Heart of zen graphics. Zen

I shared my thoughts on creating the basis for zentangle, how to draw frames for zenart patterns.

In this sixth lesson, I continue the theme of geometric abstract frames, and also look at templates for drawing zenart with objects.

Intuitive, meditative drawing is based on an “unconscious” process. Therefore, a distinctive feature of meditative drawing is a small number of specific objects. Plant forms - leaves, flowers - may be present, but in a schematic form. In fact, there is no need to focus on reproducing objects in the surrounding world; the whole meaning of what is happening is lost. Doodling is another matter.

That's why I want to dwell once again on geometric "frames." Zentangle tiles with their line and small size are, of course, simpler, but what to do with large drawings, with zendoodle pictures? The zenart technique is not only about drawing different patterns, but also about how to place them, arrange them, do it easily and not get stuck on the simplest moments. Otherwise, some people see a simple zenart feather, admire it and say: “No, I can’t…” You definitely can if you want! The main thing is to know where to start =)

In this course, I decided to collect Zenart lessons for beginners for free so that the basic things are clear. And if you feel that drawing in this style is for you, then it makes sense to continue to improve, equip yourself with good tools and gain deeper knowledge in courses and studios.

So, let's go. Zentangle tiles, in the classic version, can be rotated any way you like. The pattern has no bottom or top; the patterns can be directed in different directions and are not subject to the laws of gravity. The same goes for other abstract Zen drawings. Such a picture can be hung on the wall and rotated periodically, it will always look interesting and harmonious.

However, according to my observations in classes, many cannot get off the ground and try to root the drawing. Yes, this happens to me too. There is an excellent exercise for developing “weightlessness”. In addition, beginning draftsmen have problems with composition (the arrangement of elements in a drawing). This is a situation when a person begins to draw elements and gets confused, or puts all the figures in an inexpressive “heap”. This exercise helps you understand these questions.

Exercise 1. Frame with geometric shapes

We need to draw geometric shapes by hand, and fill the resulting sectors with different patterns. In order to avoid “bottom and top” in the drawing, imagine that you are putting figures on paper. That is, the “ground” is the paper itself.

I have a drawing on half of an A4 sheet. I drew a border with a wavy line, with approximately 2 centimeters indented from the edge of the sheet. The smaller the size of the limited area, the fewer figures need to be drawn, otherwise the sectors will turn out to be too small.
To make it easier to scatter the shapes across the sheet, you need to push off from something. My composition is based on the placement of the basic three shapes in a triangle. In picture 1 you see the basic triangle that I mentally drew, I show it for you with a red dotted line.

Do not draw a dotted line, this is just a guide for the composition, but you can mark three points with a pencil - the vertices of the triangle. In the area of the left corner I placed a circle, and then in the area of the other two corners I placed a quadrangle and a triangle. You can draw other shapes. Use this principle for zendoodle compositions; it is especially suitable for flower “bouquets”.

So, I had three supporting figures, marked in red

Next I added three more circles. As you can see, they are also arranged in a triangle. I add parts of large shapes with corners from the border, also “scattering” them in different directions. This way a frame with a certain composition is obtained. How it will look in the end with patterns is still unknown, since filling a form with patterns is a completely meditative drawing.

Start drawing any pattern with some figure and then move intuitively. By filling the compartments with different patterns, you optically break the pattern into segments.
As a result, you will see, and perhaps even come to the fore, not the figures that you drew at the beginning, but those that were formed by superimposing the previous ones.

In my version, some patterns in adjacent sectors have the same element at the base or the same base, but different development, and a feeling of transition from one space to another is created.

So, having quite consciously built the frame, you can then plunge into the unconscious flow of bizarre patterns. Over time, building such frames becomes easier, and people no longer get stuck on it.

Now let's move on to the second part of the “frame” topic.

Templates for drawing zenart with objects.

Drawing in the Zenart style is not necessarily and not only meditative drawing. This is also a style in art that does not limit us to any special rules.

Contours of houses, trees, feathers, living creatures, household items, etc. are an excellent basis for filling with patterns.

Tangle-painted cats, feathers, etc. are very popular, so let's look at how to draw these drawing templates.

The difficulty in drawing such a frame can be the very shape of the object. If you have the skill of drawing objects in the surrounding world, great. If not, then you can copy the outline from children's coloring books. Lightly detailed coloring books are made for young children, and they are often great for Zen art.

For the exercise, I decided to take a more complex shape than a feather, a leaf or a fish.

Exercise 2. Butterfly using the zenart technique.

Draw the outline of a butterfly.

