Step 2: zentangle

So, now we get to the point where I expose to you our first project in this course. It's zentangle, tadaa! When I first heard the name, it didn't ring a bell, at all. I couldn't even expect anything 'cause I had definately not heard the name before. But I had seen zentangles before, I just hadn't known the name of the art trend. So when we were exposed the next project, my first thought was like: "I can't do it, I don't have enough imagination to evolve something so special, so cool like zentangle was." Then we got the instructions but before I write them down here I tell you something about zentangle.

Zentangle is a new art trend which has gained a lot of followers lately. It's easy to execute because it follows regularity so it's a perfect art trend for us perfectionists. You repeat the same pattern (malli) until you've completed a certain area of your outline (hahmotelma). The patterns in the outlines create the whole ensemble. You can also create your own pattern, there's no right or wrong patterns. That's the best thing about art, it follows no rules so everything is art if you feel so.
When you perfectly concentrate on zentangle, you forget about everything around you. It's so therapeutic and relaxing when you focus on doing patterns, small lines all over the paper. Zentangle also highly improves your concentration, creavitity and accuracy. You can make your zentangle performing one (above) or abstract one (below). You can color your zentangle ((below also) or leave it black and white. Finding mistakes in zentangles is almost impossible because there are so many, countable number of lines. The point isn't to find details and mistakes but look the whole ensemble.
A word of caution. If you look the zentangle for too long or too close, there's a chance for you to get a migraine attack. While drawing you can hide with a white paper the part of your zentangle that is done, to avoid the migraine attack.

INSTRUCTIONS:

that we were given to this project

★ Design your own zentangle. It can be whether performing or abstract

★ Use as a model existing patterns or create your owns

★ Implementation (toteutus) on a white A4 sheet of paper, cut in a square.

★ Use black ink. When designin  you can use a pencil

MY ZENTANGLE

I started drawing my own zentangle on last weeks Wednesday when was our first class. I ended up making a performing zentangle, and the shape was, surprise surprise, very symmetrical flower. I found the perfect pattern for me immediately. I ended up reapiting the same pattern in 4 areas in my outline. Here's the tutorial for my favourite pattern.

It looked like this in my zentangle.

I made things easier for me when I first delineated (hahmottelin) and drew the pattern step by step to the big area. The pattern is scheduled for a box shape. 

This is how the first petal (terälehti) of my flower looked like.

I designed the center to be in four parts which I would fill with different patterns. The work continues on...

In the picture below I have finished all the petals of my flower, left only four leaves which we're shared in two parts to be filled with two different patterns.

Leaves done!

So here is how the flower looks like when it's not closely looked. Pretty cool, hah? The result is always a good motivation to finish the zentangle. At least I couldn't interrupt it in midpoint. I zoomed the latest picture so you can see the patterns I've used in the leaves. I tried to look for the tutorials for these two patterns but I couldn't find them now... Maybe I can post good pattern tutorials in later posts but here's the zoom.

The zentangle isn't completely done yet so in my next post I will post the finished zentangle, my first zentangle. It will end up on my wall when I get it home, I'm sure about that.