Zentangle – just the word conjures up the exotic. I first ran across this “new” art form known as a “tangle” posted on FaceBook. While pen and ink doodles aren’t really new, the presentation of Zentangle makes it so very accessible to everyone.
Zentangle is offered up not only as a method of creating beautiful intricate images using repetitive patterns but also as a form of meditation. To get started one can refer to a legend of repetitive patterns provided in a Zentangle kit. There are also a number of books that can be used for inspiration. I found Totally Tangled by Sandy Steen Bartholomew to be a good overview to get me started.
For me, it is the daily creative outlet I’ve been looking for. I work a high stress 8-5 job which means when I get home I seldom have the time or energy to work on a quilting or paper project. With Zentangle, I can leave my tangle out on my desk at home and work on it as I’m inspired often finishing one every few days. I find that now I often tangle for a few minutes in the morning before getting my day started – meditation. I come home from work and unwind by tangling. Zentangle has been a wonderful discovery – providing me with that artistic satisfaction that I need in my life.
References:
