30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 20: Zentangle Doodling

30 Day Drawing Challenge Day 20:  Zentangle Doodling

Tangled Turtle © Rebecca Zdybel and page from my sketchbook
Tombow markers and black permanent Staedtler Mars Pen.
You can use this drawing as a reference for pattern possibilities =)

Zentangle is kind of a fad these days.  It's a trademarked method which is essentially doodling with an organized pattern.  It's fun, and I like the intent, which is to show that drawing can be for everyone.  If you know me, you know that I'm passionate about the idea that art is teachable and enriching for anyone willing to spend the time.  So, I love zentangle and think it's worth trying.  There are so many different ways to draw, that I'd like to introduce you to as many as I can during our 30 Day Drawing Challenge.

Taking patterns and using them to fill in shapes is not new.  It's a method many famous artists have used with great result...Gustav Klimt and Picasso come immediately to mind.  Check out these examples of patterns being used within shapes for visual interest.  Patterns that are used repeatedly can be referred to as "motifs".  Repetition can provide harmony in design, and that's a good thing.

Claude son of Picasso- Picasso

Dora Maar in an Armchair- Picasso

Girl Before a Mirror- Picasso

The Kiss- Gustav Klimt

So with this in mind, we are going to make some patterns using dots, squiggles, circles, squares...any little thing you'd like to use to fill in your drawing.  It's going to be fun!

Materials for this lesson: 

any drawing tool you'd like to use

paper

Step 1: Draw a contour drawing of a silhouette shape...it can be anything but here are some ideas. 

Tangled Turtle-©Rebecca Zdybel

Step 2:   Draw a string or multiple string lines within your big shapes...a loopy loop, a squiggle, a "z" (my favorite! ;-).  It's basically a way to break up the big shape into a few odd shapes.  

Step 3: Begin to Tangle within the shapes created by your "string" lines.  

The following is excerpted from wikihow: 

Start creating a tangle. A "tangle" is a pattern drawn in pen along the contours of a string. One Zentangle may have just one tangle, or a combination of different tangles. Use your pen to begin drawing whatever pattern comes to you - again, there's no right or wrong move inside a Zentangle. As you work, keep the following in mind:

• Tangles should be composed of very simple shapes. A line, a dot, a circle, a squiggle, or an oval are all acceptable.
• Penciled shading can be added to the tangles to create more depth and visual interest. This is not mandatory, but you're free to do so if you'd like.

Step 4: Continue to fill in your patterns within each section, changing them as you come to a new section.  Have fun with this, there is no wrong way to do it.  

Step 5: You can shade the patterns, or add color as you wish.  
Step 6:  Send me a photo so we can all enjoy your efforts!

Deb Thoden's beautiful example of zentangle. 

Here is another challenger's drawing sent to me yesterday...

Lovely! The Elegant writer has yet another fan in this artist...

Happy Zentangling!  I hope you enjoy it and find your zen...
(if you want more detailed zentangle instructions, here's a website http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Zentangle)

 I will be breaking out my Tombow marker in burnt sienna color -947 for a sketch or two during the final couple of weeks of this challenge.  If you would like to get one, it's around $5-6. Here is a link:  Tombow 947 Marker- Amazon

Rebecca Zdybel

Artist, Instructor, Art-Travel Instructor

Art Lessons: Drawing, Watercolor, Acrylic, Collage, Mixed Media

Myrtle Beach, SC

rebecca@artmyrtlebeach.com

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Rebecca Zdybel is an artist and instructor in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Follow her and see her work at http://www.artmyrtlebeach.com/

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