Zentangle® is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun method of creating beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. It was created in 2000 by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, who are the co-founders of Zentangle, Inc. Zentangle is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc.
The word “Tangle” was chosen to reflect the process of creating art without worrying about what it looks like while you’re creating it. The word “ZEN” in Zentangle refers to being in the moment and enjoying the process for its own sake.
The tangle patterns are made up of repeated strokes. Each stroke is either a movement or a change of direction in one direction only. Patterns progress from one stroke to another without lifting your pen or pencil from the paper.*
Since there are no rules on how to draw tangles, no wrong way exists to create what you will.
For more information on this popular art form visit http://www.ZentangleArt.com*
TanglePatterns.com is a site dedicated to the art of Zentangle®—a method of drawing structured patterns that can be “traced” with a pen or pencil. Zentangle is a relaxing and enjoyable way to develop creativity, focus, mindfulness and patience.
TanglePatterns.com was created by tanglers for tanglers. We aim to provide support for newcomers, new patterns for tangle enthusiasts and an in-depth look at the history of this exciting art form.
Much of what you will find here is available nowhere else on the internet – a result of the fact that TanglePatterns.com is run by Zentangle® Certified Instructors who are also professional pattern designers and developers of the official Zentangle curriculum.
We’d love to have you join us as we explore this creative journey together!
Zentangle is an easy-to-learn, relaxing way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Developed in the early 2000’s by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, Zentangle is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc.
Zentangle is more than just a pen-and-paper activity. It is a mindfulness practice that invites creativity and enhances focus. People who practice Zentangle are called Tanglers.
Zentangle is a meditative, non-competitive hobby that is easy to learn and fun to do. Zentangle drawings are called tangles, and there are many ways to draw them. Invented by Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) Maria Thomas in 2001 and made popular by Rick Roberts of the New York Times’ Learning Network, tangling is rapidly gaining popularity as a simple way to relax, reduce stress and increase focus.
Overview:
Zentangle is an easy-to-learn, relaxing form of drawing that produces beautiful images — no artistic ability required! The concept was invented by Rick Roberts of the New York Times Learning Network in 2001. “I found that focusing on the method of creating patterns allowed me to enjoy the process more than I had previously,” he says. “It also relaxed my brain in a way that enhanced my pattern recognition skills.”
Can you believe someone created this kawaii masterpiece?
Zentangle is a method of drawing structured patterns that emerged in the early 2000s. It was invented by a woman named Maria Thomas, who worked with a group of friends to develop the system, and named it Zentangle.
The name comes from Magic Square and tangram, two earlier methods of structured drawing. The idea behind these earlier methods was to make creative drawing more accessible to people by imposing a form on it. The goal of Zentangle is the same, but the method is better suited to making beautiful images than the older methods were.
The Zentangle method is divided into two parts: creating patterns and creating images. The patterns are designed to focus your attention on specific aspects of the drawing process. The images are designed to make you feel like you’re making something beautiful no matter how much skill you have.
The Zentangle Method is the easy, fun, and relaxing way to create beautiful images. It’s for artists of all levels and anyone who loves to doodle.
The tiles are often small in size but they can be drawn on any surface no matter how large or small. The method doesn’t require any special tools or materials, just a pen and a few tiles. In fact, you can use them to make a background for a larger drawing that is created using other media.
Tiles can be used as practice pieces for developing drawing skills, for free-hand doodling, or to make finished works of art. They can be used by people with physical limitations; in fact many people with arthritis have found relief from their pain when drawing the patterns because of the simplicity of the strokes involved.
Tiles are good for “getting over the blank page” when writing, as we fill in tiles while waiting for inspiration to strike. They’re also great fun to send as postcards or to decorate your home with. And they work wonderfully as gifts!
As a drawing style, Zentangle is similar to other patterned, nonrepresentational drawing techniques such as drawing on a flat surface with stones, drawing in the sand with sticks and so on.
The word “Zentangle” was registered as a trademark by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, the founders of the Zentangle newsletter and method of artmaking. The trademark is currently owned by Zentangle, Inc., an educational nonprofit organization that promotes creativity through structured doodling.
TanglePatterns is pleased to provide this web site for the benefit of artists who are interested in learning about Zentangle and its applications. This site includes information about how to make and use Zentangles as well as links to many sites that provide instructions or information related to Zentangle (or tangling).
