A Gift of Zentangle Therapy

Recently I have been coming across some wonderful stories of inspiration and healing that are related to the Art of Zentangle. Many are heartbreaking and yet heartwarming at the same time. It has made me continue to reflect on the benefits of Zentangle and other art/craft pursuits in my own life. As a teacher, though I love my job, it can be stressful and mentally taxing at times. Art and Zentangle specifically can be such a relief from that part of my job.



A tangled card I made to go with my gift.


One of my colleagues has announced that she is retiring this year. She has had a tough year, both at work and in her personal life. Today is our District Retirement Party. I cannot wait to give her the gift I purchased for her – A Zentangle Kit – for her very own. I have added a list of inspirational and instructional websites she might find useful. I hope she will find the same relaxation and calming effect as she explores Zentangles as I have.



Zentangle Kit - This is how I got started.

 Here is the list I put together:

http://www.zentangle.com/
- the originators of Zentangle
- Good newsletter
http://zentangle.blogspot.com/
- Originators blog

http://lifeimitatesdoodles.blogspot.com/
- ideas and inspiration

http://tanglepatterns.com/
- collection of tangles, and how to do them
- also collects inspirational stories about Zentangle and therapy/healing

http://www.openseedarts.blogspot.com/
- Carole Ohl is a wonderful artist
- Great examples, inspiration
http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/
- weekly challenge
- New Challenge each Monday
- Good way to learn a new tangle or practice one you know
- Look at what everyone posts for their “entry” in the challenge for inspiration

http://ptrish40-zekesden.blogspot.ca/
- fun uses of tangles in other art
http://www.amarylliscreations.com/zentangleharmony/
- does a weekly “round up” of Zentangle info
- New each Friday
- Look here for ideas, inspiration

http://jennifervanpelt.com/2012/05/13/how-i-got-into-zentangle/
- Jennifer's story is quite an inspiration
- Her work is gorgeous

http://www.softexpressions.com/
- website for local shop that carries Zentangle materials
- offers classes – see website for info

Zentangle Therapy

As I said in one my recent posts, I am really glad I had picked up my pen and begun to play with Zentangles and a Visual Journal during all the craziness that was my life the first 3 months of this year. It became a major outlet for my desire to be creative on an not so energy intensive scale. Waiting in a dentist office, sitting on the couch, or even sipping my chicken noodle soup at the dining room table became a place to pull out a journal, a Zentangle Tile or my new Tangle A Day Calendar, and begin to sketch or "Tangle". It really helped to keep me focused on something other than needles, drills, and their resultant discomfort. There is a lot to be said for "zoning out" in something creative. Here are some of my calendar pages.

Zentangles

I have been spending time sitting in offices, cars...waiting.... and have been playing with Zentangles to whittle away the time. In my last class we were working on Tangles based on a grid. I had to play with this concept a bit more... adding and changing as I went.

One of my new favorite sites involving Zentangles is I'm the Diva CZT blog. She shares some great Tangle Ideas and a weekly challenge. I have been playing with her last few challenges. It is a great way to stretch your creativity. I highly suggest finding a blog that offers up challenges in whatever area of crafting or life that you would like to grow. It gives you a structured vehicle to push past your own perceived limitations.

Last weeks challenge had us using purple. Unfortunately for me I did not get this finished in time to enter it. But I still had fun. I used Bic Flair felt pens and a purple colored pencil for the shading.

This weeks challenge is using a moebius strip. I loved drawing this. It made a fun piece to work within.

Keep on doodling, drawing, and crafting.

Zentangle Class Homework

A few years ago I was hunting around online for quilting designs and ran across several references to Zentangles. So naturally I HAD to go look into those. I read up on the concept of Zentangles and found several great sights with examples. (I will include a few links at the end of this post.) I ordered a basic Zentangle kit, found a book or two and began to play. It is a great way to take doodles to a whole new level.

This last December I noticed that one of my favorite stores was offering Zentangle classes, so I am treating myself to 4 sessions of me time! Last week was our first class. All the "students" seemed to have some similar interests, quilting, drawing... We spent 3 hours learning some basic "Tangles" and shading concepts. Of course we were sent home with homework - complete a few more Zentangle tiles. I love it when I am told I HAVE to draw and play with art. Oh darn!

I thought I would share my attempts so far.

My first class project:

Then of course I had to take the idea back to my students, this is the Zentangle I did with my students. The blue in this was blue colored pencil to help my students visualize the shading I was trying to show them. I use a document camera in my classroom to project on to a screen.

I was given 4 "tiles" to work on for class, so this is the next one I tried. Still need to work on less stop and starts on my lines... they sure are noticeable when I scanned them. Ugh.

Today, I had to send my mother some information before she will fly out next week to visit. So, naturally I had to play again. I took a 6 x 5.5" blank card and worked on this Zentangle when I had a few minutes of down time today. Just finished it at home a few minutes ago. I decided to add a bit of color to this one to finish it off. I used Stampin' Up Watercolor Crayons for the outside shading and a  Pitt pen for the background in the bubble section.



Funniest part of this new interest  ---- my hubby, always a doodler, has been working on some of his own interpretations of Zentangles. I cannot wait to share those with you in the near future.

Zentangle sites you might be interested in:

Zentangle

Zentangle Harmony

Tangle Patterns