Zillions of Zentangles!

We have been working on creating zentangles as part of our first unit on line, space, and pattern. Zentangles are abstract drawings that are created using a variety of repetitive patterns. They are traditionally done in black on a square piece of white cardstock. We did not use pencils, erasers, or rulers. The patterns are done deliberately, but any stray marks or "mistakes" add to the uniqueness and character of the piece (this is extremely difficult for those perfectionists among us!). Many people find the art of zentangling to be meditative and stress relieving. We certainly saw that this week as the students were intently focused on their artwork and it was difficult to stop when the class period ended! Many students took supplies home with them to continue the practice.

We began by discussing the creation of space and looking at how we can use repetitive lines to fill space with texture or create depth or movement. We practiced four beginner patterns together by making artist cards:

And I showed them a couple I had done....

.... and they were let loose! The students were encouraged to think outside the box to create their own unique design. We used this book by Jane Marbaix for inspiration. The "tangle directory" in the back shows some great step-by-step patterns to get started. 

I also displayed some around the room that were not in the book, but requested by students:

I was amazed everyday at the creativity of these artists. Many even invented their own zentangle designs! They worked hard and made thoughtful decisions on which papers and pen types to use. 

I asked students to submit the 3x3 square size for inclusion on our class bulletin board. Of course for some it was hard to part with a piece of artwork they had worked on, but we ended up with plenty to create a great display of Zentangle art!

We will do one more Zentangle project this week to continue exploring space, line, and patterns!