Zentangle (Zentangle) what is it, drawing technique, pictures

Zentangle appeared in 2006, but has already gained popularity all over the world. This drawing technique It is simple, so anyone can master it, and as a result, get a lot of opportunities with pleasure.

What is Zentangle

Zentangle is a drawing technique in which it is necessary to repeat ornaments and then put the resulting patterns into an abstract image. This creativity is considered one of the varieties of art therapy. Ornaments, with the help of which the image is created, are called tangles.

When doing this type of creativity on a regular basis, it is permissible to position your hands, learn to see the overall composition and develop your imagination. As a result, after a certain period of time, it is permissible to design more complex drawings.

In 2006, this drawing technique was registered as an official form of creativity.

The development was done by Maria Thomas (an artist who also studies calligraphy and fonts) and Rick Roberts (a former monk who is familiar with meditation).

One day, they realized that Maria, while drawing, was immersed in a special state, which Rick is in during meditation. In connection with this, Thomas and Roberts decided to develop a simple system, thanks to which it was possible to enjoy the creative process. As a result, Zentangle was born.

This drawing technique has a number of positive qualities:

• When mastering drawing on a sheet of paper, you can practice transferring the pattern onto fabric. This will allow you to decorate interior items with your personal belongings with your own hands.
• After some time, the drawing technique will be improved, which will allow this experience to be used not only in fine art. This skill can be applied, for example, in makeup.
• You don't need to have any special talent to master the technique. At the same time, don't get upset when you make mistakes. This process is more aimed at achieving a relaxing effect.
• It is a meditative process during which it is necessary to concentrate only on the image, throwing aside unnecessary thoughts. Thanks to this, all disturbing thoughts can recede into the background.

In some ways, zentangle is similar to doodling. However, these drawing techniques have several differences. For example, in the first case, you need to create repeating patterns. The second technique involves intuitive drawing, during which you need to depict any ornament that comes to mind.

To draw in this technique, you must use only a black shade and a square sheet of paper with a side of 89 mm. However, this rule applies more to experienced artists. Beginners are allowed to use paper of different shapes and sizes.

In this method, there is no orientation of the paper sheet in space, so the paper can be placed as desired, without taking into account the right or left side, as well as the bottom and top.

The image must be completely abstract, which is considered a standard rule of the technique. In this case, the drawing must be free of any specific, familiar features. However, today, artists working with this method have made some changes to the requirements.

The image of the strokes and lines remains unchanged (the patterns must be arranged in an abstract order), but the drawing itself, which was composed of abstract lines, can be familiar and concrete.

Zentangle paper

Zentangle is a visual art technique that involves taking thick square sheets of paper with slightly uneven edges. This type of paper is also called tiles. All sheets are the same size – 8.9 cm. The shade can be black or white.

If desired, you can make such a sheet yourself. For these purposes, you need to buy watercolor paper or paper intended for drawing. After that, the material must be divided into squares using a ruler and pencil, and then cut.

When choosing white tiles, it is necessary to draw ornaments with a black shade, on a black sheet - with light shades. However, dark paper is more intended for experienced artists. Beginners can use white sheets.

What to draw with

Zentangle is a visual art technique that requires several tools and materials:

What is needed	What are they needed for?
Ballpen	To ensure that the ink is placed smoothly and evenly, it is best to choose marker liners or capillary liners. At the same time, the ink should dry quickly and resist moisture. Due to this, it will not smear on the surface of the paper during the work.
Pencils	To draw sketches, you can use a simple hard-soft pencil. If you need to work with shadows and shading, it is recommended to prepare soft and hard pencils. To draw colored ornaments, you need to take paints, felt-tip pens, markers, colored pens or pencils. Additionally, you need to prepare a sharpening knife or a sharpener to sharpen the pencils in time.
Eraser	This technique does not require erasing extra lines. In this case, you need to follow inspiration. However, insecure and novice artists can use an eraser.
Ruler	This tool is needed to depict geometric figures in an ornament or to make square frames.

For work it is necessary to use smooth cardboard or Bristol paper, which has a marker or dense coating. Thanks to this, the ink will not leak. It is also acceptable to use a sketchbook or album to create sketches, drafts.

At the same time, you can easily take the sketchbook with you anywhere. The main thing is that the paper is thick. Due to this, the ink will not show through the painted sheets.

How to draw

The drawing technique involves drawing ornaments by hand or using an eraser and a ruler. You can use ready-made paper tiles or you can draw large paper into squares of various parameters yourself.

In the process of drawing a zentangle, you need to follow several rules:

• Achieving relaxation. This technique is considered a creative and at the same time meditative process. Before work, you need to sit comfortably, and also take several deep breaths and inhales to feel gratitude for the opportunity to create a beautiful image.
• Placing dots in the corners of the sheet. The creators of this method use the metric American system, where the side of the tile is 8.9 cm. To make the process easier, it is permissible to make the ornament on a square paper measuring 9 cm. First, you need to take a pencil and set the first points in the corners of the sheet.
• Setting boundaries. The established points must be connected with an inconspicuous line using a pencil to obtain a square. The line does not have to be perfectly straight. It is permissible to draw it without a ruler.

• Division into sections. One or more pencil lines should be drawn inside the created border. Thanks to this, the paper can be divided into zones, inside which it is necessary to create ornaments. The lines for division can have any shape.
• Image of tangles. Inside the sections, you need to depict any ornaments using a pen. If it is problematic to create patterns yourself, you can look at the work of other artists. In this case, you should not think in advance about what kind of drawing you will get. You need to concentrate on each stroke you perform. After some time, all the actions will arise in your head on their own. This technique does not have a bottom with a top, so the sheets can be rotated in different directions.

• Adding shadows. To give the ornament volume with contrast, you need to add several shades of gray with a pencil. To soften and shade the shadows, you can use a piece of paper.
• Enjoying the finished product. At arm's length, you need to evaluate the result of your work. You need to rotate the drawing in different directions so that you can look at the created masterpiece from different angles.

Where to start

Drawing needs to start with several steps:

• Initially, it is worth getting acquainted with the patterns in the style of zentangle. Thanks to this, it is possible to understand its characteristic features, which consist of meditative practice and the creation of a whole composition of identically repeating ornaments.
• After reviewing, you need to choose simple classic patterns so that you can copy them.

• After gaining some experience, it is acceptable to try to depict small patterns yourself. Later, you can move on to more complex compositions in the form of depicting large drawings or transferring the ornament to clothing.

Step by step drawing

Zentangle is a drawing technique that can consist of simple circles, lines, dots and squares. The drawing in the classic style should be black and white. However, the image can be made in color to get an anti-stress coloring picture.

There are no rules for creating colorful patterns, so anyone can create any ornaments and use paints, markers, pens or pencils for coloring.

Experienced artists do not depict patterns in squares. In this case, artists make free drawings, depicting landscapes with flowers and animals. This option is considered more labor-intensive, so it is suitable for experienced masters, because not everyone can immediately imagine a drawing in their head.

Initially, you can start with simple straight lines and dots.

Creation technique:

1. Draw several straight lines so that each subsequent stripe is thicker than the previous one. In this case, a shadow will need to be applied to each line. The larger the shadow, the thicker the line will be.
2. Perform similar manipulations with broken lines.
3. When applying shadows, thicken the lines at each edge.
4. Give the lines different directions. In this case, draw stripes from one point, but in different directions.
5. The result should be a drawing that resembles a sun with rays.

You can depict wavy arcs with lines.

Step by step description of the process:

1. On a sheet of paper, draw 2 horizontal lines that are parallel to each other.
2. Between these lines, at the same distance, draw arcs that should be in a vertical position.
3. Draw additional parallel lines and between them at the same distance depict wavy lines.
4. Again draw 2 lines parallel to each other. Between them draw arcs with wavy lines at different distances from each other.
5. On a piece of paper, draw several curved lines that resemble the letter S.
6. Draw a square and divide the figure into quarters of equal size.
7. Draw straight lines in different directions from the central area of ​​the geometric figure.
8. Draw another similar square, which is divided into 4 identical zones.
9. From its central part, draw curved lines in different directions.

In the zentangle technique it is permissible to depict stones:

1. Draw a line in the frame along which you can draw small circles of different sizes.
2. Fill the entire area with stones up to the border. Between the circles, draw very small circles, almost like dots.
3. The ornament can be entirely made of stones. The free space between the circles can be filled with a black shade.
4. To align the image and give it volume, shade the pattern a little in some areas using a pencil.

This drawing method allows you to depict a grid with shaded connections.

Step by step description:

1. Prepare a square sheet of paper. Then draw a frame using a pen.
2. Draw some diagonal lines.
3. Then, on the opposite side, draw several lines that intersect the first diagonal stripes.
4. Draw several small diamonds in the interlacing areas. Then paint these geometric figures.
5. Knight's Bridge drawing in zentangle technique:
6. Draw several straight lines from top to bottom, slightly diverging in different directions.
7. Then draw a few more lines crossing the already depicted segments. The result should be an ornament resembling a chessboard. However, the drawing should have slightly blurred outlines.
8. In a checkerboard pattern, through one, paint some squares. In this case, first outline the figures, and then paint inside.

Step-by-step drawing of a fish using the zentangle technique:

1. Set the location of the drawing on the paper sheet. Then, using ovals, highlight the fins with the tail and body of the fish.
2. Additionally, draw a mouth with an eye, and also highlight the outline of the body.
3. Divide the body with the tail and fins into several identical stripes using straight lines.
4. Afterwards, highlight all the lines with the outline using a felt-tip pen or marker.
5. Any ornaments that can be alternated or repeated through a strip are suitable for coloring.
6. To complete the image, draw water drops, sand, stones and seaweed.
7. Additionally, it is necessary to leave several areas for applying shadows. As needed, various colored elements can be added to the ornament.

If you can't draw the outline of the fish yourself, you can use a ready-made template. In this case, you just need to color the drawing with various ornaments using the zentangle technique.

This option will allow you to practice your hand and develop your imagination. Over time, you will be able to draw various animals, flowers and other images yourself. The main thing is to be patient and stock up on time.

Zentangle is suitable for decorating interior textiles, accessories, clothing, decorative interior items, and can also be the basis for painting fabric and embroidery. This technique allows you to create various ornaments.

However, before decorating things or objects, it is recommended to practice on a sheet of paper. To prevent the drawing from washing off, it is necessary to use appropriate tools and materials, for example, permanent markers, indelible felt-tip pens for fabric, acrylic.

Video about the Zentangle technique

What is Zentangle: