Fearless Friday, Zentangle

the Painted Apron

6 years ago

My current artistic passion is Zentangle

Even if you haven’t heard of it, I bet you’ve seen some Zentangle art

You do not have to be an artist to have fun with Zentangle!!

Think of it as doodling with a purpose and a focused mind

Choose a small paper or divide a larger paper into sections either beforehand or as you go

Fill in the space with repetitive lines and shapes, with no set plan, just letting your pen do what it wants

Just begin!

Go with your first instinct and see what happens

You can’t make a mistake, in my way of doing Zentangle there are no rules

I love it when there are no rules 😄

Zentangle is basically defined as an abstract drawing using repetitive patterns

Zentangle is drawing anyone can do, and is considered to be meditative and pleasurable*

The Zentangle Method* states that true zentangle drawings must be done on white paper with a black pen, along with some other specifics

Well, that’s no fun!

And there are no rules remember?

I started with watercolor shapes and built patterns to connect them

I hope you’ll give it a try, it’s tons of fun, definitely therapeutic, and a little addicting!

Juicy Details

Sakura medium point white gelly roll pen here

Plumchester P4 Fineliner black pen here

Strathmore Artist Tiles, black, 4″ x 4″ here

aqua acrylic paint pen was used for color on black paper

watercolor brush pens were used on white paper

*The formal definition of Zentangle is below

“A Zentangle drawing is an abstract drawing created using repetitive patterns according to the trademarked Zentangle Method. True Zentangle drawings are always created on 3.5 inch (8.9 cm) square tiles, and they are always done in black ink on white paper with grey pencil shading” {source}

The Zentangle Method helps you create a feeling of “”relaxed focus””. Unlike doodling, the person creating a Zentangle is giving it his or her full, undivided attention. A Zentangle cannot be created while on the phone or to let yourself be distracted during a lecture, because attention is an inherent part of this art form. {source}

Try Zentangle and see what you can create!