About Zentangle®
“Anything is possible, one stroke at a time™” - Zentangle Inc
The Zentangle Method of drawing was founded by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts. It is an easy-to-learn method to draw structures patterns, called tangles, to create beautiful pieces of artwork. These tangles are created using combinations of the elemental strokes i.c.s.o - dots, lines, simple curves, S-curves and orbs.
There are many benefits by focusing on drawing just one stroke at a time on small pieces of paper called ‘tiles’ without worrying about the end result. In a world full of chaos, sitting down for even a few minutes in the day, you will find this relaxing and meditative method fun and calming. There is also a huge worldwide Zentangle community that will support and encourage you on your journey of creativity and imagination.
There are 8 basic steps to the Zentangle method:
Gratitude and Appreciation – Take a moment to feel the gratitude and appreciation which encourages a positive outlook not just for this time we are giving ourselves but also a lot of people and things in our lives.
Corner Dots – Are you scared of putting pen to paper? Start with the simple action of putting 4 corner dots with pencil on your tile.
Border – Your next step to feel less intimidated, with a pencil, is to connect these 4 dots with lines to create a border. These lines do not need to be perfecting straight. They can be curved, twisted or wibbly wobbly which will only add to the charm of the finished tile.
String – How about dividing the tile into bitesize sections? With a pencil, lightly draw line, or 2 or more to draw a string which will allow you to focus on smaller areas one section at a time. This string is only a guide and any part of it can be ignored so you can simply focus on the tangling.
Tangle – It is time to put pen to paper. Draw one tangle at a time, one section at a time, focusing on one stroke at a time. Don’t forget to slow down, enjoy the tangling and breathe.
Shade – Ready to add some magic to your tile? With a pencil and tortillon, you can add depth and dimension with some gentle shading to create shades of grey within the string and tangles.
Initial and Size – Be proud of your work and, with your pen, put your initials on the front of your tile and sign and date the back of it too.
Appreciate – Take a moment to admire your work by turning your tile in different directions and while doing that reflect and acknowledge gratitude for the time you gave yourself and others you may be with during this tangling time.
Always remember … There are no mistakes, only opportunities.
To learn more about the Zentangle method, visit Zentangle’s official website at www.zentangle.com