Image via ASPhillips
If you’ve not heard of zentangle art, above is an example of an AI Generated one I produced with Microsoft’s free AI generator. It’s crazy busy, intensely intricate and I probably couldn’t draw even a corner section of one as heavily designed as this one. Still, it’s a great example of how illustrious zentangling can get. It’s all in what the artist prefers to put into it or leave out of it.
Zentangle art was developed by Maria Thomas (a calligrapher and botanical illustrator) and Rick Roberts (a former Buddhist monk). It differs from neurographic art in that the design is produced with intentionally repetitive marks that come together to produce a pattern that becomes a whole image.
Why I’m writing about it
I got interested in it several years ago. Drawing and sketching hasn’t been one of my stronger talents, however, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying it. Zentangling drew me in because I don’t have to be an expert artist or need more than simple supplies to produce it. You can make zentangles on a rock with a crayon.
It’s inexpensive, easy and there’s a global community producing it who are also kindly encouraging others to join in the fun. There’s more to it than fun, though. Zentangle, both watching it be develop or producing yourself, has some physical benefits.
Study results available at the National Library of Medicine reports engaging in zentangle art has a positive impact on the following...
The zentangle community not only loves to share their work on social media, but they’re equally enthusiastic about encouraging their viewers to have a go at it as well. Hand-drawn zentangles (digital or organic) may look similar, but each is unique. Zentanglers can often include a challenge in their work that simply states, “Now you try...”
For those who do, and share their version of the zentangle, the artist who encouraged them is usually mentioned in the description, so that viewers can visit their platform and check out the rest of their content.
And so, in the spirit of camaraderie, I’m gonna wrap this up by including a few of my fav zentangle artists’ work.
First up is a zentangle for beginners by ZentangleArtHome via YouTube.
Second is DrawingPatterns, also of YouTube.
And yup, I hopped onto the zentangle train a while back. Below is a shot of my most recent project, still in progress. When it publishes, you can find it on my YouTube channel under ASMR: Chillaxers.
Hope I’ve inspired you to at least consider becoming a zentangle fan. It boosts income for content makers by watching them, you can generate your own income by making them yourself, or even doing it just for fun. They’re also a sellable organic item that lots of folks enjoy having on rocks, a slice of bark or piece of wood in their gardens, and even inside homes and businesses.
Lots of options on what to do with what you make. 😊
If you’re already a zentangler, or you’ve got a fav zentangle artist you’d like to share with others, leave their info in a comment below and I’ll be happy to check out their work.
