Zentangle

Zentangle is a drawing method that was recommended to me by a psychologist I was seeing for work place anxiety and stress.

The Zentangle website provides information about the technique and states that it was designed as a way to help people:

• Relax

• Focus

• Expand imagination

• Trust creativity

• Increase awareness

• Discover the fun and healing in creative expression

• And to feel gratitude and appreciation for this beautiful world and all that you can do and create

It is a simple black and white drawing technique that involves using dots, lines, circles, simple curves, S-curves and orbs on a black and white template (just Google Zentangle), to draw patterns to fill in the spaces. There are many templates online, as well as various pattern examples you can find by searching ‘black and white Zentangle patterns and templates’. Remember that it doesn’t need to be perfect. The idea is that you just pattern without thinking too much about a steady and perfect drawing style. By the end of your Zentangle everything (imperfections and all) will blend into an art work to be proud of.

The creators of Zentangle have found that this technique has helped people who have phobias, addictions, pain management, conflict resolution and workplace burn out.

Visit their sight to find a Zentangle class with a qualified teacher, purchase one of their starter kits, sign up for the newsletter or to learn more about how to Zentangle at home.