“It’s a method of using repetitive patterns in a mindful way,” she explains. “I always call it the art of stress reduction and relaxation. And anyone can do it.” Created by Rick Robert and Maria Thomas, Zentangle is all about creating patterns (aka “tangles”) with simple dots, lines, curves, orbs, etc. The design is created on a small piece of paper or “tile,” which can also be arranged with other tiles to form larger mosaic-like designs. For example, when stressed, Barone says her tangles are smaller, with more rigid and pointy shapes. And when she’s in a good mood, her tangles are more rounded, flowy, and organic-looking. And since tiles are typically pretty small, you’d be amazed how quickly you can fill it up when you only have a few minutes. “Even if you only have three minutes to sit and do it, it still will have benefits,” Barone adds. Barone tells mbg that she does recommend taking a class in person your first time if possible, and you can conveniently find certified Zentangle teachers near you in the directory of Zentangle instructors. If that’s not an option, there are plenty of guided videos online that demonstrate how to do certain patterns. Or maybe you opt for an instructional book on how to draw them. Whichever route you opt for, Barone explains that all Zentangle patterns are made up of five basic shapes with slight variations: dots, lines, orbs (or circles), C shapes, and S shapes. (Take a look at the photos above, provided by Barone, for a sense of what these can look like, plus a few deconstructed patterns you can try for yourself.) From there, your tile is your oyster, and you can let yourself have fun and relax while creating all sorts of patterns.
