Saturday, May 14, 2011

The art of Zentangle

This morning I attended a Zentangle workshop at Deanne's Studio.  I was in there several weeks ago and Brenda (who works there) asked me if I wanted to attend a workshop on zentangle.  I had never heard of it before and asked "What is it?"   She said....well it's kind of like yoga for your brain - with drawing.

Huh??  I scrunched up my face with a combination eye roll and laughed.  She told me to go home and google it and then decide.  So I did.   I had to admit, it looked kind of interesting.  You can find info here

After I looked at it I thought it might be fun and could help me with designing some fun abstract rugs.

The instructor was the loveliest lady all the way from Georgia. We had a great morning and anyone can do this.  We all doodle but this is just taking it up a notch.   This is all you need
Some tiles of paper, a pencil, a smudger, a pen and a little piece of chocolate.  (OK, you don't NEED the chocolate, but it's nice)

First we learned some basic techniques - everyone used the same designs yet everyone looked completely different - this is mine

Then we all got to freestyle a bit on a larger piece of paper

You can zentangle within shapes like I did here above or you can do a free form image.    Just think of the fun it will be designing some abstract rugs with this type of sketching. 
It is very relaxing with the simple repetitive strokes.  If you like to doodle, I encourage you to visit the zentangle site and give it a try.   I purchased  a book today and there are others available on Amazon. 

14 comments:

  1. So are you going to try doing a rug like that? I have seen rugs done that way, but I didn't know what it was called. It looks awesome. I am so glad you had such a nice day.
    I will Google it and read more about it.

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  2. Wow, Kim - that is really cool! Looks like you're a regulation artist or something! Can't quite wrap my head around a rug though....You're gonna have to "show" us!!! :o) Smiles, Robin

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  3. I would love to see you transform these into rugs. They are so unique. You could just have so much fun with colors, or even shades. You always share the coolest things!
    Courtney

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  4. This is very cool Kim. I doodle all the time so this should be right up my ally. I've looked up the site and read all about it. Thanks for sharing.

    How's the sunflowers sprouts coming along? JB

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  5. Hi Kim,
    That looks like fun to me! I am learning something new here today and I want to thank-you! Yes, I too am anxious to see how this translates into a rug. I will be going to that site now to read more!
    Hope you are having better weather there than we are here! It's disturbing to say the least when you have to wear ear muffs to a wedding in May!
    Cathy G

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  6. Hey, that's totally cool!
    You're an artist!!!

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  7. I love this...it's just great in b/w yet wouldn't color be amazing in here especially all bright or all pastels? Such a pretty art! Can't wait to see what you do with this Kim!

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  8. I doodle all the time! For years I sat in Corporate meetings, doodling away!! I am going to google this, want to learn more about it!!

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  9. I doodle while I'm on the phone. When my kids were little they would be hanging over me to see what I was drawing. They would run away quickly when they saw it was just doodling. Sounds like a lot of fun. I'm off too google about doodle!!!

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  10. Kim ~
    Count me as one who has never heard of zentangle. Love your z-doodles. I'd say you are quite talented! (But I already knew that!)
    Hugs :)
    Lauren

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  11. Love what you did...great idea for mat designs!

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  12. Kim, That looks great!Your an artist with a pencil instead of a hook!I can hardly wait to see how you transform your drawings into a rug. Cheri

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  13. Oh Boy, are you sure you did that all by yourself, Kim....:) I'm not sure what mine would look like...Love the idea, though..I, too, had never heard of it...Will look it up...when time is available...groan!!

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  14. Hey - you never mentioned you had art talent too!

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