Jane Marbaix - Inspiring Zentangle Projects: Exciting new ways to creativity

Our world is made up of patterns, whether in art, in nature or in the built environment yet you may not always have noticed them unless they are especially eye-catching and obvious. Once you learn the Zentangle Method of drawing, though, you will see them everywhere you look.

When I did my Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) training in the USA, I noticed that I and my colleagues were seeing patterns all around us as if our vision had suddenly become clearer. Today, I cant help finding patterns even in quite mundane surfaces such as floors, curtains and railings.

So what is Zentangle? In the words of Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts, the creators of this wonderful way of drawing, Zentangle is an easy-to-learn, relaxing and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Its as simple as that!

Maria is a lettering and botanical artist, while Rick is a musician with many talents. He was a monk for 17 years, which enabled him to recognize that the calm and focused state Maria was in while she was doing her artwork was a form of meditation. From there, the couple set about finding a way to share this state of mind. Together with their daughter Molly Hollibaugh, they now hold seminars in Providence, Rhode Island for anyone interested in becoming a Certified Zentangle Teacher.

If you can hold a pen and make a dot, a line, a curve, a circle and an S-shape, then you can tangle. All you need is a couple of pens, a pencil, a paper stump for blending and a piece of paper and you can get started. The patterns, or tangles, are deconstructed into easy-to-follow steps, known as step-outs. On www.tanglepatterns.com, a website run by Linda Farmer CZT, you will find an amazing number of tangles for you to try.

To begin, draw a string a pencil line that divides your surface into sections. Then pick a tangle and fill one of the sections you have created. Continue by filling each section with a different tangle and thats it!

The Zentangle Method does not focus on the outcome that might be stressful if you have pre-conceived ideas about what your work will turn out like. Instead, as in life, the focus is on the journey, not the end result. So dont plan it, and dont feel the need to try hard just relax and see where it takes you! It is always a surprise when you see what you have created.

Tangling stills the mind and relieves stress, so its a good idea to keep a small sketchbook and a pen and pencil with you. Then, whenever you are kept waiting for an appointment, a train, a friend and so forth, you can take out your book and pen and start tangling, passing the time pleasantly rather than tapping your feet.

Like so many others all over the world, you will find Zentangle inspirational and it will increase your focus and creativity. This book is full of ideas and inspiring projects from many other CZTs worldwide. There are also contributions from people who are not CZTs I learn from my students as well. I hope that with the help of this book you will be able to train your mind towards relaxation and focus and you will create work so beautiful you will wonder how you achieved it.

If you wish to find a CZT in your area for some hands-on advice, go to www.zentangle.com and look under Learn More, where you will find a list of qualified teachers.