Trick or Treat?

Welcome to the world of tangling! In this world, you will doodle your way through Cantebrands, Auras, Dexes, Dewdrops, Hollibaughs, Poufs, and my two favorites, Dingblatz and Dingsplatz creations!

Are you feeling like a wizard costume is needed? These terms I’m learning about sound like a Halloween story or something from Hogwarts.

Costumes are optional for this world of organized doodling that I recently discovered through my friend, Mary, who shared her first foray into this art form:

This method provides the soothing mental and emotional benefits obtained through creating easy artwork, by taking all those thoughts and emotions darting around our brains and replacing them with learning how to use simple steps for creating elaborate drawings.

I’ve shared my story here, and in my book, Toolkit for Caregivers, about how using adult coloring books helped ground my jumbled thoughts and emotions during the challenging years of caregiving at home.

This artform may be even easier and more portable than adult coloring because the required supplies are small and few:

• Super fine-tipped pen
• Graphite pencil
• White graphite pencil
• Tortillons for blending
• Small squares/pieces of drawing paper

These supplies can be conveniently tucked into a simple zip bag and taken wherever you go – as opposed to my array of 100 colored markers and full-sized coloring books previously used.

Besides, how cool is it to use a “tortillon”?

After googling Zentangle, I landed on a one-stop-site that has enough information and how-to videos to last me a long time: HERE. Video #023 guided me along a restful journey to complete my first drawing:

I will tweak the kind of paper I use, perhaps – it’s no big deal – and I am looking for a brighter, white pencil to increase the depth of field and general sparkle.

This is a thoroughly satisfying and absorbing experience for all ages, and the therapeutic aspects of this activity did not disappoint.

Whether you desire an escape from stress, or are looking for something better than another reality show on TV, entering the world of Zentangles falls into the realm of TREAT at Halloween or anytime.

Please share your Zentangles with us through comments and share this post with your friends by using the MORE button below.

In health-

Deidre