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Writer's pictureCynthia Standley

Fundamental Principles

This session focused on 4 fundamental principles of the Zentangle® method.

1. Aura-ing –an aura is a distinctive atmosphere or quality that surrounds something. In

this case, it is a pen stroke that creates a pattern that surrounds another pattern. It is

the act of drawing a line around an image you have just drawn. Like a halo, ripples in a

pond. Try to draw them the same distance from one another. This was demonstrated

with the tangle crescent moon.

2. Drawing behind – with this principle, you must remain mindful that you are drawing

behind pen strokes that have already been laid down. You remain sensitive that your

lines are continuous behind the lines in front. Rotate your tile to create lines at different

angles to each other. As you draw the subsequent lines, when you get to a “board”, lift

your pen and skip to the other side then continue drawing. Complete the illusion of the

board going under the first by aura-ing this line. Draw some boards wider or narrower

than others. This concept was demonstrated with the tangle hollibaugh.

3. Take off and land – After lying down some individual pen strokes, the concept of “take

off and land” is used to begin to connect the individual marks. You start or take off from

one mark and land or stop at the next mark. This concept was demonstrated with the

tangle cadent.

4. Redefine the line – After you have put your marks down, you redefine the line, but take a

slightly different route such as rounding when approaching an angle. This concept was

demonstrated with the tangle ‘nzepple.






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