A spiritual release valve
And one particular kind of coloring book is sweeping Taiwan. Inside, they boast a variety of images all building on the same basic elements mixed and matched to form all kinds of variations and extrapolations, ultimately combining to create intricate, elegant pictures. While they may look complex, their origins are based on simplicity. This combination of complexity and simplicity is the essence of Zentangle®, and is an extension of the concepts behind Buddhist mandalas.
Zentangle began in America when Rick Roberts, a former Buddhist monk, was talking with artist Maria Thomas about her work illustrating a manuscript. She described the feelings she enjoyed while working, and when Roberts was struck by the similarity to meditation, the two decided to work together to develop a simple means of providing meditative relaxation and self-exploration to ordinary people in a way that fits with modern lifestyles. Zentangle teachers first teach students some basic shapes, and then encourage them to experiment with those shapes. The end results are as varied as the people drawing them, and as the students share and discuss their pieces with one another, they learn to appreciate that there is no “right” or “wrong” in art, and that each of us has an artist inside.
“Zentangle is a simple introductory approach to creativity. Each Zentangle is composed of smaller sections filled with shapes that are easy to repeat. That makes it easy to get into and to create amazing pieces with,” says certified Zentangle teacher Wei Yizhen.
Change through focus
Wei first discovered Zentangles in early 2012, and she was immediately intrigued by their potential for helping her to exercise her creativity and get her emotions settled. After a bit of research, she found that they’d been operating in the US for years. “Back then there was only one certified teacher in all of Taiwan, Laura Liu, and after I had the chance to take some classes with her, I fell completely in love with Zentangles,” says Wei. In the process of learning how to “tangle,” Wei found herself more and more drawn in by the philosophy behind them, and began considering going to the US to get certified as a teacher herself. “I was hoping that by getting certified I’d gain a better understanding of the concepts and philosophy involved and be better able to share the wonder of Zentangle with more people.”
“I used to be very serious and always worried about making mistakes,” she says, “but tangles helped me break free of that, since in the world of Zentangle there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ no ‘right’ or ‘wrong.’ Every picture is beautiful.” In this accepting space Wei felt safe to experiment and just enjoy creation. Gradually, she found herself changing: “Now I’m much more relaxed and much more accepting of myself. And because I’m more relaxed, my pieces are better able to represent what’s in my heart. It’s a real virtuous circle.”
Xiao Li, who discovered Zentangle through a corporate art course taught by Wei, says that he’d always believed he just didn’t have the artistic gift, but Wei’s passion and enthusiastic smile had a big impact on him. “That was one of the first times I really thought ‘Wow, those two hours flew by, and I still have so much I want to draw!’” Looking at his own pieces, Li was ecstatic. “It turns out I actually can draw beautiful pictures!” he says. When he brought them home, even his son thought they were amazing, “and now the two of us draw together.”
Everyone is an artist
Most people are similarly surprised by their first experience with tangles. Of course, the teachers also started out line by line, picture by picture, gradually building up the experience that enables them to create a relaxed environment while teaching. Through a few simple techniques, these teachers lead their students through the wonderful world of Zentangle.
“I remember how nervous I was before my first Zentangle class,” laughs another certified teacher, Jessie Kuo. “But once the class started, Laura [the teacher mentioned above] helped us all relax and learn in a stress-free environment.” As she created and taught more, Kuo experienced a similar cycle to Wei: “I don’t go into pictures with so much planned ahead anymore. Instead they just slowly grow as I draw whatever comes to mind, naturally evolving into a display of my own personal style.”
The joy of sharing
For Kuo, Zentangles have been a tool to record her own personal growth. On Facebook she runs a daily activity called “a tangle a day,” as well as sharing her own pieces and lessons from the day. In this way Kuo has been able not only to keep up the habit of drawing every day, maintaining the positive impacts, but also to entice her friends with images of all kinds of styles while also inspiring them to reflect. Sometimes, when she’s having an especially busy day, Kuo will even get messages asking if she’s going to be sharing a tangle that day.
Being so easy to start and to learn, tangles are a form of drawing that anyone can get into. The creative process is not only a way to show off your creative side, but also a chance to contemplate life and discover new possibilities. If you can apply all this to other parts of life, like managing your emotions, learning new things, or even just getting through work, there are wonderful benefits to potentially be enjoyed.
Whether as just a way to practice drawing, an emotional release valve, or a means for spiritual growth, Zentangle is capturing the imaginations of more and more Taiwanese.
The simple lines and repetitions of Zentangles combine to build complex works of art.
Zentangle is taking off in Taiwan, with over 100 Zentangle teachers already certified around the island, including Wei Yizhen (standing).
Tangles have become so popular that imported books on the subject have their own section in bookshops.
One stroke at a time, one sheet of paper at a time, Jessie Kuo can enter the world of Zentangle any time, any place. (photo by Liao Jingxian)