Sometimes it can be difficult to draw symmetrical wings of a butterfly. Can you draw symmetrically? Great, let's draw a symmetrical butterfly. If it doesn’t work out, then the choice is simple: draw non-symmetrical animals, or practice drawing symmetrically, or download a ready-made outline from me or from another place.

Choose the option that suits you and let's go.

I will show you an option for drawing the template of a non-symmetrical butterfly.

You can start with the body, but I start with the wing, since the wing covers the body a little and is in the foreground.

Draw the boundaries of the wings, and then the body.

After we have drawn the outer borders, we draw the inner borders - a tangle for filling with patterns.

In this version I drew the patterns with simple liners, but in color it will look even better

If you download somewhere, then look at the detail of the wings. Usually the wings already have some kind of design for coloring, but it is better if this is not there. Then you can draw your patterns the way you want. My zenart lessons for beginners come with free downloadable applications. You can take my butterfly templates for coloring or view them as examples in the Coloring Pages section.

I have given you just a few options for creating the basis for tangles. There are, of course, many of them. Invent, create!

She jumped up before dawn, got the kids ready for school, sent the breadwinner to work, and she went on a run to the gym. Then - two hours in traffic jams, nine hours in the office, dinner, school math... If only I had enough strength to crawl to the pillow. And tomorrow - again the alarm clock, work, family. On the weekends - shopping for the week, cleaning, washing. You are the keeper of the home, you will have time for everything! And in stores you generally relax. Just think, 5 kilogram bags in each hand. Consider that you saved money on strength training...

Is it really surprising that once a month you lash out at your husband, lock yourself in the bathroom and roar in the shower. And after a glass of wine, you confess to your friend that you dream of running away to a place where no one knows you, and you don’t owe anyone anything. And on sleepless nights you try to understand when your life turned into this endlessly sad Groundhog Day.

Even the Energizer Bunny runs out of charge sometimes. At the same time, he only runs, and does not carry a mountain of household chores. What should we, mere mortals, do? Where can I get new batteries?

Go on vacation for a week? After the family vacation, we will have to leave for another month...
Change your hairstyle and get your nails done? The husband won’t notice, and if he does, he’ll ask how much it cost...
Bury yourself under the covers with your favorite book for the weekend? They will break through, they will look with hungry eyes, you will guiltily postpone your rest until later...

No, we need something new and fresh here! So that it doesn’t take a lot of time, so that you don’t have to spend a lot of money, so that you can disconnect at least for a while, reboot, feel like not a WONDER WOMAN, but just a woman: energetic, creative, renewed...

So why not try zentangle?

Zentangle or Zen graphics are art meditation. You move your pen over the paper for 20-30 minutes, and the result is abstract “tiles” woven from repeating patterns. Translated from English, the name of this technique sounds like “Zen ball”.

The classic version of Zentangle was developed just 10 years ago by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. They proposed Zentangle rules to achieve maximum therapeutic effect:

The drawing is created without a ruler, stencil, or eraser.
The pattern should be abstract, without a plot.
Zentangle has no top and bottom, it is equally good from all sides.
The drawing is created in black and white.

The beauty of Zentangle is that you don’t need to spend thousands of rubles on albums, paints and brushes. And each art meditation session takes very little time. It will take 20-30 minutes to fill one zentangle tile. Such a short respite reboots the brain and gives a surge of strength and good mood. And from several tiles you get a stylish finished piece that will decorate any interior.

Classic zentangles are created on “tiles” of black or white paper measuring 9 x 9 cm. Drawing or watercolor paper with a density of 260 g/m2 or more is used. You can cut the tiles yourself or buy ready-made sets at an art store. And you can practice new patterns in a regular notebook or checkered notebook.

To draw, you will need a black gel pen or professional liner. You can use regular felt-tip pens or thin-tip markers. Ballpoint pens will not work; the ink is usually too pale and the strokes are too choppy.

You can learn basic zentangle patterns using ready-made works and step-by-step instructions, which are abundant online. But how can you weave your first, unique zentangle from these patterns? Will help . Learning Zentangle with him is a real pleasure:

You can study at home, at a pace convenient for you: just watch the video and repeat after the master.
There is no need to buy anything: a pencil, pen, paper and eraser can be stolen from your child’s school backpack.
Even a beginner can handle it: even if something goes wrong, there are no wrong lines in Zentangle.

