The Art of ZentangleAndrea DonovanCentral New Brunswick AcademyAndrea.Donovan@nbed.nb.ca

Origins Zentangling was first coined by Rick Roberts

and Maria Thomas

While drawing background patterns for a manuscript she was creating, Maria described a feeling of timelessness, freedom, well being, and complete focus on what she was doing with no worry about anything else.

Rick recognized this as a form of meditation and wondered if they could create a simple system so others could experience this as well.

Student Examples

Student Examples

Student Examples

Why Zentangle? Relaxation

Journaling

Insomnia

Inspiration

Create beautiful art

Relieve stress

Nurture creative abilities

Increase attention span

Artistic warm up

Benefits in the Classroom Promotes confidence in artistic

ability

Increases concentration and focus

Reduces stress

Accessible to all skill levels

Creates moments of calm and peace

Fosters creativity and provides inspiration for other work

Students will create original work, no copying Mistakes don’t matter!

This was created by a student who “would never be able to do art”

Necessary Materials Fine point sharpies or

other bold tip marker

Ultra find point sharpies or other suitable fine tip marker

Rulers

Paper

That’s it!

(though other items such as round objects, painting materials, etc, can help take it to the “next level”)

How Do I Teach This? Start with an introduction to Zentagle, what it is,

and the benefits of it

Show examples of various Zentangles

Give students 10 minutes to try it on their own

Teach “ideas” of how to fill in the space (I do 3 at a time)

Give students a chance to work on a good copy

After practice, invite them to explore various shapes or incorporations into other artwork

Consider having an “idea” board

General Tips Keep work area limited or students will feel

overwhelmed and/or avoid fine details I use a 10cm square to start.

Allow students to listen to music or put music on in the room (I do both). This allows students to let go and avoid over thinking. It also aids in stress reduction

Outline sections in bold marker, but use fine liner for details

Do NOT do in pencil! This creates extra work and defeats the purpose.

If using paint, apply paint first, then Zentangle.

Additional Resources http://www.zentangle.com/ (general)

http://tanglepatterns.com/tag/zentangle (patterns)

http://zentangle.blogspot.ca/ (ideas for branching out)

Zentangle Basics, Suzanne McNeill. Available from Amazon.ca

One Zentangle a Day, Beckah Krahula. Available from Amazon.ca

Let’s Get Started!

Adding Zentangling to Other Art Forms

Watercolour and Zentangle – Grade 11 Student

Taking it Further

Add background colour

Tangle inside of shapes

Color in your tangles

Incorporate drawing, watercolour or acrylic

Be creative!

A few of My Pieces

More Student Examples

Ideas to Try

Apply a flat wash or use wet on wet technique with watercolour paints to make a background. When dry, Zentangle it!

Use a shape or cut out to create an image. Apply paint to the background as desired (watercolour or acrylics) and Zentangle in the image.

Draw a shape or image and Zentangle only portions of the image (like a collar on a dog, or hair on a girl)

Work with others to pass a Zentangle back and forth to make a Zentangle “quilt” or mural

Zentangle names or symbols

If a student is really keen, have them check out mandalas!

Let’s Do This! Choose watercolour or acrylic for

your background

Choose an image from the image bank to trace, or draw an original image

Zentangle within the image

Add colour if you wish!

Hairdryers provided to reduce dry time

I always suggest the background first

Please clean and return materials when finished