Zentangle and doodling styles are increasingly being used as part of effective art therapy. However, for most people, this type of drawing is familiar from the scribbles in the margins during boring lessons, lectures and meetings.
At first glance, the techniques of drawing zentangle and doodling may seem similar, however, these directions are different.
Doodling (doodling) as a drawing style comes from the English word doodle (unconscious doodling). This technique is suitable for everyone from children to adults who have never drawn before. Doodling patterns allow you to maintain concentration without mental strain, effectively coping with monotony. Hence, doodling can rightfully be considered an original and practically inexpensive option for art therapy and meditation. Doodling is a free technique and offers limitless possibilities for self-expression on a piece of paper.
The zentangle was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas as a proprietary drawing technique. It allows you to feel like a real artist, cope with stress, aggression and improve your well-being with patterns, ornaments and various patterns. The creators suggest drawing on white sheets of 3.5 inches (8, 9 cm) with ink, liner or gel pen.
The classic zentangle should be free to perform, not limited in time, not space-oriented and abstract. At the same time, small sheets of a given size allow you to quickly complete a drawing anywhere, as soon as inspiration comes.
The zentangle style not only brings pleasure and develops creativity, but also allows you to achieve artistic meditation. Unlike doodling, zentangle requires a certain amount of concentration and focus from the artist. Therefore, this technique cannot be performed unconsciously and requires complete immersion in the process.
Doodling & zentangle styles can be called impulsive and unexpected, and the composition itself develops as you draw and is not predetermined. Although the zentangle assumes a certain neatness of lines and elements, in contrast to doodling, where this is not a prerequisite.
Zentangle and doodling contribute to the development of creativity, the realization of creative potential, increase self-confidence, train such mental processes as attention, thinking and memory. In addition, you can improve your composure and mood, achieve inner harmony and manage anger.
When printing doodles and zen tangles on paper, you should not think about the final result. It is enough to trust your intuition and inner state, using various patterns, squiggles, dots and abstract patterns for self-expression. Through the successive repetition of light motives, from which whole works of art are obtained, you can plunge into a kind of trance and achieve a long-awaited state of comfort and relaxation.
In an environment where we practically stopped writing and drawing by hand, and we do everything on a computer, intuitive drawing using ink and a white sheet of paper will take a break from gadgets and virtual reality.
Some people have long been using doodling and zentangle not only as a therapy and a hobby, but have also learned to make money from their work without having an art education and the need to reckon with the requirements of academic drawing.
