Zentangle
What is the Zentangle Method®?
The founders of the Zentangle Method, Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts, describe Zentangle as an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Personally, Zentangle is one of my very favorite forms of stress relief.
Isn't that just doodling?
Yes and no. It certainly looks like doodling. But doodling is often a mindless activity - your mind can keep wandering and mulling over stresses of the day. I call Zentangle "mindful doodling." By using a defined space and specific pattern, your mind is focused on the next stroke, then the next and next, without any expectation of the end result, which puts you into a state of focus called Flow.
Have you ever been so engaged in an activity that you look up afterwards surprised by how the time passed while you were enjoying what you were doing? This is Flow. It uses a different part of your brain that pulls you away from the stressful thoughts and worries.
And you have a cool mini work of art when you're finished!
How I started with Zentangle
I was introduced to Zentangle years ago when an acquaintance of mine suffered a cerebellar stroke and was using Zentangle in her rehab to regain fine motor control in her hand. Fascinated, I started dabbling with it for stress relief.
I'm a "still waters run deep" kind of person - I look very calm and serene on out the outside, but my brain never shuts off and is usually going a mile a minute. Zentangle really helps to quiet my mind and give me a little relaxation. I fell in love with it.
I love it so much that I felt called to share this with others. So many of my patient visits center around how to offset the sheer amount of stress in their lives. I realized they could really benefit from the blessing of Zentangle in their lives too. So in 2018, I studied with Maria and Rick to become a Certified Zentangle Teacher and it is such a joy to teach.
Wanna tangle?
In-Person or Zoom Classes
I'm currently teaching by request only. I can teach on-site at nearby locations or via Zoom.
If you would like to schedule a class, call me at 815-942-2580 or send me an email from the Contact page.
Class Topics
Class topics are flexible and can be tailored to your wishes. They range from a beginner's class, to specific tangle patterns, to using certain tools like special papers, color pens, or watercolor pencils. I'd be happy to come up with ideas for your class.
Zentangle Gallery
Here's a small sample of my artwork to give you an idea of the range of possibilities with Zentangle.
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