Zentangle
What is exactly is Zentangle?
Well, in a nutshell Zentangle is a method for developing line variety and creative freedom in our drawings. The fundamentals of the Zentangle method promote concentration, creativity and can also increase personal well-being. A fun little fact - Zentangle was invented by a monk named Rick Roberts and an artist named Maria Thomas. Their idea was to find a balance between meditation and art through the Zentangle method.
Think of Zentangle as a small, abstract work of art created by a variety of lines combined together to make patterns.
Zentangle is usually done on a small piece of drawing paper, 3"to 4" in length by width using a pencil to start and a black pen to complete the lines. The small size allows for a work of art that can be completed in a relatively short period of time. The “zen” part of it is that it can be a very relaxing and meditative experience.
Getting started..
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Using a pencil, put a small dot in the each of the corners of your paper.
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Connect the dots with a line, not necessarily a straight one though.
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Using the pencil, sort of “scribble” in some lines, going this way and that, until you have created several spaces on the paper.
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Using your black pen, create a different pattern in each one of the spaces that you have drawn with your pencil.
The size of the artwork can vary and just about any size will work. Color can be added as well.
One thing that I noticed is that when you follow a curved line with your pattern you can see how it gets bigger or smaller as you follow the curve. It gives the pattern a sense of perspective and “three-dimensionality”.
Another idea is to draw an object ~ anything ~ a flower, an animal, even your name ~ and proceed to create the spaces as described above and do the patterns within the spaces.
Zentangle
examples
Thumbnail
template
Use the examples and thumbnail template below if you want to start smaller and to explore multiple ideas on one page..
