How to Relieve Stress in Five Minutes: Learning to Calm Down with the Zentangle Technique

One way to meditate using the Zentangle technique is gaining popularity on the Web. Anyone can create a pattern, regardless of whether they can draw or not. And most importantly, for this you do not need to buy a canvas, an easel and a set of oil paints.

Zentangle is a technique for drawing structured patterns in the form of dots, curves, and geometric shapes. Drawings are made on 9 x 9 cm paper called tiles.

And although the peak of popularity of one of the art therapy techniques fell at the end of 2022, it was created 20 years ago. The idea belonged to the American artist Maria Thomas and the monk Rick Roberts. The couple developed a technique in which a person immersed in drawing feels like during meditation.

In general, zentangle is similar to another type of art therapy – dudling. True, doodles are self-created, for example, by drawing incomprehensible patterns on the edges of a notebook, and zentangle requires full attention. If you haven’t been able to draw before, don’t worry. There are no bad drawings.

Who is the Zentangle technique suitable for?

– For those with anxiety

– For those who disturb sleep patterns

– For those who are stressed

– People with addictions

– Hyperactive children

– People with concentration disorders

What to buy for drawing?

Any pen is suitable for creating a zentangle, but we still recommend stocking up on ballpoint pens (gel ones can stain all your hands). And when you’re fully involved, you can also have special markers with quick-drying ink that won’t smudge on paper as you draw.

It is better to approach the choice of paper responsibly. Choose thick cardboard with a matte finish so that you don’t get stressed by the ink leaking onto the paper during art meditation.

Experienced “artists” are advised to avoid using an eraser and rely on their own intuition, but the editors of The Fashion Vibes proved for the first time that this would simply be necessary. As well as a ruler useful for creating square frames and geometric shapes in a drawing.

How to draw zentangle? step by step instruction

Mark borders inside the page

As we have already said, for a start it is worth preparing a sheet of 9×9 cm, but that’s not all. Then take a pencil and put dots in different corners of the tile. Connect these points with a line to get a square. You don’t need to draw with a line.

Split Zentangle into sections

Divide the resulting square diagonally into two parts, in it you will draw knots, i.e. patterns. The dividing line doesn’t have to be straight, you can just draw a curve.

draw a mess

Start drawing knots inside the resulting sections. The pattern can be whatever you want – a triangle, a square or just dots. The main thing is to focus on every hit you make. And do not forget to add shadows to your drawing with a simple pencil – so the zentangle will look more contrast and voluminous.