Mysterious tangles and zen from drawing. Zen

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What is Zen graphics:

“Zen graphics is a kind of yoga for the mind. It is especially useful for adults who, due to circumstances, often use a laptop rather than a pen and a piece of paper. We scribble without thinking when we talk on the phone, quickly write something down in our diary, and all these actions are completely automatic.

But when we draw NOT familiar, NOT standard or simply NOT familiar symbols and lines, the brain works as actively as possible, because it acquires and processes a new skill, the automaticity of actions goes away and the brain receives the necessary relief for effective functioning.
It is Zen graphics that will fully let you feel what real meditation is. Rhythmic drawing of repeating elements pacifies chaotic thoughts, disciplines the work of the brain and puts a person into a state of deep calm. As you draw, the “mental noise” completely stops and a “state of no-mind” sets in, which, in fact, is the goal of any meditation.

Zen graphics allows you to quickly and easily create stunningly beautiful images, even for those people who are absolutely far from drawing! Thanks to a very simple technique, an understandable methodology and a whole arsenal of already existing basic techniques, you will be able to create incredibly beautiful compositions from the very first lessons.”

Materials and tools: watercolors, art markers, colored pencils, pastels, and collage are good options as additional techniques. Moreover, pencils, markers and pastels can be used on top of the finished work. Colored pastel or craft paper is also suitable as a base. The optimal size is A3.
Gel and capillary pens (black, colored) are suitable for applying graphics. Capillary ones have the advantage: they come in different thicknesses. A permanent marker is good for filling in large black “pieces”.

Approximate sequence:

Decide on the direction of work, on the idea. What and what will it turn into?

Afterwards, mark the contours of the future work with a pencil. The basis can be plot or abstract. The only requirement for the base is mosaic, that is, the presence of “pieces” of different shapes that will be filled with graphics and other techniques. There is also a “bionic” approach, when the work begins to “grow” from any part of the sheet and the author has no idea what the work will turn into in the finale. The most interesting, “zen”, but also the most “scary”)

Start filling out the graphics. The graphic techniques themselves can be observed (they will still turn out to be yours, the author’s) or created. There is no need for excessive complexity; sometimes simple techniques are the most effective.

Process: this work is generally very process-based. The result will happen on its own, as a side effect. The main task is to capture the pleasure of the process. If you don’t focus on “finishing,” then a lot of interesting discoveries and bonuses await you along the way.

Creative discoveries and success to everyone!

Zenart – free drawing with a meditative effect. This simple style can be mastered by anyone. In fact, any graphics that consist of intertwining fairly simple patterns, lines, and figures can be considered zenart. The zenart technique develops the eye, imagination, teaches you to harmoniously build a composition, trains the emotional sphere, and is an excellent way of self-regulation.

Usually some contour is selected for zenart, which . Any geometric figure that can be drawn by hand, a drawing with unpainted areas, even a children's coloring book is suitable as an outline.

Of course, you will need a drawing tool, which can be gel pen, liner or felt-tip pen. Some even draw with a simple ballpoint pen, but the line from such a rod is still not so impressive and smooth.

So it’s better to take a liner, disconnect for a while from the outside world, and start filling the selected contour with all sorts of squiggles, lines, figures, dots, etc. That's all you need - nothing supernatural!

Possible difficulties

And here in front of you is a piece of paper with a prepared outline, in your hand is a nice new liner (or a stylish gel pen), it would seem - take it and draw! But no, the hand doesn’t even dare to touch the sheet, let alone draw a line: “What if it’s not so? What if it doesn't work out? Am I drawing it wrong, is it ugly? And where will I get so much imagination to come up with such intricate patterns, and even depict them?! Nooo! If you don’t know how, don’t try it!”

Or, another option: perhaps you have already started creating, but instead of the promised peace and meditativeness, you feel a certain tension that grows and even turns into irritation. How so? Maybe the Zenart technique is not your thing? And let others do this, and you will do something more useful or familiar?

Don't give up so quickly! This is exactly how our inner Critic works, who sometimes saves our life and health, and at times simply suffocates us with his care and criticism, does not allow us to take off, to feel the happiness of life and the freedom of creativity.

