Continuing with the reticulas and fragment explorations along with Zentangle.com, I took my practice a step further by experimenting with a “tile on tile” effect. This technique gave me the opportunity to create both a focal point and a decorative frame, layering the design to add depth and intrigue.

For this piece, I worked on a tan tile—a surface that always feels warm and inviting. Using black, brown, and white pens, I explored the interplay of light and shadow. The black brought strength and definition, the brown added richness and softness, while the white highlights lifted the design, giving it a glowing, dimensional quality.

At the center of the tile, I placed a reticula and filled it with fragments to establish a structured and balanced core. Around it, I created a border filled with repeated fragments, which framed the center beautifully. This dual approach—the inner reticula and the outer border—created the illusion of one tile sitting within another. The result felt like a window, or perhaps a stage, where the patterns could shine.

What excites me most about working with reticulas and fragments is the endless variety they offer. Every shift in shape, every different fragment filling, every small change in placement leads to a completely new design. It’s like discovering infinite paths from the same starting point.

This tile, with its layered frame, reminded me how structure can hold space for creativity to expand—always leading to multiple possibilities.

Materials: 4.5×4.5 inches White Square Tile, Black Micron 01, Brown Micron 01, Graphite Pencil, Stub.

Tangles: Bunzo, Flux, Fragments P2, T3 & Y2.