Zentangle was created by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts. Their moto, "Anything is possible one stroke at a time." I won't go into detail about what Zentangle is, you can click on the link and find out much more. It's mainly doodling patterns. It's been around for a while now, it's just new to me.
This week I had a Meniere's attack, complete with horrible vertigo....
I've also been fighting migraines.
The doodling didn't help during the Meniere's attack (nothing does!), but it helped afterward. And I'm surprised to find that while I'm doing this doodling, my migraines are more tolerable. (It also helps if I wear sunglasses while I'm drawing.)
So here's what I've been up to this week:
 |
| I was trying out some patterns a couple of days ago, then I came back to this yesterday... and it turned into this. I like it. |
 |
| The night after the Meniere's attack I couldn't sleep... I was desperately afraid it would happen again... So I started this. I finished it the next day. Most Zentangle designs are not colored...but I like color! |
 |
| One of my first....It was turning out great...until I got to the lower right hand corner. That just didn't work...I kept trying to fix it..and just made it worse. |
 |
 |
| This is going to be a birthday card for a friend of mine. She loves animals, especially her cats. |
If you just want to relax and loose yourself in your drawing, I suggest giving this a try. There are a lot of patterns out there...some times I use them...sometimes I just make up stuff as I go.
I'm sure you'll be seeing some more designs,
but next up.... something I've been working on...a Self Portrait.
Have you ever tried Zentangle? What do you think?
Wendy, I just spent twenty (or so) minues at the Zentangle website. I'm really thinking of getting a kit. When I doodle I always seem to end up with patterns similair to these. I seem to draw paisley-type designs a lot. I'll let you know if I get the kit. Yours are really good! Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletemo
I'm so glad this has helped you. I thought you might enjoy it. Even better that it helped you after the Meniere's attack.
ReplyDeleteI'm in brain fog mode due to a cold so I've been doing more reading and playing some stupid zombie game on Google+. But, it's OK. I'm starting to feel better. I'm going to the post office in the next day or two because I finally bought the Wonderwash and the countertop spin dryer. I'll let you know how they work.
Mo,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it. I just can't stop doing it. I've never been much of a doodler. My doodles always turned into things around me...it's nice getting lost in these patterns...very relaxing.
Check out http://tanglepatterns.com
That's the resource I've been using the most.
Have fun!!
wendy
Maureen,
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that? I really hope the Wonderwash works for you!
So sorry you haven't been felling well...a cold is especially miserable when you have ear problems.
Zombie game? Send me the link...I have to see this.
What'cha reading? You know I'm a voracious reacer. Can't believe how much I've read since I got the Kindle. I don't think I really noticed how much I was reading before. (20 books so far on the Kindle...since July 2nd...and that doesn't include the regular books.) But what else am I going to do right now? Can't move too much...the world goes wonky.
The Zentangle has been helping. I think I may be addicted...at least for a little while. It really helps when I have a headache. Never thought drawing would do that!
XO
Wendy
I just finished the book yesterday. It's '"O" Is for Outlaw' by Sue Grafton. She's going all the way through the alphabet with her books (she started at A) about a female P.I. Basic cop/P.I./murder stuff to curl up under a blanket and read.
ReplyDeleteAs for the zombie game...don't do it...it get's addictive. You farm and do repairs to the house and kill zombies (my favourite). I'm calling it stupidly addictive. I don't play it for long periods of time (5 or 10 minutes) but I find I go every 2 or 3 hours because the crops you grow gives you food, coins and energy. Stay away too long and they wither and die.
Go to your Google+ page. There are 5 icons at the top of the page, one of them is for games. After you click on it, look on the left side and click All Games and then choose Zombie Lane from the list of games.
One of the guys I live with is into Facebook and I used to mock him about playing Farmville. I can't do that any more. Now he comes to my room and if he sees me at my desk he goes "Stop playing the game!", even if I'm not playing it. Karma.
It's stupidly addictive. You've been warned.
Love these Zens! They are awesome =)
ReplyDeleteI discovered them sometime last year (I think) they are definitely fun to do, but I haven't bought the books or done the classes either. I think any drawing done with intent will give you the same benefit as doing zentangles does, it is just when you aren't feeling well who wants to tackle a large drawing, zentangles are small - so they seem more doable up front. My problem is with the mumbo-jumbo they have wrapped around what is essentially a very simple concept. But anything that gets people drawing is good :) Glad you are finding a way to deal with the migraines.
ReplyDeleteKathy,
ReplyDeleteyes, there does seem to be a bit of over do with some of the Zentangle notion. I'm not doing the little "tiles" or the "strings" to get me started. I just start...and fill up a page...it's the going and going that I'm enjoying. I do like looking at some of their patterns...but that's really all I've done so far....and my sketch book is filling up fast.
I am happy that have made me just feel like drawing without a real end purpose to it...just do it and see what happens...it's very relaxing.
I think that's what the initial intention was...then it became a business.
thanks for the comment.
wendy
Your zentangles are wonderful! As for me, I've tried doing them before but it just isn't the way my brain works. I didn't enjoy it much, stressed about what to add instead of just enjoying the process. I do find that I go into that meditative state by drawing what I see though, so I think I still get the effects. Patterns were never my 'thing' I guess. It is still fun to look at others' zentangles.
ReplyDeleteReana,
ReplyDeletepatterns have never been my thing before either. And I find it easier if I just stick to a few..there are so many...the more I look at them the more I stress about what should come next...it stops the flow.
I don't know how long this will intrigue me, I seem to bore rather easily...but right now, it's keeping my pen to the paper..and that's really what it's all about.
I find doing zentangles very relaxing and it's something I do sometimes when I feel blocked and just can't draw a thing. Yours are beautiful, and I know your friend will love the card! nancy
ReplyDeleteNancy.
ReplyDeleteI am finding that doing Zentangles are relaxing, and just fun.
These are my first..I think I'm getting better...you can be the judge, I'll post more soon.
Thanks for coming by!
wendy
great post and wonderful submission to this month's whimsy
ReplyDeleteLove your zentangles and with color! ~ thanks, Carol (Share the Creative Journey)
ReplyDelete