Zentangles - The What, Where, When, Why and How

A year ago or so I learned about zentangles - very simply defined as a form of doodling.  I realized I had always done some form of them (in a very simplistic way) during slow meetings or long conferences or overly long phone calls, etc.  But zentangles have become a craze. 

Zentangles are images created using repetitive patterns.  It has been shown that drawing repetitive patterns has a positive effect on the well-being of a person by shifting focus away from problems and putting the person in a meditative state, as they almost mindlessly draw and "paint" a picture.  Zentangles can range from very simple drawings of an object (as the exercise below shows you) to a true work of art.

There are books on zentangles - check out Amazon.  There are websites and blogs on zentangles and gobs of pictures - check out Google or Flickr - just type in "zentangle" - it is amazing.  Type in "owl zentangle" and drawings of owls done as a zentangle will come up.  There are even zentangle newsletters online that show new zentangle patterns (the tangle of the month) and zentangle YouTube videos that are "how-to" pieces.

Doing zentangles actually help calm me down after a stressful day or keep me from getting too antsy or bored during slow times.  They are fun to fiddle with on a break at work.  Anything repetitive can be quite relaxing - allowing the brain to rest or contemplate something else (I suggest giving the brain a break) - just let the pen flow and let the mind drift as you draw without having to really concentrate.

Zentangles can be quite easy.  Draw a simple picture of something - either freehand or by tracing the basic outline of a picture - using a pencil.  I chose a pumpkin for this example.

Then, on each section of the object in the picture, use a pen of some type to fill the section in using a repetitive pattern.  In one section, do all circles.  In another, do all dashes.  Stressing about what to use for a pattern? - look through the images available on the internet to spur ideas.  Most zentangles are done with all black ink - however, I like color.  My favorite pens are the new Sharpie Pens that don't bleed (so that I can use them in my art journal without wasting the back of the page) - however, they do not come in a lot of different colors - yet.  Regular fine point Sharpies come in a big variety of colors now, but do bleed through all but the thickest of paper.  Really, any pen will do.

 

Once all sections are filled in, I have seen two ways to finish off the zentangle.  First (and probably least common now), erase the pencil lines leaving the "ghost" image of the line separating two different patterned sections.  Nowadays, most zentangles seem to have the sections outlined, sometimes with varying widths to give more depth to the zentangle.  I do outline mine with a thicker black pen - this "technique" goes back to my Crayola coloring days when I would color something softly then outline it with a darker (harder) line.  Whatever is relaxing and appealing to you is what works best.

One leaf section has my name.  :)

Without black outline

With black outline

Decided I really liked my finished pumpkin, so here it is framed and added to my Fall-decorated table.

Happy Zentangling -
Blessings,
Kat