Following Zentangle® challenges and creative prompts are an excellent way to find new tangles, new strings, and lots of inspiration. Even if you don’t directly participate in these challenges, I encourage all to check in on them occasionally.
Active Zentangle Art Challenges & Creative Prompts
Line Weaving MOJO’s Challenge (Tapatalk) – A different challenge every week based on either a tangle, string, or technique. – Updated Weekly
Today’s Tangles: Keeping it Classic (Facebook Group) – One new string and a few Official Zentangle Tangle Patterns to be completed in the “traditional Zentangle format” of a white tile and black ink. – Updated Weekly
7F5R Challenge (Facebook Group) – A different challenge twice a month based on either a tangle, string, or technique. – Updated Bi-Monthly
Tangle All Around (Facebook Group) – One new string and tangles to use with it. – Updated Weekly
#FullMoonMosaic (Facebook Group & Instagram) – One new string and tangles or technique to use with it. The string is usually a circle, but sometimes a crescent, half-moon, or other moon-based string is used. – Updated Monthly
Miscellaneous Zentangle Art Creative Prompts
Random Tangle Generator – Need help choosing a tangle? Press the button on the Random Tangle Generator and you’ll receive a randomly selected tangle pattern from the List of Official Zentangle Tangle Patterns.
Guided Zentangle Meditations (Youtube) – Draw along with Cyndee, a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT), in real time for a meditative experience.
Zenuari (.pdf file) – Free 20 page eBooks each with 31 detailed creative prompts. Although the books were originally written for an annual monthly challenge in January, these prompts are excellent for any time of the year!
Fun & Easy Landscape Step-Outs – Use these step-outs to create a fantasy or abstract landscape. (Note: If the idea of making a landscape sounds intimidating to you, I recommend checking out this challenge anyway. The step-outs are easy to follow.)
Inactive Zentangle Art Challenges
The following Zentangle challenges are no longer updated, but you can still find plenty of new tangles, strings, and inspiration by searching their archives.
- It’s a String Thing Challenge
- Diva Weekly Challenge
- Joey’s Weekly Tangle Challenge
- Zendala Moments (Mandala Challenge)
- Zendala Dare (Mandala Challenge)
- Friday Fun And Easy Landscapes (Abstract Landscapes)
- Inktober 2019 Tangle Art Challenges
- Inktober 2018 Tangle Art Challenges
- 12 Days of Zentangle 2018 Creative Prompts
Bonus: While compiling this list, I found this comprehensive list of art challenges throughout the year. The list itself is a mix of art, writing, and music challenges. Although not specific to Zentangle, I’m certain some readers here will find such a list useful.
If I missed any Zentangle challenges or creative prompts (active or inactive), then please let me know in the comments.
I love your site. Lots of links and helpful info. I am still clicking….
I like your idea of compiling a Zentangle challenge database. Facebook has a few more active challenges such as Today’s Tangles: Keeping it Classic and Anything Goes. On Instagram is the #Fullmoonmosaic (once a month). Also a sort of ‘challenge’ is probably Linda Farmer’s Refresher (fortnightly).
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/fullmoonmosaic/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248095829394793/announcements/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/193213824636971/announcements/
http://tanglepatterns.com/
Thank you very much for the kind words and the links! They are very much appreciated. I added the links to the main list.
I am so glad to see you have taken up working on your website again. When I wrote my above comment I had not been – yet – aware of your family’s tragedy. I truly hope the rough seas have ebbed a bit and calmer days will increase in numbers. My belated heartfelt condolences.
Thank you. Your kind thoughts are appreciated.
Te felicito por esta pagina , particularmente me ha sido de gran ayuda , al igual que tu soy una aficionada al Zentangle y como no tengo posibilidades de hacer una certificacion soy muy autodidacta y recopilo informacion por varios medios . Gracias por tu aporte , lo valoro y aprecio mucho
Thank you for the kind words!
Thank you for your site ! It’s really helpful <3
I was looking for zentangle challenges and I found your website thanks to my research ! There is also the multiples editions of the Inktobertangles (2020 to 2017, if my memory's good, the 2020 edition is there ; http://bit.ly/InktoberTangles2020 ) and the fragment challenge of the year : https://bit.ly/7F5RFYIC2021
I learned a lot of new tangles with these challenges <3