HATE Zentangling, but wanna LOVE it?! 6 Tricks to help you get into it!
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- Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
- I have a love-hate relationship with zentangling! There are aspects of Zentangling that I absolutely adore, like the intricate designs, the meditative process, the flow state it induces-pure bliss, right? But there are also parts of it that I REALLY struggle with. The strict rules, the insistence on a certification (in order to TEACH it), the pressure to make every piece a masterpiece with cramped, tiny patterns... I feel suffocated!!
Despite my reservations, I’ve found ways to make zentangling work for me. So, for all you fellow love-hate zentanglers, or wanna-be zentangle beginners out there who've shied away for some of the same reasons, I’ve come up with SIX TIPS to help you navigate the world of zentangle drawing with ease, and MAYBE even enjoyment :)
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Music by Epidemic Sound
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Who the heck am I?
Hi! I'm Karen Campbell! Since founding Awesome Art School in 2016 I've dedicated my life to teaching fun and easy ways to make freaking AMAZING art so you can wow your family and friends!!! Life's too short not to make awesome art (and honestly? It's not hard if someone shows you how)!!
📚 I'm also the author of 19 art books www.amazon.com/author/karenca...
🖌️ Founder of awesomeartschool.com
🔥 Connect with me across all social media platforms @karencampbellartist
🎥 Learn to PAINT with me too at ua-cam.com/users/karencampbell...
If you want more zen doodles, here are some more fun one's you might enjoy:
ua-cam.com/play/PLV6kGAGmDy5IjVwQU8rQ81iNJMcBJPzH7.html
🔥And when you're ready to REALLY take your tangles to a WHOLE new level, watch THIS: ua-cam.com/video/hpvejDMv5W0/v-deo.htmlsi=G75sVU8j-YblyFvq
Ooooh thank you!! ☺️🥰
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I’m so happy you posted this video. I’m sick of the so called “zentangling” and people trying to copyright their “tangles”. Coming from three generations of artists, I can tell you some of these so called “tangles” have been around for decades. They come from crocheting patterns, nature, and art of all mediums. I believe that doodling and abstract type art is a much more pleasing art to do and to view. I mean don’t we all go into a “zen” mode when drawing and producing art. I know I do. That’s why I do it and have for over 40 years… long before zentangling became a way for some people to monetize on the idea of putting zen and patterns together. Ugh
Thank you for sharing! I am totally seeing where you are coming from and I agree! Gotta do it for the Zen and fun of it!
Most tangles are taken from patterns that have been done before. The idea in the Zentangle community is to make a stepout for people to use that can’t work it out for themselves. These stepouts are given names so they can easily be found. You can’t copyright a pattern but maybe the stepout. However the community is very generous and there are several sites where people work tirelessly to collect these stepouts for you and others to use free of charge. I see nothing wrong with that.
I so often see people beat themselves up thinking that their art is no good because they try to be perfect or compare themselves to other artists. I totally understand, because I did that. At 65 I finally let go of perfection and tell people art is all about having fun and playing and as you mentioned, art is subjective. Enjoy the process everyone. Have a great time loving what you do. 💜
Absolutely, whole heartedly agree!!!!
Precisely the Zentangle philosophy.
You go girl! I only watch zentangle to get new ideas for doodling….love doodling…80 yrs old…decorative painter (JoSonja) for 40 years….now I am branching out to water color and doodling….woohoo…love your happy self!!!!♥️♥️♥️♥️
Doodling is so fun! And that’s amazing! You are awesome!!!
I could not agree more! Doodling can definitely be art!!! If I doodle something and I think it's art, it shall be known from that moment forward as ART!!! LOL!
PRECISELY!!!
I am of the mind that if you make a mark, it is art. We do not all have to like it, but it is art in my book.
I agree!!!
I love tangling, I don’t pay any attention to “ the rules”, I find it to be very relaxing and stress relieving! I just love to do all the great designs and have fun! I used to be so frustrated with it until I did what you did” just do it your way “ it works for me!
