I joined a friend’s 10-day group practice on Zentangles. A Zentangle is an image that’s formed by simple repeated patterns. You don’t have to be an artist to draw Zentangles, all you need is knowing how to draw a line, a square, a circle, triangle and some other simple shapes. Next, you combine them together to form some other new lines and shapes. It is truly an “everyone art”.

Drawing Zentangles helps you to relax your mind. When you are in a Zentangle drawing mode, your attention is on your hand, your pen and the shapes you are drawing. You live in the moment right there right then. It’s like meditation.

I didn’t know what to draw, so I picked some of my favorite things to start: Books and sunflowers. First, I outlined the items. Then, I filled the patterns into those outlines. I added some colors at the end.

Below is my 10-day journey:

Our group leader Qiqi sent daily instructions, so we had a theme every day.

We started with something really simple, like a whirl. I realized if I wanted to draw a good looking Zentangle, I needed to be very patient with every stroke — draw it slowly, finish the lines, close the loops.

On the second day, I added some colors following a pattern, from light to dark.

On the third day, I tried put shapes and patterns into a meaningful combination.

We enjoyed drawing leaves on the fourth day.

On the fifth day, we drew “gardens in our hearts”.

I love this feather I drew on the sixth day. It feels very fluffy.

Our seventh practice was a beautiful bird. I drew, instead, a phoenix.

Here’s a cute little “sheep girl” from my eighth day.

A water drop that reflects many great words to you, from my ninth day’s work.

A “Thank You” from this cutie kitty, on the tenth day.

Anyone likes to do this as well? Let’s share! For more info about Zentangles, check out zentangle.com.