After 3 Weeks of Zentangle Before Bed, I’ve Never Slept So Well and Woken Up So Calm

Zentangle was created in 2003 by Rick Roberts who had practiced meditation for many years, and Maria Thomas, an artist. They combined their insight and talents to create this fascinating method of drawing easy-to-learn, relaxing, structured patterns, which are called tangles.

Zentangle art is spontaneous and free-flowing so you can focus on each stroke and not worry about the result. Think of it as meditative doodling. You can learn different tangles and string them together to create detailed drawings on small squares of paper called tiles. You can move beyond these small tiles and get creative with bigger drawings or different shapes.

The most important thing to mention is that you don’t need to be artistic or good at drawing. You need no prior art experience at all, just the willingness to try! The patterns may look complicated but once they’re broken down and you learn how to do them step by step, you’ll see how simple and easy Zentangle is. There are no mistakes in Zentangle!

Zentangle is for anyone who needs to slow down, have some quiet time, and just chill. I started doing Zentangle after dinner with my two kids, and it’s amazing how our moods transformed even after that first evening. An hour flew by but it didn’t feel like the time escaped me, rather it felt like the hour was healing. It felt similar to how calm, relaxed, and rejuvenated I feel when I wake up from Savasana. And I liked that I had something physical to show for the time that had passed.

Whenever I do Zentangle, I just feel happy. It allows me to use my creative side, but because the emphasis is on just drawing what I feel, there are no expectations about what the finished piece should look like, which takes the pressure off.

The patterns are simple but so satisfying. I just focus on watching my pen move along the paper as the simple dots and lines came together to form intricate-looking drawings. My thoughts quiet naturally because I’m so focused on the present moment of just drawing patterns. I was amazed at how effective this was as a form of meditation. An hour will go by and I still won’t want to stop!

Even though I’ve only been doing Zentangle for a few weeks, it’s already positively influenced my mental health. I not only feel joyful while doing Zentangle, but I feel so relaxed afterward that it helps me fall asleep effortlessly and wake up feeling refreshed. Now everyone I meet, I tell them they need to try it!

Aside from a few art supplies, Zentangle is one of the cheapest forms of therapy. All you need is some paper or a blank journal if you want to keep all your tangles in one place. You can use a regular pen or pencil but Micron Pens ($12) are recommended since they’re deeply pigmented, waterproof, dry quickly, and they come in different-size tips.

To make your Zentangle drawings appear more in depth, you can also use pencil and a tortillion, which is just a tightly rolled up piece of paper that helps smudge the pencil to create beautiful shadow effects.

You can also add color to your Zentangle drawings. I’ve experimented with using black ink over watercolor paintings. I’ve also used colored Sharpies and it just adds to the depth of creativity. I’ve also seen white ink used on black paper, which I can’t wait to try.

There are Certified Zentangle Teachers (CZTs) who’ve been personally trained by Rick and Maria to teach the Zentangle Method, so you can look for a workshop near you. If you can’t find or afford one, there are tons of YouTube videos and books about Zentangle. Here’s what I’ve found helpful and inspiring:

• Zentangle Art Therapy by Anya Lothrop ($8)
• The Great Zentangle Book: Learn to Tangle With 101 Favorite Patterns by Beatrice Winkler ($15)
• Zentangle YouTube channel
• Charvi Ashtekar’s YouTube channel
• 20 easy Zentangle patterns

Start with some of these resources, practice, and have fun with it. There’s no wrong way to do Zentangle!