Vega, Zander, Squill, Yincut
The term “Zendala” is a hybrid word combining Zentangle and mandala. Mandalas are circular drawings; it’s a Sanskrit word for “circle.” The synchronicity between mandala and Zentangle is very obvious, because both are meant to be viewed from any angle. The increasing popularity of Zendalas has been steady, and people who are familiar with mandalas find a very natural progression into Zentangle.
Static, Pokeleaf, Florz
The term “Zendala” is a hybrid word combining Zentangle and mandala. Mandalas are circular drawings; it’s a Sanskrit word for “circle.” The synchronicity between mandala and Zentangle is very obvious, because both are meant to be viewed from any angle. The increasing popularity of Zendalas has been steady, and people who are familiar with mandalas find a very natural progression into Zentangle.
The key to a mandala is balance. With Zendala, that’s not quite as important (although to the particular among us—me included—it is lovely to have visual balance). Whatever works for you is fine. Zentangle produces a range of Zendala tiles, or you can find many designs in books or on the Internet. You can also feel free to use the designs I have created here. When you feel comfortable, design your own. It’s a lot of fun!
Have a go at designing some basic strings. Don’t worry if they are not even or balanced; that will come with practice. Think about lines and shapes that complement circles.
Downloadable worksheet available at http://www.createmixedmedia.com/zentangle-untangled-workbook