Barbara Langston CZT - Not Perfect Zen

My goal is to share videos of Zentangle art and patterns that are easy for beginners to follow. I don't rush and I never speed up the videos. This channel is meant to be helpful and fun for both beginners and experienced Zentangle artists. As explained by the founders, "The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns." In these uncertain times, I find Zentangle to be very calming.

My channel name "Not Perfect Zen" is from these reminders:
- This is NOT a contest.
- No one is PERFECT
- Enjoy the ZEN, one line at a time.

If you enjoy the free videos, please consider supporting this channel with a small donation through Super Thanks or through the Ko-fi link below. Thank you!
ko-fi.com/notperfectzen

CONNECT WITH ME:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/barbara.bufordlangston
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bbl_tangles

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Barbara Langston CZT - Not Perfect Zen

Today I'll be working on a video using a new pattern called "Shan" that was gifted to me by my dear friend Theresa Fleming. One of my favorite things about Zentangle is all the wonderful people that I've met through the years. Theresa and I chat often and when she created this pattern, she asked if I had a nickname when I was growning up. My grandfather used to call me "Barbara Shan" and then my mother started calling me Shan. I loved it and I love this new pattern that Theresa created in my honor. I hope you'll enjoy playing with it as much as I have. The new video will be ready sometime today! I'm showing the step outs and two tiles that were created by Theresa.

3 hours ago | [YT] | 25

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Barbara Langston CZT - Not Perfect Zen

Hello friends! Today I'm planning to turn on the "Community" option for the Not Perfect Zen channel. Subscribers will be able to add posts, including photos, so you can engage with me more easily and share your awesome work with others here. This is new to me, so I'm hoping it works well for you.

This weekend I plan to start a new playlist called "Easy Banner String". It is what I've been working on since my surgery because it's easy and relaxing. Each tile has only three patterns that will be fun and easy to learn. As you can see in the photo below, you can do them in color or black & white. When you get several, they can be arranged into a mosaic.

I will be releasing the first video hopefully today, and hoping to have two videos per week again! Let me know what you think!!

4 days ago | [YT] | 127

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Barbara Langston CZT - Not Perfect Zen

Cancer Journey Update
I know there are many of my awesome YouTube followers who don't have social media accounts, so I want to let you know how I'm doing. It has been three weeks since the surgery that removed the right lobe of my liver. The string on this tile represents the center of my incision, which looks like a peace sign or the Mercedes Benz symbol. It is a total of 12”.
I started physical therapy this week to try to get my strength back. I’m looking forward to having more energy. The dog is happy that I’m walking with her again.
I’ve been working on tiles and ideas for videos but it’s still too uncomfortable to sit at my desk for long. It will be a few more weeks before I can make videos again.
Sending love and much appreciation for all of the prayers, comments, and emails. You make me feel better. 😘
The patterns in this tile are Meer, Printemps, Nzeppel, Mooka, and Striping. All are from ZHQ.
#cancerjourney
#fightingcancer
#cancersucks
#zentangle
#notperfectzen

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 210

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Barbara Langston CZT - Not Perfect Zen

102 Tangles of Zentangle Poster and Videos

Today, Zentangle HQ released their list of patterns that they identified on their "102 Tangles of Zentangle" poster. This poster introduced me to Zentangle in late 2017 and in the summer of 2024 I decided to try to name all the patterns. I appreciate the help from fellow tangler Linda Genaw (timefortangling.blogspot.com/). We named almost all of them correctly!

Also in the summer of 2024, I made videos to show each of the 102 Tangles. The playlist is here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

You can find the blog from Zentangle here: zentangle.com/blogs/blog/102-tangles There is a link to the new HQ list of patterns.

3 months ago | [YT] | 44

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Barbara Langston CZT - Not Perfect Zen

Happy St. Patrick's Day tomorrow! This tile shows my pattern called Shamrukas with Leafbows by CZT Brenda Campbell.

My tutorial is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzoAO...

Heather Hartwick Gladden also has a fun tutorial for my pattern here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHhcj...

#Zentangle
#notperfectzen
#zentanglelovers
#onezentangleaday
#shamrukas

4 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 69

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Barbara Langston CZT - Not Perfect Zen

I want to share a website that shows a calendar of upcoming Zentangle classes. It's called Rejuventangle and it's a great resource.

You can find it here: rejuventangle.com/

4 months ago | [YT] | 54

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Barbara Langston CZT - Not Perfect Zen

Great news today. I saw my oncologist and he said there is no evidence of cancer! I was so happy, I bought the MD Anderson t-shirt to announce it. I'm so very grateful to all of you who have supported me with emails, kind comments, and sending prayers up for me. I love you all and I look forward to making more fun (not perfect) videos in 2026!

7 months ago | [YT] | 382

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Barbara Langston CZT - Not Perfect Zen

Happy December and happy holidays to all of my Zentangle friends! I want to remind everyone that I have a playlist with several videos to help you with Christmas tile ideas. Here's the playlist:

www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

In one of my latest videos, I showed how you can use old Zentangle tiles to decorate new holiday cards. One of my previous videos also uses your old cards (or you can make new ones). Check it out here and have fun!

8 months ago | [YT] | 10

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Barbara Langston CZT - Not Perfect Zen

9 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 40

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Barbara Langston CZT - Not Perfect Zen

Hello and happy October, my friends! I want to take a minute to share links to a few of my favorite YouTube channels where you can find videos for Inktober Tangles 2025. Use can use this hashtag to find more channels and videos: #inktobertangles2025

You can find the Inktober Tangles 2025 list from CZT Stephanie Jennifer here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1TIM6JtuxgxYayhWoI6KxfNGPb…

For this tangle list, I used watercolors on a 12x12" sheet of paper to mark the days like a calendar. (see the image below)

Yehudit Steinberg CZT: youtube.com/@yehuditsteinberg
Yehudit was my first private student and her channel is focused on beginners. She has created her own list of easy patterns to use and she is using a labyrinth for drawing each tangle. See the attached photo. I used pastel chalks to color my labyrinth. It is small and printed on 8.5x11" paper.

Other CZTs that you will enjoy are listed here. Have fun!

Tomomi Galeano CZT: youtube.com/@tomomi.galeano

Anica Gabrovec CZT: youtube.com/@ZenLinea

Kelli Blouin CZT: youtube.com/@KelliBlouin

Emy Goosen CZT: youtube.com/@ZenwithEmy

10 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 68

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