class taught by Danielle DePalma-Mabanta, CZT. This class is just one session of a year-long, international, continuing education art program for Zentangle teachers called CZT: Artifex Eruditio 2025.

While I was drawing Dani’s class, I was reminded of the beautiful Mexican blouses and dresses we wore back in the 70’s, with all the bright colors and beautiful embroidery work. It had me reminiscing of summertime back then, hanging at the beach with friends, swimming in the ocean, just living the So. California lifestyle. Great memories!

I chose to teach this as my June class. While reading about this art style, I found that most times these panels were created on muslin cotton. I had 6×9 muslin bags on hand, so we used these as our “tiles”. I changed up the patterns from Dani’s class, and concentrated on an “ocean theme”, using Zentangle patterns that resemble sea life.

We used a fish for our focal point, then added the following patterns: Angelfish/M. VanBeek; Eau/Christina Carroll; Urchin/Loretta Botticini; Popsicles/Michelle Beauchamp; Heart Vine/Laurie Howe; Indy-Rella, Flux and Orbs by Zentangle. The patterns were drawn with Pentel Fabric pens and the color was added using Koi Brush markers.

They all turned out awesome. These would make fun little gift bags, for those looking to make something to share with a friend.

Thanks Danielle for the inspiration and education of this art form.

Next Class: Sunday, July 13th at Icarus, 1:00pm-3:00-pm. Contact tanglesbythesea@gmail.com to reserve your seat!

I didn’t have the June date confirmed during May’s class. It is now scheduled for June 8th at Icarus, from 1-3:00pm. Seating is available at this time.

Other Summer Classes:
July 13th, Icarus
August 17th, Icarus

This month’s class was all about ZenGemZ. Beautiful tiles were created by all, combining colorful gems with embellished orbs and floral patterns. Prismacolor colored pencils were used for the gems.

Next up – June 8th at Icarus from 1-3:00pm.

During my many trips to the Central Coast of California, I’m always in awe over the rocks found on many of the beaches. Actually, maybe I should call them stones – they are super thin and very smooth. I never felt compelled to draw on a rock until I discovered these!

After sharing a couple with my last class, they were eager to give “rock tangling” a go. Last Sunday found eight of us drawing multiple Zentangle patterns, using black Identipens, adding color using colored pencils, and then embellishing with white and gold Jelly Roll pens. Once all the ink was completely dry, a light coat of ModPodge was painted over the artwork. The final results were three beautiful rocks per tangler, and additional blank ones in their packets to tangle at home.

Beautiful work was created by all.

WARNING – tangling on rocks is addicting. Can’t stop with just one!

Next up – class on Sunday, May 18th, 1-3pm at Icarus Creative Arts Studio. Contact me prior to making PayPal payment to confirm there is space available.

With the season of Spring arriving this month, it was obvious a tile featuring a floral motif was the focus for March. Ten of us gathered at Icarus for an afternoon of new patterns, a bit of color, and friendship.

Tangling was done on a white original tile with black ink. Graphite was added for shading, then just hints of color to bring the patterns alive. Beautiful art was created by everyone!

Four new patterns were introduced: Joyful/Melinda Barlow; Bownus and Panziola/Angie Gittles; Bluster/Irina Wins. The tile also included Veruca/Veronica Orozco; and Printemps, Flux, Fescu, Poke Root and DooDah/Zentangle.

Upcoming – April 6th. ‘Rock Tangling’. Class is filling. Contact me prior to paying to confirm availability.

This month’s class concentrated on a few of the many “heart tangles” out in the pattern world. Tangling was done on a Renaissance Zendala. Black and red ink was used, along with graphite pencil, white chalk and gold metallic pens.

Patterns used were Diva Dance, Knightsbridge and Fescu (Zentangle), Herzlbee (Beate Winkler, CZT), Heart Beat (Cindy Angel, CZT) and a new pattern I recently created, Josephine, in honor of my 4 year old LOVABLE Australian Shepherd!

Shading of the Knightsbridge was in a style I recently picked up in a class by Danielle Mabanta. Patterns do not have to have just one style of shading. The technique of adding the white chalk down the middle of each Knightsbridge row was one I’ve never used before. It gave the pattern a very different look.

Every one of these tiles turned out lovely, and very much in the spirit of Valentine’s Day. Three of these tiles were created by 1st-time tanglers!

The next class is scheduled for Sunday, March 16th at Icarus from 1-3:00pm. The class is filling so contact me first before making any PayPal payments.

January saw a full house creating 5 Phi tiles and highlighting the Tangle of the Year – “Huggins”. Instead of selecting a “word of the year”, we tangled Huggins on a Bijou tile, and then applied it to the center of our tile with a foam dot to give it a little dimension.

Patterns used were Gneiss, Hurry, Meer, Crescent Moon, Mooka, Flux, Printemps – all Zentangle patterns, and Barberpole by Suzanne McNeill. We also added a fragment of Vinter, a new pattern from CZT Danielle DePalma-Mabanta. When the tiles were completed, we added graphite shading with some white chalk highlights, and then finished off embellishing with a gold glitter pen.

These tiles turned out beautiful – I was so excited when we put them all together for our mosaic at the end of class. Everyone did beautiful work!

Next up is February 16th, Icarus Creative Arts Studio, from 1-3pm. The classes are filling up very quickly, so contact me before you purchase to be sure there is still space available.

Last Sunday saw nine tanglers come together for the last class of 2024. I’m so thankful for the people who attend my classes every month and for the friendships they bring to the group.

With Thanksgiving just ahead, a little whimsy was called for … in the shape of a turkey! We drew our turkeys on Renaissance zendalas using black and different autumn colored inks. The completed tiles were shaded with graphite, white chalk pencils and then the addition of a colorful jelly roll sparkle pen and a clear glitter pen. They turned out great! The group consisted of regulars and three new tanglers – and I think every tile is awesome.

I’ll be back at Icarus in January with a class on Sunday, the 12th, followed by Sunday, February 16th, both from 1-3:00pm. The classes already have sign-ups. Try to plan ahead as the “turkey class” had a waiting list.

Enjoy your Holiday Season – see you in 2025!