Zentangle is an American method of drawing that not only promotes concentration and creativity, but also increases personal well-being. Zentangle was invented by Rick Roberts, a monk, and Maria Thomas, an artist, who created a combination of meditation and art.

This drawing method is just as suitable for beginners as it is for passionate hobby artists.
For the sake of simplicity, draw in 9 x 9 cm tiles, as this is not so time-consuming.
Using different patterns (such as strokes or waves) you can admire your progress within a short time.

With Zentangle there are no templates or ready-made solutions.
Instead, the Zentangle patterns are carefully placed. You can even create new patterns when drawing Zentangles.

This method requires a higher level of attention - after all, the challenge is to draw one line after the other without an eraser until an overall picture emerges.

But don't worry: Zentangle is not about good or bad pictures, whether you draw correctly or incorrectly.
It's about drawing itself. In the USA, Zentangle is even a recognized therapy method to induce a relaxed state in patients.

The following »illnesses« are treated with Zentangle:

• Anxiety

• sleep disorders

• stress

• hyperactivity

• addiction problems

• Concentration problems

Zentangle is characterized by constant repetition.
Over time, you will notice that you are making the same movements over and over again.
On the whole, Zentangle consists of a combination of five basic strokes that can be found in every pattern:

• Dot

• Circle

• Curve

• Line

• S-shaped line

Step-by-step instructions

Of course! Because that's exactly what Zentangle is for.
There are usually three combination variants:

Pattern-in-pattern method
First draw a large pattern on your tile and then simply fill in the empty spaces with lots of small patterns.

Merging method
You choose two patterns, but instead of clearly separating them, you merge them together.

Fusing method
Here you work with flowing transitions. You still have two separate patterns, but you draw them into each other in places.

The tiles are rarely provided with just one pattern. You will find that at some point you will automatically combine many different patterns. Feel free to try out several variations. Because don't forget: Zentangle is not a science and doesn't have to be drawn accurately. You can let your imagination run free.

Doodling happens along the way. For example, you unconsciously draw small patterns on the corner of a piece of paper during a phone call. This process happens without really thinking about it. This is different with Tangling:
As you focus on the process of drawing, you draw much more consciously and with full attention.

Firstly, you have the opportunity to attend a Zentangle course. These are run exclusively by certified Zentangle trainers (Certified Zentangle Teacher). In Germany, for example, there are these two trainers: Anya Lothrop from Hamburg and Claudia Tölle from Munich. The two women have attended special courses with Rick and Maria in Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

On the other hand, there are of course a large number of books that deal with this topic. Among other things, they explain the basics in detail and explain patterns and instructions in more detail.

Of course, there are also video tutorials on the Internet that explain how to draw zentangles
(just look for “Zentangle Tutorial”).

Tangling
The drawing process is called tangling. It is, so to speak, the verb for Zentangle.

Tiles
The traditional Zentangle is made on 9x9cm tiles. These tiles are made of high-quality paper.

Thread or String
To structure the picture, the Zentangle field is first divided into smaller areas using several strings.

Tangle variations
You can experiment with a Zentangle: Combine several tangles together, modify them and create new variations. This is also known as tangleation.

Mosaic
You create a mosaic by placing your finished Zentangle tiles next to each other. The overall picture results in a mosaic.

CZT
These are the certified Zentangle Trainers. CZT is the abbreviation for Certified Zentangle Teacher. Training takes place exclusively with Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas in the USA. Zentangle is a registered trademark, so only certified trainers are allowed to offer courses.

ZIA
This stands for Zentangle Inspired Art. These are works of art that incorporate various Zentangle techniques.

Take your time. No master has yet fallen from the sky and nobody expects you to achieve a perfect result.

Try things out for yourself. Discover different patterns, change them and just start drawing. Zentangle is not something you should think about too much or for too long beforehand.

Try using a sketchbook that you reserve especially for your Zentangle artwork.