Monday, January 21, 2013

Zentangles

Have you guys heard of zentangles? As far as I can tell they've been around for years, but I just ran across them while Christmas shopping this year. I think while I was looking for a doodle journal for Emma, one of the suggestions that popped up afterwards was this book:

The idea is to combine a form of meditation with art. I really liked both the idea and the art, so I asked for the book for Christmas. I'm not following the daily aspect (my days are simply not that simple), but I have taken time out, put some earbuds in, tuned out the world, and created a few zentangles. BTW, tuning out the world is only successful if Emma is actually out of the house.

 Here are two of my early attempts:
Many attempts are just practicing some of the patterns they teach you, and then of course creating your own patterns as well. In addition to the patterns, there is often pencil shading involved if you choose. This next one I finished yesterday, and except for one part of it, I'm really happy with how it turned out.
This reminds me of a couple of pieces of artwork that Jenn (of Juggling Life) posted, done by her daughter. I don't know if those were inspired by this concept or not, but there is a similar sense of filling space with patterns.

 Along with creating jewelry, I'm enjoying this additional creative outlet. These are not difficult, and very satisfying.
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5 comments:

  1. So... is it a coloring book? I thought it was at first (I love coloring, btw, and have found some really cool "adult" coloring pages online- and by "adult" I don't mean featuring nudity or anything, just that they're more involved and intricate than a coloring page for a child. ANYWAY.) but then you mentioned patterns, which might be beyond my seriously poor artistic abilities. Yours are really beautiful, though; I especially love that last one!

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    1. That does look like a coloring book, but it isn't. It is an instructional book, that teaches you the patterns. I do the drawings in a sketchbook.

      I also love to color and have gotten some adult coloring books. One of them is the Geography coloring book, which was a lot of fun. I rediscovered coloring when Emma came along :-)

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  4. That is very cool! I went through several "Altair Designs" books as a kid, coloring in the repeating patterns, and my kids have all done something in middle school art class like those Zentangles.

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