Celtic Knots Tests

Lately I've been exploring Celtic knots. I started these recipe cards testing the method similar to constructing the tangle Huggins, but I discovered another book and tried a different method which is more similar to my Freeform Knots class. I also tried some treatment options, mixing brown pen tangling with some color.

Here’s a video of the recipe cards:

Here’s another card using the “Huggins” method.

Later I discovered another system shown in a book (Celtic Knotwork Deisgns by Sheila Sturrock) and although not as precise, I like it a bit more.

And finally, I played with some treatment, and I’m really happy with it, even though it’s not as 3D as I normally like.

Feel free to share or pin these images.

Remember that all images are Copyright Eni Oken.

 
More Posts for you
Canvaswork Blue and Pink
Canvaswork Blue and Pink

While Alan and I are safe from the recent Los Angeles fires, some of our loved ones were affected in a most brutal way, losing everything. I am extremely thankful that everyone is healthy and safe, but I have not had the emotional space to create any drawing or painting. The only thing I barely feel like making right now is some canvaswork embroidery which brings me comfort and reminds me of my grandmothers. This little canvas measures 4x4 inches.

Zenuari 2025 Tripoli
Zenuari 2025 Tripoli

Tripoli is the tangle for the second day of Zenuari 2025. I actually created two tiles on this one. Here’s my favorite one, using pitt brush pens and inktense to do the shading. #zenuari2025

Zenuari 2025 Bubbles
Zenuari 2025 Bubbles

My New Year’s resolution is to participate in more online art challenges. We’ll see how that goes… I signed up for Zenuari 2025, a month-long challenge by Anoeska Waardenburg. The first day prompt called for bubbles and I couldn’t resist transforming them into gemmy bubbles. Shaded with inktense pencil. #zenuari2025

Unfinished Tiles
Unfinished Tiles

Happy New Year! I’ve been MIA for the holidays, lots of things to do with a house guest. Barely had any time to tangle or draw and nothing seemed to work. So I took a couple of unfinished tiles from long ago and completed them with some easy (almost) black and white tangling.

Devon Gothic
Devon Gothic

This picture was made largely adapted from a fragment of Gothic architecture I found in Richard Glazier’s Manual of Historic Ornament (archive dot org). I combined three primary colors with black ink, and shaded and colored using inktense pencils.

Project Pack 25 Day 4
Project Pack 25 Day 4

This Project Pack 25 really is one of my favorites. Day 4 covers a tangleation of Gourdgeous going behind and overlapping. Again I used one of my blotched and scratched watercolor papers and am in love with the results! #pp25day4

Casablanca in Pink
Casablanca in Pink

During my last cruise we stopped briefly in Casablanca, Morocco. I took tons of pictures of historic buildings and this one detail caught my eye, I adapted it as string for this piece. Tangled and shaded with Inktense pencils and Pitt Artist brush pens.

Project Pack 25 Day 1 and 2
Project Pack 25 Day 1 and 2

Zentangle’s Project Pack 25 covers a topic that is dear to my heart: drawing behind. I decided to use some older papers I had prepared with watercolor blotches and scratches, to add an extra layer of difficulty. The first day covers tangles Doodah and Umble, and Day 2 covered a beautiful Fengle. Shaded with an Oak color inktense pencil, which gives just a hint of dark green.

Kensington Raffle in Brown
Kensington Raffle in Brown

A couple of weeks ago I played an Art Raffle with friends, and I decided to explore it in brown over a 4x6” watercolor paper shading with inktense pencil. Tangles are Kensington (Anoeska Waardenburg), Kamala (Kamala Looi), Y-knot (HyunJu Park), Sand Swirl (Karry Heun), Spangle (Mimi Lempart), also Printemps and Msst (Zentangle).

Bali Whimsy
Bali Whimsy

Back in 1998 I went to Bali and it was an enchanting place for someone who enjoys ornament and patterns. I extracted the outline of a photo I took back then and used it as a string for this piece. Turned out a little whimsical, almost Seussian. You can see a couple of critters happily playing here and there.

2024Eni OkenRenaissance, brown pen, celtic knot