I’m so glad to hear that you found your groove with it!
You created something nice. You are correct about doing what you like in art and not doing things you hate. I plan on not painting with oils or using oil pastels. You don’t have to like Zentangle.
I think you’re missing out on some important Zentangle points and purposes. I probably have about 10 books on Zentangle which I haven’t gotten through most of them. I found Kelli Blouin, CZT, on UA-cam when I was looking at Inktober activities. I have grown so much in my understanding of Zentangle. She is doing florals (zentangle-inspired art) for May. Her main videos are usually “15 Minutes of Zen” and “Mandala Mondays”. Anyway, you ink your drawings to remind you not to erase. (Kelli does use an eraser for guide lines.). There are no mistakes in Zentangle. The term orbs is used instead of circles so you don’t feel you have to draw a perfect circle. The repetitive non-representation of Zentangle is meant to relax you. I have also learned some shading techniques. Kelli does her mandalas with pencil, ink, tortillon, a penny, an eraser, and a straight edge.
I totally agree that their are amazing teachers and books on Zentangling. I've made multiple videos highlighting my favorites on youtube: ua-cam.com/video/BSjb3tr0cA0/v-deo.html I think it's when we start getting in to having a separate vocabulary that the struggle for me begins because I don't love it when others start putting the shapes I'm drawing into their box. I just like to draw without judgment or thinking from others. On a lighter note, I hate colored pencils so I'm never using those 🤣Thanks for watching and for your insightful and well written comment. I appreciate you!
I used some big stencils with the lines connected. Then I Zentangled inside the different areas of the stencil. They turned out really pretty. It's really easy and looks good even if your not good at drawing. Besides it's your creative time, you can do what you want.
You are so great! And yes! Stencils are wonderful for Zentangle art!
I am so happy to see this!! I’ve got all these books on the different “patterns” but I’m always having to check back bc I’m so stressed about not not knowing enough different patterns and then trying to do it all in a tiny space with deterioration in eyes sight, it can be a challenge. So my eye sight and memory thank you a great deal.♥️🙏🏼
I am so happy to hear you found this helpful!!!!
When I discovered zentangle and they were saying you gotta buy these cards blah blah blah I was like "Ummm when did drawing become a cult???" 😂
Really though! It should be fun!
You are wrong Zentangle inc. have never told anyone that they have to tangle on their tiles. I have taken their Certified Zentangle Teacher course and in the course they advocate for tangling with whatever you have. Even on the beach with a stick. On each of their videos they show their beautifully made tiles and how they can be used but they always say in the intro to each project pack that if you don’t have them that you can use whatever you have.
I have to agree with deborahraaen3059. I have never heard anyone with Zentangle Ink say you have to use their tiles. I doodled for years, still do……is it Zentangle, no. Is Zentangle much more to me than just art, yes.
@@Akforgetmenot I'm really happy to hear that from you guys! I probably began around 2015. It could be that I was listening to someone who was taking it really seriously and perhaps selling the tiles, I don't know. Thank you.
Love this Zen-untangled art!❤❤❤
Thank you!!!
The “Zentangle police”! I love it! 😂
Unfortunately they exist! But we can ignore them and do our own thing :)
Thank you for setting the zentangle free! Love how you explained the process without being rigid.
Thanks so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed it.
Karen, you are such a magician! You can truly make something out of nothing with the snap of your finger! This zentagle-ish design (yeah, I've heard about the not so zen zen police as well) is brilliant! Thank you so much for sharing it.🥰
You are so welcome! Absolutely! And thank you for your kind words!
Zentangle, despite having an established method, isn’t rigid, though. Zentangle mantra is “No Mistakes” and is always open to doing it our own way. The Zentangle community loves to see variations, too. 💜
I think you are right! Unfortunately I’ve experienced some of the negative side of the community which sparked the idea for this video! All for the “no mistakes” mantra and welcoming all into the Zentangle world! 😁
Loved this ALOT!! THANKS!💥🥰
You are so welcome! 😁
I just love your style! You make it real and fun! Thank you for providing this video!!
