Looking for a simple way to unwind? Zentangle is a meditative drawing method that helps you tap into your inner artist and cultivate mindfulness, focus, and joy.
My daughter’s room is overflowing with art. Sketches spill across her desk, paintings cover her bulletin board, and her creations fill every drawer and shelf. When she’s in her creative zone, the rest of the world seems to fall away.
Her creativity inspired me to seek my own artistic outlet. I found it in Zentangle, a form of meditative art that encourages relaxation, focus, and presence. Traditionally, these geometric patterns, called “tangles,” are drawn in black ink on 3½-inch tiles that can be combined into larger mosaics.
I first encountered Zentangle outside a middle school art room, where intricate black-and-white tiles formed a quilt-like display of swirls, grids, and curves that felt both orderly and organic. Although the finished designs appear complex, each one is made from simple lines, dots, curves, and orbs. People of all ages and skill levels can enjoy Zentangle. A single tile can be completed in as little as 15 minutes.
About Zentangle
The Zentangle Method was developed in the early 2000s by Maria Thomas, a lettering artist and botanical illustrator, and Rick Roberts, who had spent years living as a monk. Rick noticed that when Maria worked on intricate lettering patterns, she slipped into a peaceful flow state. They realized this was a form of meditation and decided to design a method that would allow others to experience that same sense of calm and focus – no artistic training required.
At art fairs, Maria often heard people admire her work but insist they could never create art themselves. Rick and Maria saw Zentangle as a way to make artistic expression more accessible by removing common obstacles such as lack of time, talent, money, or a fear of mistakes. As they explain on their website:
“Zentangle art is non-representational and unplanned so you can focus on each stroke and not worry about the result.”
The beauty of Zentangle is its simplicity. All you need is a pen, pencil, and paper. While Maria and Rick sell Zentangle kits, you can just as easily start with materials you already have at home.
One item that’s noticeably absent from the Zentangle toolkit is an eraser. In Zentangle, there are no mistakes, only “opportunities.” Stray marks are incorporated into the design rather than erased. This philosophy encourages creators to let go of fear, perfectionism, and self-criticism.
“We believe that life is an art form and that each person is an artist,” write Maria and Rick. “The Zentangle Method is an elegant metaphor and model for inspiring deliberate artistry in life.”
Each tile is a finished work of art on its own. But when combined with others into a mosaic, the results can be stunning. Many Zentangle classes and workshops end with participants laying their tiles together to show how individual efforts can create a greater whole.
How to Create a Zentangle
The traditional method follows a few simple steps:
- Settle in. Take a few deep breaths, and feel gratitude for the chance to create.
- Frame the tile. Place a small pencil dot in each corner and connect them with light lines to form a border.
- Add a string. Inside the border, draw a freeform pencil line (zigzag, swirl, circle, X) to divide the tile into sections.
- Tangle. Use your pen to fill each section with repeated patterns. Focus on each stroke, and incorporate stray marks into your design. Remember, there are no mistakes.
- Shade. Add depth and contrast with your pencil.
- Finish. Sign your work, date the back, and take a moment to admire both the art and the sense of peace and relaxation you felt while creating it.
Advanced Techniques
Traditional Zentangle tiles are done in black and white, but many artists enjoy experimenting with color. You can add watercolor washes as backgrounds before tangling or layer colored pencil shading for dimension. Markers can bring in bold pops of color. Introducing color opens up a playful side of the practice and allows for even greater personal expression.
Zentangle is not limited to small tiles. Practitioners incorporate patterns into fabric, leather, digital art, ceramics, and even jewelry. The designs can brighten a quilt, embellish a mug, or give scrapbooks and cards a personal touch. Once you start looking for possibilities, Zentangle can find its way onto almost any surface.
My Experience
I started this learning project by reading about the Zentangle Method online and checking out a few library books with pattern ideas. Then I rummaged through my kids’ arts and crafts kits, found an HB graphite pencil and an India ink pen, and settled into a comfy spot on the couch. I was ready to tangle.
As I made tiny pen strokes to form a diamond pattern, I slipped into a state of relaxed focus. I often struggle to quiet my “monkey mind” during sitting meditation, but while drawing, my thoughts rarely wandered.
I especially enjoyed mixing structured patterns of squares, triangles, and circles with more organic ones such as fronds, waves, and florals. My favorite step was shading, which added depth and contrast to the designs and was also the most relaxing part of the process.
The hardest part was resisting the urge to erase stray marks. Reframing mistakes as “opportunities” is challenging for a perfectionist like me. But I was pleasantly surprised by my first tangle. When my daughter looked at my creation and said, ‘Wow, that’s really, really good,’ her admiration felt like the highest compliment.
For that first attempt, I used a regular sheet of 8 x 11 paper, but I realized smaller worked better. With a compact surface, you can add intricate details and still finish in about 15 minutes.
Because I rarely draw or handwrite, my fine-motor muscles were out of practice. At times this was frustrating, especially when my lines weren’t as fine or straight as I hoped. The Zentangle books I borrowed were full of inspiration but also a little intimidating. Their authors are seasoned crafters and artists, and replicating their examples was daunting for a beginner. Still, over time my designs became neater and more precise.
The best part was sharing the activity with my kids. We swapped tiles, admired each other’s work, and even created a mosaic together. I tucked one of my tangles into my daughter’s lunchbox as a first-week-of-school surprise.
In the end, Zentangle turned out to be a fun and calming way to unwind. It strengthened my fine-motor skills, gave me a deeper appreciation for patterns, and offered a quick creative outlet. Most of all, I rediscovered my inner artist.
Resources to Explore
If you’re looking for a simple, relaxing art form that requires no prior training, Zentangle may surprise you with just how meditative and joyful it can be. Here are some resources to help you get started:
Zentangle.com
The official website created by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts. It offers an overview of the method, their story, instructional videos, class information, and a store where you can purchase their beautifully designed kits.
Zentangle for Beginners Playlist
A YouTube playlist on Rick and Maria’s channel, @Zentangle, designed for those new to the Zentangle Method.
Joy of Zentangle
By Suzanne McNeill, Sandy Steen Bartholomew, and Marie Browning
This book provides an overview of the method along with 101 fun and easy tangles. It also includes design tips and ideas for incorporating Zentangle into crafts, jewelry, and 3D objects.
Zentangle Untangled
By Kass Hall
This book offers step-by-step demonstrations for creating beautiful tangle patterns. It was the first book I read on the subject and includes suggestions for adding color, experimenting with different materials, and exploring digital enhancements.
Zentangle Mosaic App
An app that allows you to upload your work, organize it into mosaics, and connect with other tanglers. The demo version is free, while the subscription unlocks full access to uploading, commenting, advanced search, and “Tangles, Tips, and Techniques.”
Project: Dabble 
Leave a comment