What is Zentangle®?

What is the Zentangle Method? First the short answer, if you do not want to read everything and scroll down to the pictures.

The Zentangle method is a drawing method using simple repeating patterns.

You don’t need artistic skills - just a pen, paper, and curiosity.

Explore your creativity. There are no mistakes!

Check what it is for the creators at Zentangle Inc, and what it is according to the owner of the most used pattern site.

Let's come at what it is for me.

It is a way to use patterns to draw and win the fear of putting pen to paper. The patterns are kings and guide you. No way you draw it wrong, it is simply a variation or another pattern!

Patterns are everywhere. In pattern collections, in pinterest, but also at your place, in nature, in architecture, in the furniture at the bar, in your head, and on the tip of your pen, when they come out without you even noticing.

You can make compositions, you can follow the 8 steps of the Zentangle Method or any other rule, you can use the Zentangle principles to draw something more representational even if Zentangle by definition should be non-representational.

For me Zentangle is freedom. You set some limits and rules at the beginning, decided by you or by others, since they help to win the beginning friction, and you put pen to paper following some rules, but then you can break all rules. You simply draw. Or tangle, like tanglers say.

I know this is not so clear, but this is how I feel about it.

If you are a beginner and you have questions, please post them or ask me directly. I will happily answer you and I will update this page if necessary!

Please believe me, anybody who can hold a pen and write their name with it (or write ICSO) can tangle.

If you are in Berlin and would like to learn the basics and draw together, just check my Facebook group Marziottangle Café Berlin to know when there is the next event!

If you have a pen and some paper, even if it is not a Sakura Micron fineliner and a 9x9 Fabriano Tiepolo tile, you can tangle! You will learn along the way which tools you like better.

Some beginner tiles, as suggested in the Zentangle Primer.