Calm and Creative Doodling: Zentangling

Zentangling is back! Due to popular demand we have a further 6 sessions please see back in the Creative Zone for details and booking information (19th April to 24th May)

Zentangling was held in April-May-June 2021

This is a creative doodling session especially prepared by Mindfulness Skills4Life for Footsteps Festival 2021.

Ok, let’s get the big question out of the way: “I’m not arty so I can’t do this, I’m not coming!” If you can write your name, this enjoyable, fun BEGINNERS creative session is absolutely for you

In these workshops you will meet your facilitator: Dr. Sandra McCutcheon, and share a little hello to all our new friends in the session. Sandra will offer a short introduction to ‘Zentangling’: which involves using repeating and contrasting patterns, lines, dots and shapes. We will see that the individual patterns, called tangles, can be pieced together to make a wonderful piece of bespoke art!

Zentangling and creative doodling is for everyone! It is relaxing, convenient, good for your well-being and is also an easy to access mindfulness-based activity.

Sessions 1 and 2: Exploring: we will explore ‘creating waves’ with some light and flowing tangle patterns. This free-flow session we will see what it is like to use, simper repeating patterns of straight lines, shapes, squiggles and dots placed carefully and mindfully in simply drawn and placed square-like outline. A lovely session of us exploring creative and calm spaces.

Sessions 3 and 4: Growing: we will explore making a little card with a Zentangle pattern on the front. You can customise your card to say ‘thanks’, ‘hello’, ‘how are you’ – or something else of your choosing. The tangles we will use will be a mix of dark and light patterns, more busy and others spacious. A super fun session were we and our creativity can grow.

Sessions 5 and 6: Connecting: we will take a little dive into ‘Zentangle Borders’ and explore tangling round the edges of a sheet of paper – be it rectangular / square or even a round shape. Borders are brilliant and perhaps you can see your own little project emerging: maybe a border as a photo frame or a border that can be used to frame a lovely hand written letter. A lovely session where will explore connection with moments, memories or those that we care for.

Whilst this is our wish and intentions, we will create the necessary space for each mini project. It may be, therefore, that things change a little and we adapt. None the less we will have a lovely time together, with a cuppa, each other and our pens.

As a group you will:

• Understand what Zentangling is
• Browse a catalogue of demo patterns
• Practice drawing some gorgeous tangles
• Have helpful encouragement along the way
• Be directed towards some online material showcasing other tangles for you to try

As a group you will create pieces of artwork:

• Prepare the outline for your final artwork
• Create the individual spaces within your outline drawing
• Start filling in the space using a range of beautiful tangle patterns
• Be amazed and proud of yourself and your gorgeous creation