Zentangle, Inc. © www.zentangle.com
We have different names for Doodle Art and there is a new wave calling it Zentangle©. On their website they talk about creating repetitive patterns. We all know that doodling is fun and relaxing and I personally spend hours at it which is seen on my Doodle Art page of my website. This isn’t even one quarter of all the Doodle Art that I’ve done as I have hundreds of similar drawings but these ones are the only ones that have got coloured in. Over 5 years of doodling has increased my collection with hundreds of original artwork. Zentangle can be done with pencil, pen or using colour and instruction and tools. Doodle Art is an intuitive art form and when I personally doodle I sit down and know that one hour or more will go by very quickly. I start with nothing on my paper and end up with artwork and I do this anywhere and at any time. It helps me relax, motivates me to do more, stimulates my thinking and solve problems in a unique and creative way. It fills me up with love, peace and harmony. You can read for yourself about Zentangle© on the Zentangle© website but some of the key words that describe it on this website are: Abstract, Unexpected Results, Ceremonial, Fun & Relaxing, Timeless, Portable, Quality, Non-Technical. I am about to attend two Zentangle programs given by the St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada and will write about my experience and show you the results. Similar courses are being given by other art Instructors in places like Florida. As with every wave, terminology will come and go but doodling will be in our lives forever and it is behaviour we do that we never though of as an art form before so hats off to those who are making it known as an art form. Enjoy this doodling and try it out for yourself.
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I took a Zentangle © course at the Art Centre in St. Thomas on April 16, 2011 and here are the results. This is a disciplined way of doing doodles with many tangles to learn. In the world of Zentangles you don’t call them doodles though. Anybody can be an artist by learning how to put the tangles together, one instruction at a time. Some are easier than others and some are very complicated with written instructions. Zentangle artists have self created the different tangles and the creators of Zentangle © originated the first batch and are still creating. This becomes a mindless activity, very addictive and relaxing. Before you know it several hours have gone by. You use a fine pen (but there are several thicknesses that can be used) and pencil with special 3.5 X 3.5 coasters to create on. The fun part is naming your creations. These can be laminated, framed, coloured-in and each one is an original work of art.
