05 | February | 2015 | idealisticrebel

There is a new art medium that helps artists to focus and to get into the zone. It is a way of combining meditation and creativity together and it opens you up to increase your artistic flow.

“Keep creating and it will change your life.” —Beckah Krahula

This medium is called Zentangle and it totally combines your creativity and your meditation. There are not a lot of supplies needed. The process of creating a Zentangle teaches us to become comfortable letting your instincts out and following them where they would lead you. It also teaches you to see your work from every angle. You learn to acknowledge all the possibilities in your work. Not having a planned goal can take the stiffness or rigidness out of your art. Once you begin to tangle, you can just let go.

They say to do small projects. They call them tiles and they should not be any bigger than a tile. The official and real Zentangles are the size of a ceramic tiles. These are the rules, but since I don’t do well with rules, I do small ones and large ones. Whatever I feel like doing.

Tiepolo tiles are the official and original Zentangle tiles. You can tell if they are real because there is a red block on the back of the tile with a Zentangle inside of it. It is also recommended that you use a heavy paper. Many artists use a black tile for the contrast it provides.They also recommend a sketch book to practice every day. I like doing mine in a sketch book. Tangles can also be used in sketches to increase the beauty of the scene.

Because this is a meditative art form it is good to practice it every day. Many artists will do a Zentangle to sort of warm up. To get into the right place and let the creative energy just flow out. Then you can go on to your regular medium completely focused and ready to just let go. Some people use tangles as a form of self-expression or to unwind at the end of a stressful day.

I have found that I like to do them to prepare for working on a painting and simply as a meditative exercise. It calms and de-stresses. The sheer fun of just moving your arm on the paper and freely allowing your emotions to come to the surface is therapeutic.

I find that this form of art leads to inner peace, compassion and a positive outlook. What a wonderful way to change the structure of your day. And I can still meditate and I can feel love and joy just radiate from my soul.

Allow your creativity to lead you farther and farther down the path of your life’s journey. I bet you will see a person smiling at you from the mirror more often.