I know all of you out there are getting fascinated with doodles - especially Zentangles.
But did you know these are actually a lot easier than they look? And that they don't have to just be black on white (or white on black). And that you can doodle them inside any open image - even alphabets?
Use any type of pen that you feel comfortable with - something with a fine or medium point is best - and it needs to be waterproof (or you might smudge). Ordinary ball point pens are fine, Speedballs, also gel pens (try sparkly or pearl ones on dark card) and there's nothing wrong with a few guide lines drawn lightly in pencil (see above) which you can rub out afterwards.
Great links on
this page, showing lots of techniques including these fabulous letters - by
Joanne Fink, who has some really great YouTube tutorials. Also work taking a look at is the
Zentangle board on Pinterest, which shows hundreds of samples plus links to invididual boards. Here's a really good
tutorial page (scroll down) on
Squidoo, and another on
Tangle Patterns.
Here's how to get started:
A word of advice when using Sharpies, Copics, ProMarkers or any other type of alcohol marker:
- they do produce fumes, so be careful not to breathe in when you're hunched over your work
- alcohol-based markers do bleed through paper, so make sure you have a good quality paper (Reeves and Rowney produce pads specially for alcohol-based pens - look for Manga pads, which the Manga artists use) or go for a smooth surface heavier weight card or paper, at least 100gsm.
- Work on top of scrap paper, so if your pens do bleed through, it won't affect anything other artwork (particularly if you like journalling!)
Don't forget: you can stamp a shape or an image and use that as a base for a doodle or zentangle. Just make sure the image has some open space you can draw inside. Try alphabets, cars, trees, flowers... so many possibilities!
Happy doodling...