Glad you enjoy it! Thanks for watching!
So fun and I love your finished art!💕
Thank you so much girl! Have been enjoying your Zentangles on Instagram! Awesome!
You're amazing!!! thank you for sharing!❤❤
Thanks for watching!
I love you to pieces.
Right back at ya! ♥️
You nailed it!! I feel so seen!! Thank you for sharing
I am so happy you feel seen!!! Absolutely!!! ♥️
I love what you’ve created here!
Yay! Thank you!
I loved your result…so inspiring! Thank you❤️❤️
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I too have a similar relationship with zentangles. You got my brain popping! Thank you. 😊
I am so glad you enjoyed it!!! ♥️
That is so awesome Karen!!❤❤❤❤
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Oh my lord!!!
This makes so much sense!! 🤦🏼♀️
Thank you 👍🥰🌟
You are so welcome friend! I'm so glad you found it helpful!
I love it! So fun.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this video! Great tips❤
You are so welcome!
This is the first video I have watched of yours, and I giggled all the way through it. I found zentangle about a year ago and loved it as a way to relax and help my anxiety. However, like you said, I hate the little tiny squares. I want to use whatever pen, paper, or even use a ruler if I want. Zentangle is about repetition, free hand, and allowing mistakes. All great, and sometimes that is okay, but most times, my ocd does not allow me to draw lines that are wonky and get bored with drawing a page of the same thing. So, as much as I am trying to allow myself to be okay with mistakes. I am also allowing myself to be okay with breaking the rules and drawing what I want and how I want, even if, in the end, it is not a zentangle or an art piece. It will just be a reflection of how I was feeling at that moment. Thank you for confirming my thoughts and that it is okay.
I love your awareness when you are! and I am so happy that you find so much joy in the practice!
Thank! I enjoyed your video.
You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
I love how you elevated the Art!!😊
Thanks so much!
Right on. Zenadotanglish( I just made that up ) because its fun to say it and create it.
Thankyou Karen for another fun video.
HA! I love it!!! I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
Thanks! Awesome video 😀
Glad you liked it!
I just found you. I love the look of zentangles but didn't know how to start. This was super helpful. I subscribed to your channel and am looking forward to more, basic, simple, inspirations. Thanks.
I am so glad you found me! I have a Zentangle playlist! A great place for beginners to start! Hope it helps! So happy you are here! ua-cam.com/play/PLV6kGAGmDy5IjVwQU8rQ81iNJMcBJPzH7.html&si=s2g5vYjBSLKmbdmi
Damn, this is just a helluva fun & wild break-outta-the-box video. You rock! Seriously. Made me grin and laugh, and feel a whole lot of great about my own rants and sessions of Stomp on Those Choking Me Rules art making. Yep, love & hate the you-know-what!? method.
I am so glad you felt seen! Thanks for watching!
I do so agree with this. I do love zentangle but some people take the rules waaayyy too seriously.
Yes, right?! It makes me a little uncomfortable!!
I am just curious… what rules does Zentangle teach?
@@maureenstott2107Hi. It’s not rules, rather a method to follow. Their tangles have names and illustrated steps to draw them. The rest is up to us, to draw, shade, highlight, blend and merge, etc. It’s so freeing, to me anyway, and I’m no artist. I have never once seen anyone in the Zentangle community criticize or put down anyone’s drawing or effort at trying a tangle. This video was recommended to me for some reason. 🤷🏻♀️
Have you see Zentangle's projects which are done in big rolls of paper? They propose working on a larger scale. I follow them and they have never come across to me as a restrictive bunch. That said, I like your end product too😊
I’ll have to check out that topic in more detail!
Project pack 23 is gorgeous and so much fun!
The translucenZ tiles are also a wonderful addition, in my humble opinion, enabling us to work on both sides. Fun to see how that looks as one turns the tile over.