Remember that you just decided to try, allow yourself to draw incorrectly, give yourself the right to make mistakes! Let the Critic rest, and you try to do something new for yourself, unexpected, unusual - this is what develops and inspires.

Where to begin?

There are no specific objects in zenart - this is intuitive drawing(although very specific objects may be present in doodling, but this is a slightly different story), therefore the patterns are composed, woven, connected from the simplest motifs. But all this beauty still needs to be somehow harmoniously placed, arranged within the contour. What should I do?

In order not to get stuck in the initial stages, you can practice drawing templates and frames for zenart. At the preparatory stage, it is even better to completely consciously draw the template, so that later you can start unconsciously filling it out with the drawing.

The easiest thing is to start with geometric shapes. To prepare such a frame-base, you need to draw on a sheet of paper by hand, for example, a triangle, circles of different sizes, polygons. They may overlap, but there should not be too many of them.

If you want the abstract painting to be able to look expressive from any angle (for example, they don’t have a top or bottom - they can be viewed from any angle), then try to imagine that these figures seem to “fall” from above onto the piece of paper, that is, itself a piece of paper is the bottom.

All the resulting geometric shapes will be like internal boundaries on the sheet, which will need to be gradually filled with patterns. As you fill in, some parts will stand out, others will fade into the background, and the drawing will become voluminous.

Zenart drawings can also be in color: either one shade is used or the patterns are painted in different colors - everything is at the request and taste of the author.

Although there are no rules or regulations in zenart, the main value in creating an expressive drawing is a clear line. By drawing many different patterns, you can eventually train your hand, and the lines will come out easily and clearly. On separate pieces of paper you can compose your own patterns to draw the contours of the zenart. Some fans of this style eventually create entire albums of such sketches.

If you want to improve your skills, then the Zenart technique is very suitable and you can sign up for special courses that are easy to find on the Internet.

The main thing is not to limit yourself, try, create, get inspired!

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This drawing technique arose not so long ago, and its authors are artist Maria Thomas and monk Rick Roberts. It was they who discovered the meditative effect of drawing patterns and decided to develop a system that would help everyone who wanted to get the same experience and achieve relaxation while creating images.

What is Zentangle?

Zentangle is a special collection of repeating patterns that form an abstract image that does not carry a semantic load.

The name “zentangle” itself consists of two words: “zen” and “tangle” (“plexus, tangle”). The image shape is limited to a square, and there are a huge number of pattern options. The process of creating zentangles is called zentangling.

Zentangle Method Rules

This drawing technique is patented and implies compliance with certain rules:

• Zentangle patterns should be abstract, non-objective;
• Zentangle does not have one direction, it can be viewed from any side;
• zentangle is done in black and white colors;
• each zentangle pattern should consist of no more than six strokes;
• When drawing zentangle, it is not allowed to use a ruler or stencil;
• You cannot use an eraser.

Before drawing, be sure to take a comfortable position, stretch, and try to relax. When you draw a zentangle, every stroke, every movement should be conscious. This can be compared to writing Chinese characters. All your thoughts should be focused on the process of creating your drawing, and only on it.

Although you will first have to learn how to make certain Zentangle patterns, the final look of your Zentangle should not be known to you. Start drawing without any picture in your head, rely only on your imagination - who knows where it can take you. It is simply impossible to draw a zentangle “wrong” because there are no rules that determine how it should look in the end.

Zentangles are drawn on paper squares measuring 9x9 cm, which are called tiles. However, these frameworks do not interfere, but only contribute to the development of your creativity. Zentangle is designed in a small size so that the design can be completed in one go, spending no more than thirty minutes on it. This way, you can carry the tiles with you and relax by drawing at any time convenient for you.

The benefits of creating zentangles

According to research results, it has been proven that this drawing technique has an extremely positive effect on those who draw:

• creates a pronounced therapeutic effect;
• promotes relaxation;
• brings inspiration;
• promotes the development of creative abilities;
• relieves stress and negative emotions;
• saves from insomnia;
• improves hand-eye coordination and concentration.

For some artists, drawing zentangles even causes a “rapid sleep” effect, adding strength and clarity. The Zentangle method is one of many art therapy techniques.

Zentangling, zendoodle and doodling: what's the difference?

Zentangling is very often confused with such concepts as doodling and zendudling, although all these drawing techniques have differences.

