Fan string with old-pen hatching

I love classic Zentangle, the purity of using only paper, pen and pencil for shading. It offers a particular type of challenge that is rarely found in other types of media. I participate in two Facebook groups which focus on Classic Zentangle, the Square One Pure Zentangle group run by the fabulous Chris Titus, and also recently I joined Today's Tangles Keeping it Classic group, run by the very caring and competent Sandy Kelley-Jones. Sandy posted a prompt with a fan-like string, and I just couldn't resist it. #TTKIC012019
Here are two work-in-progress pictures, completed on February 3, 2019:

I REALLY enjoyed this fan-like string! What amazes me about classic Zentangle is that it's like the famous box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get in the end. I started with Mooka3D (a 3-dimensional version of Maria's Mooka), and continued adding fragments and tangles, working my way down. Fragments from the Zentangle Primer are: H1, U3, Y5 and a triangular L12. I also used Betweed and Flukes as fragments, both tangles by Zentangle HQ. This project turned out so much fun and had so many requests that I converted it into a lesson!

Are a visual learner or a reader? Now you can choose:

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In this lesson you will learn:

• How to select, test and use your old inking pens

• How to create a beautiful fan-shaped string filled with fragments

• How to create puffy and rounded effects

• How to add delicate hatching which will make your pictures look like antique engravings

• Work this project from beginning to end, including hatching and shading

• So many tips and tricks!

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Here is the final picture again, made over a 3.5 inch Zentangle tile:

One interesting thing about this project is that I used an old inking pen to create super tiny, feathery hatching before shading with graphite. I think it gives the entire thing a more antiqued look, like a vintage engraving. Here you can see the picture as it progressed in the hatching and shading:

1) The line-art complete, but without any hatching

2) The line-art with super tiny hatching using an old pen

3) The final picture after the shading using a graphite pencil.

The beauty of using an old pen is that you can product SUPER fine hatching the final shading. The hatching really takes a long time, but it is so relaxing, lots of Zen flow there. And after that, shading with the graphite pencil was quite minimal, just to darken certain corners.

If you like this drawing with a fan-like string and old-pen hatching and would like to learn more, check out this lesson at the Shop.

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