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing!
Great ideas, KarenI. 👍
I bought a Zen Tangling book some years back...when it was more popular. While I did learn and practice a few of their cool techniques...my ADD took over and I was simply not going stick with learning only their patterns and designs and then practice them over and over. One big reason is that I'd been doing my own very enjoyable and very interesting , for me, at least, designed doodles and patterns on my own for quite a few years. While I agree, regular old doodling can be a whole lot of nothing and just a fun way to waste some time, (or reduce some stress...nothing wrong w/that either,) the brand of "Zen Tangles" does not own the market on doing beautiful repetitive or meditative pattern designs. But their instruction books can be helpful if you want some ideas or prompts to take your doodling to the next level and make it more artful.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! I agree! Much good can come from the brand, yet I completely vibe with doing what works for you!
That is what I have done. Love it. Do my own thing.
As you should friend!!!
Most Excellent!
Thank you!
I have missed you I M happy to watch and see ....I need to get rid of some anxiety This comes at a perfect time..thank you blessing
I am so glad this comes at a great time for you! Enjoy my friend!
I love working really small and tiny but I have never heard of this.
You gotta do what feels best for you!!
That was fun😊👍
So glad you enjoyed it!
I call them Zen Doodles. I do my own thing. I really love this form of artwork and don't feel compelled to be a rule follower, because that would turn me off completely! Most of the time, I do an outline of the subject and start filling it with whatever "tangle" trips my trigger. :D
Love that you've found you're groove with them!
Love your work. I zentangle/neurograph in a similar way but haven’t varied the line width as much although I do it to separate sections. Your art reminds me of the Fifties.
Thank you!
Thank you for this video. I thought when I watched the topic here on UA-cam, they were so serious with disclaimers. You cleared that up. Thank you. I have had the thought that I could make my own line drawing that is a picture, and then instead of coloring it in, I could use the elements of this method. I would have my own version of art.😃💐💐💚💚💚
Glad it was helpful! You should make every piece your own! :)
thats a VERY COOL abstract non-art piece you made
lol thank you 😂
Enjoyed your video and tips - which I've seen similar thoughts from artists of many mediums - and I wholly subscribe to. "You do you". Sometimes it's hard as fledgling artists to not "follow the rules" whether in tangling or watercolor painting, etc. I've always found it a bit odd that people are willing to spend so much money to learn to make specific doodles when I feel like patterns and mark making are sort of a open access idea. I think the one thing Zentangle has done is elevate the art of doodling and the appreciation of patterns in art. I know I look at it very differently now after years of doodling - sometimes following a Zentangle specific pattern and most times, making my own based on some pattern seen somewhere. It's all good. It's a good reminder to "give yourself permission" to make art that is fun for me; I'll take that to heart!
Yes girl!! You nailed it!!!
I had such a good time I subscribed to your UA-cam channel.
Thanks so much!! You may enjoy these other zen drawings too while you're here! ua-cam.com/video/BSjb3tr0cA0/v-deo.html
I started tangling after the death of my son (almost 10 years ago now) but my fist one was 12" x 12". To me it gave me more to do and i didn't have loads of tiny squares that i then had to store.
I don't follow the other rules either, i use rulers, compass, paints, coloured pencils etc. I joined a few groups and posted my pictures but never let on how big they were unless asked 😂😂😂. Can't stand the Zentangle police, they really grind my gears, just do you and always remember, nobody owns a bloody pattern.
Yes! Do what is right for you and that’s all that matters! How important art can be in times of grief! So glad to hear it helped you. Sending hugs!
Love your teaching style…miss t teaching, health got in the way. Hugs sweetie.
I’m so happy to hear my teaching style resonates with you! So happy you are here!
Aaarrrghhh! I need those stencils! I've been looking for those exact same stencils and can't find them. I looked on your Amazon store but they weren't listed. Can you tell me where you got them?