Doodling represents a mechanical, unconscious drawing of spontaneous ornaments that come to mind on their own and do not carry a semantic load. This is what distinguishes doodling from zendudling, in which drawing occurs consciously and with concentration. In addition, doodling is not tied to any framework: doodles can be drawn anywhere and however you want. You've probably already done doodling without knowing it - for example, when you drew abstract patterns in your school notebook.

Zendoodling combines elements of both doodling and zentangling. Zendudling, like zentangling, is a deliberate process in which the artist concentrates and pays attention to every stroke. But, like doodling, zendoodles are not contained within tile boundaries and can take up as much space as you like. Also, zendoodles are not patented and are created from any ornaments and strokes.

Often the word used to describe zendudling is zenart . But in reality, zenart rather means all drawing techniques that are inspired by zentangling. Works in the zenart style can be of any form (not an abstract work, but, for example, an animal, a concrete object, or even a person), but they also consist of abstract patterns instead of shading.

There is also a meditative drawing technique called zendala , which is created from zentangle patterns, but is drawn in the shape of a circle. Zendala requires special concentration from the artist, since symmetry must be maintained within this circle.

Many of those who start drawing zentangle or zenart leave zendala for later as a higher level of skill.

What you need to draw zentangle

The original zentangle is created on special paper with a density of 260 g/m2. Cards for zentangles can be ordered online, but you can also make them yourself by cutting any thick paper into 9x9 cm squares. For example, drawing paper or watercolor paper are suitable for these purposes. You can draw zentangles not only on white, but also on black paper.

When you're just starting to learn how to draw Zentangle, don't rush to use up the cards. Buy a separate album where you can practice creating your first zentangles and developing patterns, and leave the paper cards for creating full-fledged works.

Since zentangle is done in black and white, you will have to purchase black pens, or white if you are drawing on black paper. Original zentangles are drawn with the highest quality pens. The best markers are special liner markers that produce rich black lines and are suitable for almost any surface. However, you can use black gel pens.

A ballpoint pen may not be suitable, since sometimes it leaves insufficiently bright, not very beautiful and abrupt lines, and zentangle strokes need to be drawn with one even line. Ordinary markers or felt-tip pens can also be a replacement option for the liner, but they draw thicker lines than may be necessary.

If you want to subsequently master not only Zentangle, but also Zendoodle or Zenart, you can stock up on colored pencils, pens, pastels, crayons or felt-tip pens with which you can decorate your creation.

How to draw zentangle

To learn how to draw a Zentangle, you need to learn and practice a variety of Zentangle patterns. At the moment, there are already a lot of them: some of them are patented patterns created by Maria Thomas, and the other part were invented by other artists and her followers.

Over time, you yourself will be able to come up with an original ornament suitable for Zentangling. But until then, you will have to purchase books with official patterns or find zentangle patterns for free on the Internet, in particular, on Maria's blog or on Pinterest and Tumblr.

As an example, we will look at several patterns that you can practice and use in the future to draw a zentangle.

• Take a card or draw an even square measuring 9x9 cm in your practice book.
• Within the square, mark another square with four dots. This frame does not have to be a strictly straight square shape; some of the sides may be slightly curved.
• The principle of any pattern is that you divide the frame with various curves, and then begin to fill each of the resulting parts with the pattern. In this case, within the frame, draw several horizontal wavy lines, with two rises, reminiscent of a camel's hump (see the picture below). Draw the first line with “humps” up, the line below with “humps” down, and alternate them in this way.
• Start filling the lowest segment with vertical arches that will seem to encircle it. You will end up with something that looks like a cocoon. Do the same with the remaining segments. Draw the boundaries between them thicker in black.
• As a final touch, shade each of the segments at the bottom using light shading. You can learn how to do shading from pencil drawing lessons.

It is necessary to work through each pattern, holding a visual step-by-step diagram before your eyes. Without clarity, it will be more difficult to understand how this or that pattern is created. See below for diagrams of several other patterns and ready-made zentangles using them.

Drawing someone else's ready-made zentangles contradicts the principle of meditative drawing, when you think through every segment and every stroke yourself, taking only ready-made zentangle patterns as a basis. However, you can watch, for example, the following video, where they draw a zentangle for beginners, to first try to repeat the same pattern: