It’s a made-up word that many people have never heard, and those who have will tell you their thoughts on what it is.
“It’s doodling.” I’ve heard that a lot.
“I used to draw like that in high school.” I hear that a lot, too.
“That is not real art.” Not my favorite response.
I’m not going to sit here and tell anyone that they are wrong in their assumptions about what Zentangle is and why it’s not what most people think. I believe that the best way to make my point is by showing you why it’s different from anything you’ve seen or done before.
That said, for the uninitiated, Zentangle is not what you think. It’s so much more.
And after I have convinced you of that, I’m going to show you new ways of creating Zentangle-inspired art.
It is simple. It is achievable. And you don’t even have to be able to draw. Why not, you ask? Because, actually, you can draw. Anyone can. You just need the tools and the know-how, and that’s where this book comes in.
Zentangle is about being thoughtful. Deliberate. Focused. You cannot rush Zentangle. It won’t let you, because it forces you to stop, think about and feel what you’re doing.
Zentangle can also be fast—it’s realistic to find ten minutes in your day in which to complete a Zentangle artwork.
I often meet people who see my Zentangle-inspired artwork and tell me they can’t draw, they aren’t patient enough or they don’t have the time to devote to creative activity. One of the great joys in being a Certified Zentangle® Teacher (CZT) is that I can prove them wrong and introduce them to a whole new world. A world of creativity. Confidence. Calm.
Zentangle is about embracing beauty—our own and that all around us. It is also about embracing the imperfections of life—in ourselves, in our world and, most important here, in our art. Like life, Zentangle is less than perfect. When my students worry that their lines are not straight, I ask them why they have to be straight. I ask them to find the beauty in the wonky lines they’ve drawn. It’s initially difficult for many, but they all eventually find their way to acceptance of their art. Joyfully, this often leads to acceptance of themselves.