Oh the circle and ellipse templates? They are here in the Drawing Aids section! awesomeartschool.com/p/artsupplies
@@KarenCampbellDRAWS Got 'em! Thank you thank you thank you! BTW - I do exactly the same thing with my zentangles. Although I generally include neurographics as well. Neuro is really soothing to me.
I will have to look into that!!
Thank you for this video. I needed to hear this. My brain has trouble thinking of designs. You have inspired me with your lines and templates idea. I will see if the 6 tips help because I want to like doodling but zentangle puts pressure on me to follow rules. Art should NOT be about strict rules, it should be relaxing and freeing.
100% agree my friend! Hope the tips help! ♥️
There are no rules in Zentangle. There are only guidelines that you can follow or not. It’s your art and you can do with it whatever you like. The guidelines of eg. corner dots, border, string and tangle stepouts are all there to help people that don’t know where to start get going with creating a piece of art. The small size of the tiles are so it can be finished in a short space of time and so it is overcomely. No one says you can’t draw bigger. In fact in their last Project pack on YT they tangled on a huge piece of paper. It is however not easy to turn a big piece so for beginners the smaller tiles can be best.
I purchased a Zentangle starter kit 11 years ago and made 3 tiles (like a paper coaster) and stopped because it didn’t appeal to me. Last week I came across the box and created one more tile. I’m going to give it another try after this video using your tips.
I hope you end up enjoying it! Would love to see how it goes in the Facebook group!
Where did you get your circle stencil from, please?
Amazon! Here is my affiliate link! amzn.to/3QwtxAt
TOTES INSPIRED! 💖
YAY!
Your work here reminds me of my favorite Abstract german expression Artist Vassily Kandinski. He is awesome.😊
Oh thank you!!!
what is the best paper for heavy acylics? Thank you
Heavy weight watercolor paper - think 140 lbs or more!
@@KarenCampbellDRAWS thank you for helping me out. Than I assume 140 lbs is the best as well for mixed media as it needs to hold all the weight?
That's right!!!
Zentangle proper has too many rules! I can't be boxed in - but I can be inspired by ZENTANGLE designs...
Doodling and anything u create is ART ( just saying ) KEEP CREATING 🎉🎉🎉
Yessssssss 🙌
Love it. But then I always love Karen Campbell art. When did you sport the nose bling? Hug, deb d.
Thanks girlfriend! It was a New Years activity! I am loving it! Thanks for watching!
Liked and subbed im glad i found you
I am so glad you enjoyed it!!!
I definitely have a love/hate thing with the zentangleness of it all! To me, branded and monetized doodling is disturbing; the prescriptiveness is irritating; there's no reason to work primarily in a square format; and I don't want to keep track of a million separate tiles. The extreme focus on the certification 🙄... It's doodling! But I get that it's all been thought out. Every part exists for a purpose. Some of what irritates me is specifically part of the routine and meditativeness of it all and work wonderfully for literally millions of people. But not me!!! Thanks for these great ideas and suggesting that we can give ourselves permission to forge our own paths. 😊
I hear you friend!!! I am so glad you found these tips helpful!
We also have round, triangular and rectangular tiles. Tiles that are 5 x 5 inches and opus tiles that are the size of 9 square tiles put together. That’s 10.5 x 10.5 inches square. These are available to use if you wish to use the paper that they consider to be the best, but they always say to use what you have.
LOL I hate those dang Bijou tangles. And it's pretty darn hard to frame a circle. How many circle frames have you found. So many things I hated about those dang project packs. Just goes to show, you can build a business out of any silly idea you have! Take the good and leave the rest! I printed the zentangles I just couldn't do and used them in collages and decoupaged them. I printed them and cut them up and used them in clay sculptures. Yeah, I love destroying them!
You made good use of them in the end!
Call it UNzentangle lol or Karentangles. Thing is they can not copy right a doodle design just a method. It's only thirty 8 step method you can not teach without a license.
I've been doing these designs since I was a kid, myself.
