It’s more crucial than ever to find time to de-stress in the fast-paced world of today. Adult coloring books, zentangle, and doodling have gained popularity as strategies for increasing attention, slowing down, and sparking creativity.
These are no longer limited to children. They provide a simple and enjoyable method of lowering stress and enhancing mindfulness. Anybody, regardless of skill level, can enjoy them because there are no rules or expectations.
Zentangle, coloring, and doodling can be the ideal escape, whether you’re looking for a new hobby or just a quick way to decompress. Let’s investigate the health benefits that these artistic endeavors can provide.
Zentangle | A drawing method focused on creating structured patterns. It helps with relaxation and mindfulness. |
Doodling | Casual and spontaneous drawing, often done to relax or pass the time. It encourages creativity without any rules. |
Adult Coloring Books | Coloring books designed for adults, often featuring intricate designs that provide stress relief and a creative outlet. |
- Zentangle and his friend doodling
- Zentangle
- Dudling
- Zendudling
- "And there is benefit from these scribbles of yours. "
- Relieve stress – draw in the zentangle style
- Fight boredom and train your memory – draw in the doodling style
- Video on the topic
- What is Zentangle?
- Lesson 11. Feathers. (Zentangle. Doodling. Anti-stress coloring pages.)
- Doodling and Zentangle. 7 DIFFERENCES
- ANTI-STRESS COLORING PAGES | Zentangle Doodling | Big coloring page | zentangle | Buntarke
Zentangle and his friend doodling
What are these novel methods, and where did they originate?
Zentangle
The creator of Zentangle® is an author. The American couple Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas created this easy method for creating abstract patterns in 2006. According to legend, Maria would draw repeating ornaments in the margins of a manuscript she was working on to help her change her mind. She observed that when she was drawing like this, she felt liberated and at peace with herself; she forgot about the manuscript’s issues and focused solely on the patterns. When Maria told her husband about her observations, he remarked that it felt a bit like meditation.
A method of abstract drawing that Maria and Rick developed and patented was known as the "Zentangle method" (from the English words zen, which means "zen", contemplation, and tangle, which means "confusion, chaos"). Thomas and Roberts employ specialized language when they say that the drawing is made up of "tangles," which are unique patterns that the author is free to combine however he pleases. The method’s creators have amassed a sizable collection of tangles and continue to add to it. Their adherents spin their own webs.
You need to use a black capillary pen to draw on white, thick paper, 9 by 9 centimeter square cards. "Strings," or arbitrary lines, are used to divide the square into sections. One of the patterns is then inserted into every compartment. You can alter the patterns by utilizing their various combinations.
The writers suggest trusting oneself, following your instincts, and concentrating on your drawing rather than trying to achieve a specific outcome. A crucial requirement is that there must be no identifiable images in the pattern; it must be entirely abstract.
Visit Maria and Thomas Zentangle.Com, their official website, to learn more about the Zentangla method.
Dudling
It doesn’t have any explicit guidelines and doesn’t require concentration, in contrast to the Zentangla Dudling method. Maybe without realizing it, all of us started using this technique: we were all sitting through boring lectures, painting strange flowers and graceful profiles in notebooks, or staining our incomprehensible cramps while on the phone. We were also all drawing random patterns in notebooks while in the middle of a phone conversation. The English word "doodle" can mean "scribbles, dashes" or "to mechanically draw, paint." One thing that makes doodling so distinctive is that you draw spontaneously while your mind is elsewhere.
Today, we would boldly call some writers, actors, and scientists doodlers. Pushkin’s manuscripts included neatly arranged female heads and legs. A century and a half later, Andrei Khrzhanovsky and Yuri Norshteyn even animated the poet’s sketches in "My Favorite Time," an animated film.
Thomas Jefferson, the president of the United States, enjoyed drawing during crucial meetings. Leonardo da Vinci, an inventor and artist, was unable to help but make notes in the margins. While it is true that some of his "scribbles" contain a visual depiction of the laws of friction, the brilliant artist also produced more absurd drawings.
Zendudling
It is naive to believe that the whole world will obediently draw patterns in squares and adhere to the strict rules of Zentangle. A new type of creativity has appeared at the junction of the Zentangle and Doodling methods — Zendudling. Drawings in this style can no longer be called spontaneous and mechanical drawing – doodling in its purest form. On the other hand, zendoodling goes beyond the classic zentangle: there are no restrictions on the format of the sheet and color scheme. The artist consciously builds the composition and often uses repeating patterns to convey a recognizable image. It can be an animal or a bird, flowers or a person"s profile – it all depends on your imagination.
"And there is benefit from these scribbles of yours. "
Why should you keep making notes in the margins and what use does the zentangle method serve?
Relieve stress – draw in the zentangle style
The zentangle method is so simple to learn that even people who think they are completely lacking in creativity can master it. The stress of thinking, "I can’t draw at all," can be alleviated with a set of pre-made patterns, and you can always create something unique by combining tangles in different ways.
This kind of drawing is akin to a ritual: basic movements are repeated in a circle, leading to a state of relaxation and release of tension. The authors suggest applying the Zentangle technique to
- relax;
- raise your mood;
- calm your nerves;
- learn to live in the present moment and act consciously;
- improve concentration;
- develop your imagination;
- overcome the fear of a blank sheet of paper and enter a state of inspiration.
The authors recommend adding the Zentangle technique to psychotherapy as an extra tool when it’s required to address issues like:
- sleep disorders (you need to devote a few minutes to drawing every evening before going to bed);
- panic attacks;
- excessive aggression;
- low self-esteem;
- food and other addictions.
Of course, creating tangles won’t take the place of seeing a professional for people with severe psychological issues, but it can complement therapy.
Fight boredom and train your memory – draw in the doodling style
We usually resort to doodling when we are bored or when we are doing something that does not require much mental effort at the same time. To test how automatic doodling affects our ability to cope with the main task, scientists conducted an experiment. A group of 40 participants was asked to listen to a monotonous audio recording of a telephone message, where the caller talks about preparing for a party. The subjects were not warned that they would subsequently be asked to retell what they heard. Half of the group, while listening to the recording, colored abstract figures, the second did not receive such a task. When the participants were unexpectedly asked to tell what they remembered, the doodlers were able to reproduce 29% more information than those who did not draw anything.
Scientists have found that doodling improves focus. This method heightens our awareness of our surroundings by preventing boredom. When a task doesn’t require much effort, our attention gets scattered and our brain becomes lazy. Mechanical drawing puts mental strain on the brain, making it prickle and process information more quickly. However, researchers have found that doodling only helps with focus when the main task involves senses other than drawing, like hearing.
Do not rush to stop yourself if your hand reaches automatically for a pen and begins to scribble something on paper. Unconscious scribbles might aid your brain in deciphering crucial information or solving a challenging puzzle.
Adult coloring books, zentangle, and doodling are easy and soothing ways to decompress. People can focus, de-stress, and express themselves without feeling pressure to be perfect when they engage in these creative pursuits.
These activities are accessible to all, whether you’re coloring, filling in shapes, or drawing patterns. They promote mindfulness, which enables you to pause your hectic schedule and re-establish a mental connection.
Zentangle and doodling are great options if you’re looking for a relaxing, enjoyable pastime. Take out a pen or some colored pencils, find some quiet time, and indulge your creative side.
Adult coloring books, zentangle, and doodling are easy yet effective ways to decompress, relieve tension, and foster creativity. These activities are a well-liked form of self-expression and mindfulness because they facilitate focus, help quiet the mind, and offer a creative outlet. These methods are simple to learn and can improve your mental health, whether your goal is to explore your artistic side or decompress after a demanding day.