Why I use The Zentangle® Method as a tool for Creativity Coaching.
In my coaching practice, I’ve seen clients gain confidence in completing a beautiful work of art when they didn’t consider themselves “an artist”. The Zentangle® Method allows one to work in a limited space (3.5 inches) with limited tools (pen, pencil and tortillon) and a limited skill set using and repeating a few elemental strokes. There is a confidence that is gained by starting and completing a project than can lead to reaching other creative goals. Teaching The Zentangle Method to clients is a jumping off point to succeeding in other areas of life. This practice can have a positive influence on creativity, self-image, focus, and problem-solving. Clients have found that while working on a tile, their subconscious has time to “figure out” a solution to their problem or creative challenge.
What is The Zentangle Method?
The ZenTangle Method is and easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. The method was developed by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts.
What started as an accidental recognition of experiencing a “flow state”, the idea of using repetitive pattern making as a meditative practice emerged for Rick and Maria in 2003, as Maria sat in her studio adding patterns to the background of a large gilded letter, and has become an international movement. There are almost four thousand Certified Zentangle Teachers (CZTs) in all fifty United States and over 46 countries.
Together Rick and Maria developed the terminology and methodology while ensuring an accessible drawing method anyone can participate in. By 2009 they were ready to train others to spread creativity to all.
Why is it called “Zentangle”
The repetitive patterns are called “tangles”. Each tangle is created by combining the basic “Elemental Strokes” (dots, lines, simple curves, S-curves and orbs) into simple shapes. Patterns are drawn on a small piece of paper called “tiles”. Combining the finished tiles together creates a group mosaic.
Traditionally, Zentangle art is non-representational and unplanned which allows the artist to focus on each simple stroke and not worry about the results. The tiles are small enough to rotate 360-degrees to ensure a relaxed hand position. All you need to know are the steps to create a tangle and trust in the process to be surprised at the results. The “Zen” part of Zentangle comes in enjoying the increased focus, creativity, self-confidence, and increased sense of well-being. The first and last step to completing a tile is gratitude and appreciation.
What are the Zentangle tools?
The Zentangle approach believes in using the best materials available to your circumstance and encourages self-respect and respect for your creativity. Traditional Zentangle tools include Sakura Micron pens, tortillion, graphite pencil and Zentangle tile made of museum grade cotton paper. Each tool was tested by Rick and Maria to produce the best results. Throughout the years the types and size of tiles, pens, and “project packs” have grown as the company evolved but the core principles always remain the same. These tools can be purchased from the official Zentangle.com site or from a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT).
The Zentangle Method can be done at a beach with a stick and sand as a canvas, or a generic ballpoint pen and a scrap piece of paper. There are traditional Zentangle Method artists as well as Zentangle inspired art enthusiast that use this approach to create tangles on anything from rocks, canvas shoes, clothing, and quilts.
What are the Benefits of a Zentangle practice?
Benefits that I’ve personally experienced with a Zentable practice include:
- Relaxation
- Stress relief
- Design inspiration
- Creative warm-ups
- Mindfulness
- A supportive and fun community
- Team building
- Problem Solving
The Eight Steps of The Zentangle Method
- Gratitude and Appreciation – with a few deep breaths, become grounded in your space by appreciated the feel of the beautiful paper, the tools, and the opportunity to create something beautiful
- Corner Dots – remove the fear of the blank page by using the graphite pencil to create four corner dots. You’ve started.
- Border – while inhaling and exhaling, slowly connect the dots with a light pencil line, the line can be straight or curvy, to create a square. The border is a guide and some like to stay within it or go outside of it.
- String – separate the square into sections by drawing a light line inside the border from one edge to the next until you’ve touched all four sides. A string can be any shape and use a straight, curvy lines, even overlapping each other. Create the string in one continuous stroke. The string separates your tile into sections, tangle patterns are drawn inside each section.
- Tangle – a tangle is a predefined sequence of simple strokes that make up a pattern. Use your pen to draw tangles inside the pencil strings and borders. By focusing on each stroke and not what the final piece is going to look like you will know what to do next when the time comes.
- Shade – Add shades of gray using the graphite pencil to bring contrast and dimension to your tile. The black and white two-dimensional tangles transform through shading and appear three-dimensional.The tortillion (a paper blending stump) is used to soften and blend the graphite.
- Initial and Sign – This is art you created. You should sign it. Put your initials on the front (many people create a unique monogram or chop for this step. On the back, place your name, date, comments and observations
- Appreciation – Now you’ve come full circle. Hold you tile at arm’s length. Turn it this way and than. Appreciate what you just created.
As a Creativity Coach I like to use these same eight steps in other areas.
- Be Mindful – Prepare yourself to create by using gratitude appreciation to ground yourself and begin to work.
- Start Anywhere–when fear of the blank page creeps in to your mind, think of the four dots and get started. Write one word, make one stroke–just start.
- Set Limits–define your border by creating SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely)
- One Task at a Time – divide your goal into smaller tasks (sections) and focus on one task at a time.
- Take Small Steps – take the tasks and break them down into their most basic steps. Focus on one step at a time.
- Edit and Revise – like shading you can add to your first draft and mold it into something better.
- Share your Work – be proud of what you create and share it with the world.
- Celebrate – celebrate the effort it takes to create and be a creator.
By learning The Zentangle Method, the approach to success can be used in many other areas of life.
In 2011, I started learning the Zentangle Method and got hooked on the process then made the commitment to learn to teach the method and become a CZT. In 2018 I reached my goal and attended the 32nd Zentangle Certified Teacher Training program in Providence Rhode Island along with students from the US and nineteen different countries.
CZT32 Certification 
Maria and Rick
The Austin Creativity Coach offers private and group classes for children and adults including:
Intro to the Zentangle Method
- 60-min class teaching the eight basic steps, four basic tangles, in order to create your first tile.
- Coffee and Zentangle – a 45-min session to learn a practice a new-to-you tangle.
Beginning Zentangle Tiles
- 90-min to 3-hour workshop exploring additional tile formats and materials. In this class you will practice the basic tangles, the concepts of meta-patterns, drama tangles and interstices.
Advanced Zentangle Concepts
- 3-hour workshop exploring enhancements, linking tangles, tangleations, and layering tangles.
Custom Zentangle Classes
- Explore Reticulas and Fragments
- Intro to black Zentangle tiles
- Intro to Renaissance Zentangle tiles
- Intro to Zendalas
- Group project pack series
Use the contact form for more information or email gina at theaustincreativitycoach dot com to schedule a class or workshop.
A portion of the Zentangle Method content from “Learn” section of www.zentangle.com