Just imagine that for 15 minutes you will stop being a mother, wife, colleague, boss, manager... You are an artist. In front of you is a blank sheet of paper. You take a pencil or pen in your hand and start creating. At first, the awkward lines seem strange, and then a pattern appears out of nowhere. The intricacies of lines, the play of light and shadow, the illusion of volume... Thoughts and worries disappear, and in their place comes calm and long-forgotten relaxation. But someone is already looking at the door, which means it’s time to return to reality. You lower your eyes to the sheet of paper, but it is no longer white, there is a luxurious mandala on it. And you created it!

Eight lessons of Zen graphics are like eight massage sessions and SPA for the soul. This is an opportunity to turn off the external “noise” and focus on that little girl who lives inside each of us. Tell yourself: “I am loved and respected. Good luck awaits me in the near future. And I deserve all the best!” After all, if you dream of a home with a sea view, it's time to build it... and first - inside yourself! And Zen graphics will help with this.

And most importantly, “Purple Mint” is just the beginning of the journey. Just start drawing and you won't want to stop. And then you will notice that fresh strength has come from somewhere, and new ideas are swarming in your head, your husband has fallen in love with your sparkling eyes again, and your creations are displayed on the refrigerator next to children’s drawings.

Bring back your energy and positivity, turn off your brain and allow yourself to relax. And start with Zen graphics from the Purple Mint art therapy school

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!

Read the article: 11 312

Zen drawing.

Patience, calmness and water paint best.
Water leaves a mark. Just help the water with a brush. Water is a simple and natural substance in Nature. Guided by the laws of the latter, one must act. In this case, you will realize what is called “non-action.” You are not doing anything, you are just following the laws of Nature. Nature does everything itself, don’t interfere with it. Study Her, observe Her. You are a tool and nothing more. Recognize yourself as an instrument. Feel the flow of Nature.
The tenderness of an orchid...
durability of bamboo...
changeability of water...

What to do if you "don't feel it"? Just make it up. Much is the fruit of our thoughts, our imagination. We ourselves animate our thoughts. Revive yourself guided by the laws of Nature.

How to understand Her laws? You need to listen to the breath of the wind, learn peace from the mountains, look at the world like the Moon.

We cannot portray what we do not feel, what we are not.

Drawing is one of the ways to study Nature. No matter how your first drawings look, remember that drawing pictures is not a goal, but a path that must be carefully followed. The ability to draw is the ability to observe and see.

Let me remind you of the tools that you have in your arsenal: patience, inner peace, joy, deep breathing, relaxed body, contemplative admiration*. Make sure you have them. There may probably be other tools, come up with them yourself.
Some tools may appear on their own during the practice of Zen drawing. Start gradually. First, hear the body by starting to practice yoga, for example, or qigong, or any other body-energy practice. Such practices are designed to restore natural rhythms in the body and coordination.
Then add light poetry or reading other refined and spiritual literature. Start admiring the works of great recognized masters.
Do not be aesthetic under any circumstances!! Therein lies a great danger! Strive for simplicity and freedom like children!
Then feel the joy of physical labor.
And then, you can start picking up a brush.

I can't teach you how to draw, only you can do it yourself. My task is to help you remove obvious blocks and stereotypes, clamps and restrictions that prevent you from learning on your own.
Limitations are written in behavioral habits and muscles.
During classes, I correct your movements and help you understand your spontaneously manifesting character. Everything else then just happens somehow by itself))
Good luck!

Contemplative admiration* is emotionless contemplation that brings peace.

When I was in school and college, the margins of my notebooks were often covered in dense patterns. Most often these were geometric designs inscribed in squares. By looking at this or that drawing, I could remember the lecture in some detail. If you look at my notebook now, you can see curlicues and labyrinths on the pages with phone numbers. That is, drawing helps me absorb information or focus on it.
And only recently I learned that you can relieve stress and get rid of unnecessary thoughts with the help of the same drawing. And you don’t need to be an excellent student at art school, and you don’t have to be able to draw. The result will always be at least interesting, and long-awaited relaxation or a new vision of the problem will definitely appear. And you will get a beautiful drawing as a gift.

This is how the terms appeared in my active dictionary Zentangle (zentangle), Zenart or “yoga for the brain”. And in the purse there are pencils, liners and drawing pads.

There is enough material on the Internet to master this type of art. These include open sources like TanglePatterns.com, which has a wealth of material and a graphical guide to the best Zentangle® on the Internet. You can also buy books there and join the community. Also read that there are Tangles and the Zen that comes from them. I highly recommend this resource.

If you, like me, do not speak English, the translation from your browser will be enough to get the idea. Thus, Linda Farmer writes that the process of creating Zentangle is a form of “artistic meditation.” And invites you on a journey through the world of Zentangle and Zentangle art style (ZIA).

