Leah Andritz

In a word, a doodle. A structured, contained doodle. The term 'Zentangle' was invented by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas when, one day, Maria described her experience, as she created her art, as feeling timeless, free and felt a sense of deep well-being'. Rick recognized that she was in a meditative state and so Zentangles were born.

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1. How to start your ZentangleBegin with a of piece of paper.Use a pencil to draw a border around the paper, about a half inch from the edge as shown. Do it freehand and let it be 'rough'.

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2. Draw lines to create the space make sure you touch the edges of your border at least three times.Remember that you are dividing the space in this step.

Again with a pencil draw a light random line within the border - it can be anything but keep it simple to begin with. Experiment until you get something you are happy with.

Pink indicates the use of an Element of Art or a Principle of Design is being used.

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3. Fill your Zentanglewith Patterns.

Begin to fill the shapes made by your line. Make your own patterns or use the handouts for ideas.

At this point you can work with a black fine point marker or if it makes you more comfortable, pencil in the patterns and go over them with the fine point maker.

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Keep going. Don't worry about what pattern to use, you will find as you do more, that the next pattern seems to suggest itself. Widen some of the Lines to create some varietyin width.

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Create depth within the space by shading. Use a soft drawing pencil. Look for shapes that can be behind other shapes. Shade them in dark with darker edges to show a shadow. Shade some on the edges and not in the middle and that shape will bulge out of the design. Now use a stump and blend the shading to create smoother transitions from light to dark. Forms start to happen as you show how the light would effect the shapes.

Are you feeling relaxed yet?Leah Andritz

Emphasis can be created with the darkest area or the lightest area.

Use at least one pattern 2-3 times to achieve unity and movement within the design.

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These borders are free style, and one even dissolves into space.

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This is two pages of a sketchbook with words as line and pattern.Leah Andritz

Leah Andritz

Mandela’s can done with a zentangle approach.

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Student examples

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Leah Andritz

Displays of the Zentangles.

Leah Andritz