Tiffany Lovering - Zen Doodle Unleashed: Freeform Tangle Art You Can Draw and Color

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To my YouTube subscribers who continue to keep me inspired to try new things and who encourage me to share my artwork. To my daughter, Alli, for her endless supply of coffee as I create my artwork and for being my best cheerleader when I need it most.

Freeform tangling is a type of abstract art that uses fine-tipped pens to fill the page with repeating patterns that appear to build off each other. Color and shading can be added for a beautifully finished look.

A lot of art forms include the use of repeating patterns; the most notable is Zentangle created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. What sets freeform tangling apart is that it is much less restrictive than other art forms. There is no string or boundary to keep your patterns in. Instead, you create freeform patterns that build off each other until they fill the page.

The best part about freeform tangling is that anyone can do it. Even if you have unsteady hands, it is simply a matter of making the patterns and different types of strokes work for you. You dont even need to have any natural artistic talent to get started with freeform tangles. I have never been particularly great at drawing, but I always had the desire to create. I combined that desire with practice and determination, discovering freeform tangle art along the way and developing my abilities to what they are today. You can actually see the progress of my artistic journey on my YouTube channel. The art I created in my first videos is quite basic compared to what I do today. Artistic talent can be developed as long as you have the passion within you to do so.

As you work through the book and practice mastering the different patterns and drawings, there are four things you should always keep in mind to be successful: patience, practice, persistence and personality.

Patience is important because it may take awhile to grasp certain patterns. Dont feel discouraged if a pattern doesnt come naturally to you. If you start to feel frustrated with a pattern or drawing, set it aside and come back to it later. Freeform tangling is a relaxing and fun craft, and its just not possible to be relaxed if you are feeling frustrated. Its important to remain patient as you are learning.

Practice... a lot. As with many things in life, your success is directly connected to the amount of time you spend practicing. Fit some practice time into your day any way you can. Keep a small notebook on hand as well as at home so you can practice patterns in your downtime, whether youre on hold during a phone call or watching TV or in the waiting room of your doctors office. Once you have learned a handful of patterns, creating a freeform tangle wont take your full attention.

Persistence is also a major key to freeform tangles. As important as it is to put aside a drawing or pattern that frustrates you, it is equally or more important that you go back to whatever is frustrating you. Keep trying until you figure out how to do what youre trying to do. Eventually you will get it, and when you do, you will feel a well-deserved sense of accomplishment.

Personality is your own twist on freeform tangles. If you dont like the way a pattern looks but have an idea on how to change it, always go with your idea. Its natural to feel inspired by tangle drawings by other artists, but dont compare your work to the work of others. You should only compare your work to your own work. Let your own style shine. Spend your practice time developing your own style so your freeform tangles feature your unique personality.

I encourage you to join my Facebook page to share your artwork and ask any questions you may have about freeform tangles. Im always available and would love to hear from you! Enjoy!

Freeform tangles can be created with any art materials. This is something I cant stress enough. You dont need to go out and purchase new suppliesits all about what feels most comfortable for you. You may also be aware of some tools commonly used in the tangle art world, but restricting yourself to such a list can potentially stunt the creative process.

No matter what supplies you choose to create your art, always experiment. Try out different strokes and techniques with each tool and material. Sometimes you can achieve a better result simply by switching the type of paper or brand of technical pen. Although you may not use all of the tools together in one piece of art, it is a good idea to have many on hand just in case you decide your drawing would look better with color, shading, circles created with a compass or straight lines drawn with a ruler. Let the pure freedom of making freeform tangle art take over, and allow the creativity to flow onto the page!

There are many drawing tools to choose from and it may take some time to find your favorites. When Once I discovered my preferred set of tools, I created a quick kit in a shoebox so Id have my supplies readily available when I had the urge to create a tangle. I highly recommend creating your own quick kit. This list of drawing tools is a good resource to turn to as you continue to try new materials.

It goes without saying that you need something to draw on, but with so many options, what should you choose? The main thing to consider is the texture of the paper. A smoother surface will allow you to create clean, crisp strokes with little effort.