I just call it tangling designing myself. The Roberts teach a very specific method. So many of the people can get very strict and elite that I get out of by it.
Art should be your fun space, your open space. No rules, just go with your flow and have fun.
Oh and I hear ya on small spaces. Lol I always draw bigger.
Yes!! We are on the same page!
I have always wondered if the zentangle people got a hold of my "meeting notes," applied a few rules, and called it "Zentangles."
Perhaps haha!
Art is Art… No matter What… I Don’t Care what ‘the professionals’ say…….🙄
Exactly!!!
Oh this is great! If you hate it don't do it!😂
Haha!
Replay. Zentangle is lines and circles...doodles
It not just that tho…it’s a whole “thing”!! I wish it were just that simple! 😭
Ah Karen your doodle line noodles, zentangle design looks pretty art Deco to me.😊😊😊
Oh right?! Maybe those Speakeasy Showgirls are sneaking their way into my drawings now too - I'm great with that! Hope your'e well Mary!!
As a CZT, i just want to say that Zentangle does not own any shape or doodle. It's a meditated art form. The founders don't "own" anything other than their teaching method. No Zentangle police! Do your own thing! Zentangle taught me drawing techniques as well as their teaching method. But I love doodles of any kind!!!
Thanks for sharing!!
The Zentangle people remind me of the Neurographic people. The only reason they'll tell you what you're doing isn't art is because they've both managed to monetize doodling and they want you to pay for things. Many years ago I got a book on Zentangling and the first few lessons were very familiar because I had CROCHETED them several times. Nothing is new anymore and I laugh openly at the people who want to come at other artists because they aren't doing "real" Zentangles or "real" Neurographica. I art however I want to art. 💗
You should totally be able to art however you want!!!
@@KarenCampbellDRAWS Yes, we all should! :)
If you just call it "tangling" and don't use the term "Z.e.n. tangling" their search engines have a lot more difficulty finding your posts.
I know. But just knowing the thats even a thing kills me 🙈 and I genuinely appreciate the reminder!! You’re right!!
whybnot call it Zendoodle
Definitely could! They are interconnected!
What in the world are Zentangles?😂 have I been under a rock? 😂😂
I would do a deep google dive if you are brand new to it! But its the use of “tangles” with use of dots, lines, simple curves, S-curves and orbs.
I wonder if the zentangle police look like zentangles.
😆
The thing that irritates me about Zentangles is their prescriptiveness. I think if you’re drawn (haha) to Zentangle because you want to quiet your mind, and because you need an established process to work from, that makes perfect sense to me, and fill your boots. But I’m the kind of person who hates following instructions, and would much rather “draw something pretty” (that tip resonated with me) on my own, rather than having the steps and processes dictated to me.
So, while my doodles are full of Zentangle elements, I don’t believe that anyone can or should trademark combinations of lines or simple patterns. I honestly get very squidgy when people tell me that my art is Zentangle, because in my mind, it’s so much more than that. It comes from my own sense of composition and balance and expression of style. I’m not copying an originator of a pattern, I’m adapting an idea to use in my own way. And I’m resentful of the Zentangle police who seem to want to own something that is really just a simple pattern that has been used for eons in many forms of art across many cultures over time. I’ll probably be put in Zentangle jail for saying that, but so be it.
So, while I can see the point of Zentangle from the Zen practice of quieting your mind while focusing on simple tasks, I really don’t like the cult-like adherence that it seems to require.
100% feel the same and said way more eloquently than I ever could have!
Zentangle claims to be an artform. Art means (among other things) creating something new. Reproducing other people's patterns, how beautuful that can be, is craft, not art.
Thanks for sharing!
Doodling us creative and original...zentanle is not.
I love doodling ! My favourite,because you don't have to think and no rules. The doodling just flows out of me on the paper . Very relaxing and therapeutic 😊. In the end ,something amazing materialise on paper. I call it magic 😊
I 100% agree! So freeing!