The Doodle
Ranked #155 in Arts & Design, #1,640 overall | Donates to KIVA
Or.... the Zentangle, the Zendoodle, the Zendala or maybe the Xen Tangle?
Doodling is relaxing, it's enjoyable, it's portable. it's fun and it's very, very easy. Anyone who can hold a pen can learn to doodle with intent.
Okay this looks complicated, a super doodle perhaps, but it's simple once broken down into baby steps. On this deliberately delicious doodle delight page, I'll show you how to draw a doodle to be proud of!
The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.
Tags: Zentangle, how to Zenangle, Zentangle ideas, Zentangle patterns, Zendala, Zen doodle, doodle ideas, doodle art, drawing doodles, Sakura Pigma Micron, pen and ink.
Contents at a Glance
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Zen-Doodling - An Active Meditation
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Materials Required
Before you begin to doodle
No there isn't.
You need pens, paper and pencils. Oh and an eraser can come in useful too.
As you don't need very much to create these wonderful... er... creations, then you might as well get the best. Yes? These items below are the ones I recommend you try.
Sakura Pigma Micron Pens. Thes pens last for ages. They come in the perfect nib sizes for your doodle doodles. They don't bleed and they dry fast so no irritating smudging.
Smooth watercolor paper. A small watercolor pad like the Moleskine Pocket is a great product for doodling. There are 60 sheets of good quality watercolor paper and they are all detachable so that you can take your favorites out and frame them.
Good quality pencils like the Faber Castell Graphite Pencil Set will last you a long time.
Create a doodle template
Start a doodle grid
Grab your pencil and paper and draw two wavy parallel lines any where and any way you like. Something like this:There's no need to be over-particular just go with the flow.
My paper is about 4" x 6". I wouldn't go much bigger than this to start with, although you could go down to 3" x 3"
Double your Doodle
Draw another
Now draw another two parallel lines but don't draw over the top of the first set.Like so:
You will find that 'drawing under' is a common technique; a very simple way to make a design look more complex than it really is.
Grow the Doodle!
Keep going....
Make sure you don't go over the tops of any other sets of lines. Fill the page with these wobbly grid lines until you have created your doodle template.Now you can see that there are many irregular shaped 'negative spaces' between the grid lines. Start to fill a space with some doodles. This time use a pen. Below are some mini doodle examples you can copy. Feel free to make up your own or steal from someone else. There are more here.
Doodle Ideas
or 'Mini Doodles'
Try to make your pen stroke deliberate and neat (unlike mine above). Don't rush or you'll be missing the whole point of this activity - it's meant to be relaxing.
Scroll down to see my work-in-progress.
Geo-Tangle
by guest artist KNM
There are so many elements in this Zentangle-inspired artwork. Do click on the image to visit KNM's blog, Xplore & Xpress
Need a Doodle Book?
Try this Zentangle 'How To'
Doodle Formula
Amazon Price: $10.02 (as of 02/17/2012)
Once you start doodling, you won't be able to stop!
Doodle over to Amazon and get Inspired
Zentangles in the UK
Deliberately Doodling
Doodle to music
This is when I like to have some relaxing, tinkly music on, or perhaps an interesting radio program playing in the background. It's amazing how much your brain can absorb while you are doodling. See My Doodle Grow
It is thought (by me) that a Daily Doodle keeps the stress away!
Keep filling in your doodle spaces. You don't have to do it all in one go. I keep one near my laptop and while I'm .waiting for a big page to load or listening to a news bulletin (okay, not terribly relaxing, I know) or when my wireless connection goes kaput, I turn to my doodle and fill in another section. It's less fattening than chocolate. 
All Doodle Done?
Not quite
Now all the negative spaces have been filled, it's time to focus on those gridlines. You can leave the pencil lines in place if you like, or erase them as I chose to do (see photo sequence). If you wanted to, you could leave it right now as it is - I think it looks pretty cool - but filling in those grids are very satisfying. I've given some examples below. Gridline Doodles
These are just a few ideas - I'm sure you can invent better ones!
Be creative. How about lettering along all your grids - a short poem or some inspiring words? It's also a good way to copyright your work by adding your name.
The smudged one is made just using pencil to add shadow and then rubbing with a finger tip, tortillion or paper stub.
Zentangle Shading
It's a Done Doodle!
Once you're done, make sure you erase all unwanted guide lines and then use your pencil - I find HB is best for this - to add some strategic shading.
And it's finished!
I have added a photo sequence below so you can see how to create this step-by-step doodle design.
Zentangle Mandala: Heart Zendala
by KNM
Click on the image to be taken to Xplore & Xpress.
Doodle Doodle Dooo!
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curious0927
Feb 12, 2012 @ 10:42 am | delete
- I agree with Sheila, Eye Candy! Bookmarked for my return. I have a doodle book and the micro pens...will try the wavy lines first. Love it! Blessed!
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dave alan
Dec 4, 2011 @ 1:30 pm | delete
- amazing doodles you are a great artist.
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SheilaSchnauzies
Nov 20, 2011 @ 7:58 am | delete
- OK, I'm back for more of your lovely "eye candy!" I think you have me hooked! I also wanted to thank you for blessing and liking my Wild Rose Crochet Snowflake lens! Very much appreciated! But back to you, there is something about your artwork that makes my brain happy. I was tickled, when I read here about "drawing under," to know there is a name for what I used to sit for hours doing - drawing endless ribbons, going over and under and in between one another, and then covering them with bouquets of flowers. I'm not even close to the same league as you, but you are so right about how relaxing this activity is! Keep up the amazing work!
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tokyonights7
Oct 31, 2011 @ 11:00 am | delete
- Fascinating tips! You've got a real artistic flair. :)
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tandemonimom
Aug 28, 2011 @ 9:41 am | delete
- Love this step-by-step on how to doodle. Who knew it could be so very artistic?
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RecipePublishing
Aug 21, 2011 @ 7:43 am | delete
- Great for my kids.
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letsflycheaper
Aug 1, 2011 @ 11:58 am | delete
- i like it.. 2 thumbs up!
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charmilbrettdotcom
Jul 4, 2011 @ 11:21 am | delete
- oh, my, g. I am sooooo inspired to do this! Thank you!
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myshelle01
Jun 17, 2011 @ 12:17 am | delete
- This is the second of your lenses I have read,reckon I am hooked!
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rhapsody by kunstkramkiste
May 23, 2011 @ 1:04 pm | delete
- Beautiful!!! I really like it.
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TheRaggedEdge
Zen and Ink
Collected Zentangle and Art Journal pages. This page is the hub of all my growling collection of tutorials, ideas, examples and, hopefully, encouragement to all other 'non-artists' out there.
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