Zentangles – Mindful Art Club

Zen Doodles: 3 Week Course Online

We are happy to be launching a new online course with Devon Recovery Learning Community.

Zen doodling is a kind of meditative drawing practice which can be used to easily calm your mind. Zen doodles are just repeating patterns; no artistic talent is required.

Zen doodling combines meditation and art. Learn to practice relaxation exercises and art for self-care. The session includes five minutes of guided mindfulness, a simple art project that can be done at home just with felt tip pens, and the opportunity to chat while we are making the zen doodles and to relax.

In this course you will create zen doodles while learning about the philosophy and benefits of zen doodling:

Improves mental health
Improves social connection
Teaches new skills (relaxation exercises and art for self- care).

We start with a ‘check in’ to see how everyone is feeling. There is no obligation to speak if you don’t want to. We end the group with a ‘check out’ to share how everyone is feeling after making zen doodles.

This online, three week course will start on Thursday 4th March, then the 11th and 18th March.

Booking is essential and places are limited: Zen Doodles Book Now

You may also like: Create Your Recovery.

Not ready for an online course? Try zen doodling at home instead, with our free mindful colouring bundle.

How to Make Zentangles

Zentangles® are a kind of meditative drawing; creating abstract, repetitive patterns, without worrying what the patterns look like. This process slows down the breathing, calms the mind, and helps you to focus on the present moment. It’s a therapeutic way of drawing that offers peace of mind, and is accessible to all.

The method was created in 2003 by an American couple called Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. You can find out more about them at www.zentangle.com The Zentangle teaching materials and tools are covered by copyright and “Zentangle” is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc.

You will need a piece of plain A4 paper and a black pen.
Draw six boxes to put your Zentangles into.
Inside the first box, draw a line to make a “string.” The string separates your square into sections, in which you draw your tangles. A string can be any shape.
Take your pen for a walk, and draw random patterns inside the shapes. Try shading different areas.
On an A4 page you might have six different boxes full of Zentangles.

There are eight steps in the original Zentangle method, which you can read about on their website.

What is a Zentangle and why would you draw one? Watch Emma explain here:

Watch Peggy draw Zentangles here:

https://www.facebook.com/MindfulArtClub/videos/660535961437055/

Join in with the Facebook Live session here:

https://www.facebook.com/MindfulArtClub/videos/196899558173904/

Skip to 25 minutes in to watch the part about Zentangles.

Alternatively, instead of drawing in squares, you could incorporate zentangle style patterns into your own drawing, as with the example above created by Cara H, a client at one of our weekly groups.

Now we’d love to hear from you. Have you tried drawing zentangles? How does it make you feel? Leave us a comment below.

How to Get Mindfulness in to YOUR Workplace

Do you, or your colleagues suffer from stress?

Do you work in healthcare or support work?

Could your clients benefit from more mindfulness?

Let us bring Mindful Art Club into your workplace, treatment service or social club!

Last week we enjoyed bringing Mindful Art Club to the TLC group at The Brook Inn. In this case TLC stands for Tea, Laughter and Company. Every Thursday afternoon at The Brook, in Plympton St Maurice, the landlord John, and his staff offer a free cup of tea, some biscuits and like-minded company to anyone who lives alone, or feels lonely. There is sometimes a guest speaker, a game of cards, or a sing along.

We offered this friendly crowd of around 25 people, a short mindfulness meditation and an easy art project; drawing zentangle patterns. Many people there had not tried drawing for years, and had never tried meditation.

That was really relaxing – I almost fell asleep!
A lady at TLC

There was a lot of chatting and laughter while everyone had a go at doing some artwork. We had so much fun, and were very surprised to receive a round of applause at the end of the session!

Emma and Peggy can bring Mindful Art Club to your treatment service, workplace or residential home. Drop in to one of their existing classes to find out about this new way to manage anxiety and stress.