Zentangle Untangled (14 page)

When it came to naming this chapter, I wasn’t sure how to describe what word summed up all the art materials I would introduce. I sat looking at all my supplies and I realized: I am in need of an art-material intervention.

Some people buy shoes, illicit drugs, fast cars. For me, it’s all about art materials. I LOVE art materials. I have some favorite stores to buy from here in Australia, and on various trips to New York, I’ve spent enough money at a well-known art store that could rescue the European economy! It’s a serious addiction. I love trying different brands, new products and technologies, the latest and greatest.

Does that mean they’re all suited to Zentangle? Well...not so much. But I’ve collected a bunch that do apply well, and I encourage you to try things out for yourself. Playing with art supplies is one of the fun parts of being an artist.

Here’s a tip, though: Use what you have. Think about ways you can manipulate materials, collage elements, ephemera. Try materials together. Add layers. See what your artistic spirit brings out. But use what you have before spending big money on more; you’ll purchase more wisely if you do so. (I know, it’s hard not to lose it in the art supply shop with all the goodness around you, but try!)

Sakura is a Japanese pen-making company that supplies the pens in Zentangle kits. The Japanese make incredible quality pens, but until I bought my kit, I’d never used Sakura pens. These days, they are almost the
only
pens I use in my art because they are just so good. I’ve tried almost every pen I could get my hands on, and nothing beats the quality of Sakura (and I most definitely am
not
being paid to say that!).

The first exploration of drawing materials is the colored Pigma Micron pens by Sakura. These fantastic pens come in a range of colors and widths and, with the experience you already have using the black version in your Zentangle kit, you know how beautifully they flow.

On watercolor and printmaking paper, they are bleed-proof, and once dry, they are waterproof, too, so they combine well with inks and watercolor paints.

When I am purchasing art supplies in-store or online, I almost always buy a few extra Pigma Micron pens. Although they last a long time if looked after and stored laying down, I feel like I can never have too many.

See, I wasn’t joking when I said I needed an intervention!

Souffle pens are dimensional, opaque pens that are pastel in hue and look great on black paper and white alike (as you can see in
Whirly Swirly
). They need about fifteen minutes to dry completely, so they are not as handy on-the-go, but they are lots of fun and are a simple and effective way to bring color and dimension to your tangled art.

If pastel, muted tones are not your style, maybe the Sakura Glaze pens will be. Like the Souffle, the Glaze pens are dimensional pens in bright, semi-transparent colors. They look fabulous—almost good enough to eat. These, too, need some drying time, but they look fantastic when used to draw or color your tangles.