There are also closed sources such as "Zenart", aka "Drawing City".
The founder of the school, Alla Gurfinkel, based on the Internet community VKontakte, is recruiting groups where, in eight distance lessons, she will teach the basics of drawing in the Zenart style.
Alla herself writes: “distance learning makes it possible to join the #drawingcity community from anywhere in the world. The 25-day program allows each student to consistently and gradually get acquainted with a new drawing technique, discover a pleasant way of relaxation and development.”
The training is paid, the amount of payment varies, there are various discounts and promotions. I was surprised to realize that I paid much less than what was announced in the next set.
Alla tells in detail who and how will benefit from mastering the skills of such drawing. So I won’t retell it, so as not to misrepresent it.

History, through various sources, says that Zentangle was invented by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Rick has been many things in his life - a taxi driver and a financial analyst, a flute designer and a monk, a writer and a sales agent. Maria is a type designer and postcard creator. Rick often watched Maria draw. She was completely absorbed in the process. Later they found out that Maria's sensations during work are very similar to those that Rick experiences when he meditates. Thus was born Zentangle - a form of meditative art that combines drawing and meditation.
Zentangle in its original and classic form is a square of thick paper measuring 9x9 cm, covered with a variety of repeating patterns. These squares are called tiles. Tiles can be ordered in an online store, or you can cut them yourself from sheets of paper, rounding the corners with scissors or special hole punches.
There are already ready-made patterns - tangles, which can be changed and supplemented endlessly. There are about 1000 officially registered tangles. And a tangle can be a pattern that can be drawn without the help of a pencil sketch in 6 steps.
And don’t let the numbers scare you - looking at the drawing, you will see that tangles are simple, and drawing them is easy to remember. And the combinations can be so varied and effective that every time you will enjoy both the process and the result.
The tile can be filled with one tangle or any number of patterns you like. Most often this is a monochrome design, and color can be added according to personal desire and need. You can draw on watercolor stains, you can decorate with colored pencils, you can finish drawing individual elements. Whatever your soul desires.
I had cheap paints from a store where everything was the same price, acid Turkish pencils and inexpensive watercolor pencils - everything was a pleasure. And not because I'm so undemanding. The result will always be good. Judge for yourself - even the cat Mitya F. could not remain indifferent.

I decided to enroll in the course only because at that time my life was somewhat chaotic, and I needed some structure. And the scheduled lessons seemed logical and necessary to me. As a result, I learned to build a certain composition and not be afraid of a blank sheet of paper. I use patterns from the first source.
What I personally like about Zentangle and Zenart:

I can't draw - I don't have a classical education. And at the same time, I really like to draw. I feel the need to put my fantasies and emotions on paper. You just have to start, and the patterns will turn out better and better. Your own ideas will appear, you will find what suits you. What gives pleasure.
No special devices or equipment are needed. Yes, there is a certain list of aspiring zentangle artists. And there are many opinions on this matter - this airliner is better, this one is worse. When the time came for my first lesson, I was at the dacha, and I had a piece of cardboard from a box of baby food and a helium pen. This did the trick for a start. It was then that I visited a new art supply store and bought pencils, liners, and paper of different weights - when I realized that I was really interested in this, and I was ready to spend money without being tormented by remorse about their considerable price.

You can draw anywhere, anytime and anything. In long queues to the doctor or late in the evening, when sleep has escaped, a notepad or a couple of tiles will save you from boredom and help you cope with anxiety. I drew while waiting for the operation and lying down after it. The only problem was my suddenly awakened perfectionism - I was embarrassed by the fact that one hand with a dropper could not support the tile, and some lines did not come out as perfect as I wanted. I drew when I needed to express my sadness after the death of a kitten. Repeating lines, building a pattern and adding color - everything went into action. It was easier for me to cope with my tragedy.

Communication: there are many communities where people exchange experiences and emotions about this. If you need it and it’s important, you can always communicate with like-minded people who lack a critical look at your work.
I have attended various seminars and meetings on meditation. This is interesting, but not very applicable to my lifestyle. Drawing zentangles is actually very relaxing and calming for me. This is a great tool when you need to switch gears, find a solution, clear your thoughts or cope with raging emotions.
You will soon notice that tangles are lurking everywhere - both in the bark of a tree and in the shadow of a lace fence. And then you want to transfer the pattern to a blouse or mug. A new type of creativity will open up a fairy-tale world and, to some extent, restore children’s perception of the world around them. The magic will return.
Another side effect, but a very good one, was that my 11-year-old daughter and her friends became interested in Zenart and joined me.