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Learn Exactly What is Zentangle Art and How to Make it

This article will tell you What is Zentangle Art?

what is zentangle art

The Zentangle Method or Zentangle Art is a fun meditative art form that turns patterns into beautiful images. I’m going to tell you everything there is to know about Zentangles. Who created the Zentangle Method? How do I make Zentangle Art? Where can I learn?

Keep reading for the answers to all your questions.


What is Zentangle Art?

Have you ever made patterns in the margins of your homework? Zentangle Art is very similar. It is an unplanned artwork made by combining structured patterns (Tangles). What makes Zentangle special is its simplicity – you don’t need any fancy equipment or prior artistic experience. Just a pen, a piece of paper, and a willingness to let your creativity flow.

This art form is very relaxing. The tangles are simple; making it easy for your mind to fall into a calm meditation. The key is to let your hand move intuitively, without overthinking it. There are no mistakes in Zentangle Art only happy discoveries.

zentangle art

Creators of the Zentangle Method

This method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. As a fellow artist who sold her illustrations at art fairs, Maria discovered the idea for the art form when drawing patterns in the background of one of her paintings. As Maria drew the patterns, she experienced timelessness, effortlessness, and total immersion. She was completely focused on her work. Rick described it as meditating. This gave birth to Zentangle.

When Rick and Maria developed their method of drawing, they made it with beginners in mind. The Zentangle art form is for those who are creative, but lack the time to study and dedicate themselves to building skills to become a portrait artist.

How to Create Zentangle Art

The Zentangle Method is an 8-step process, starting with Gratitude and ending with a beautiful image. Watch the video below to see the Zentangle process from start to finish while Maria and Rick tell their story:

The 8-Step Zentangle Method:

Follow these easy steps to create your first masterpiece.

Step 1: GratitudeStep 2: Corner Dots
Step 3: BorderStep 4: String
Step 5: TangleStep 6: Shading
Step 7: Initial and SignStep 8: Appreciate

At the end, you will have a studding piece of art and feel wonderfully relaxed.

Digital Zentangle Art

Two unique benefits of Tangling are the simple patterns and the portability. You simply need paper and a pen and you can start tangling. It is the same if you do it digitally, too. Making Zentangling the perfect art form for Digital Artist.

Using Procreate, open a new canvas. Select a brush. Then start tangling. It is that easy.

zentangle class

Skillshare Class

I took the Zentangle Inspired Art in Procreate class on Skillshare to learn digital zentangle art. Tracy, a certified Zentanlge teacher, walks beginner artists through a tutorial to get started from setting up their canvas to creating your first Zentangle piece. While Tracy sped through the 8 different tangles in her lesson, her teaching style was encouraging and easy to follow.

The class easily showed all 8 steps of the Zentangle Method and in the end, I was able to create a beautiful piece. This class allows you to feel comfortable with digital and start tangling immediately. I plan to take every class in Tracy’s Zentangle Art Series.

So, What is Zentangle Art?

Zentangle Art is perfect for beginners and is exactly what I learned at the start of my digital art journey. I learned basic linework and conquered my fear of a blank canvas. 10/10 recommend Tangling for all first-time digital artists.

Tip: Find a Certified Zentangle Teacher to learn the proper techniques and tangles when you first start so that you can learn properly.

Happy Tangling!

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