{"id":12053,"date":"2020-02-25T11:10:32","date_gmt":"2020-02-25T10:10:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amsketching.com\/?p=12053"},"modified":"2020-09-25T15:11:31","modified_gmt":"2020-09-25T13:11:31","slug":"mandalas-zentangles-and-zendoodles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/annettemorris.art\/fr\/mandalas-zentangles-and-zendoodles\/","title":{"rendered":"Mandalas, ZenTangles and ZenDoodles"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Feeling Zen?<\/h2>\n

Quite often the first thing someone says to me is \u201cI can\u2019t draw\u201d. I hear it all<\/em> the time!
\nIt isn\u2019t true, of course, but most people say it with a hint of sadness, because drawing, painting or sketching is something they would like to \u2018be able\u2019 to do.<\/p>\n

One of the many benefits of doing something creative, whatever your opinion of your ability, is how it helps you practice mindfulness – without even trying.<\/p>\n

Minutes will drift by quietly whilst your senses are absorbed in something as simple as putting lines on paper.<\/p>\n

For this reason alone, colouring for adults is now very much \u2018\u00e0 la mode\u2019. There are thousands of colouring sheets and books you can download and buy, and even apps for your electronics that allow you to paint by numbers!<\/p>\n

You can however, skip the download on Amazon. Here are 3 popular and mindful ways of \u2018drawing\u2019 that have their roots in meditation and spiritual beliefs – and also perfect if you truly believe you cannot draw!<\/p>\n

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Mandala<\/h3>\n

A mandala is a religious pattern developed by Buddhist monks. Created in colourful sand, the pattern would be elaborated and then when complete, brushed into a bag as a meditation on impermanence. Mandalas are great tools for mindfulness and can also increase self-awareness. For this reason, many different cultures around the world use mandalas in their spiritual practices.<\/p>\n

When you create your own mandala, it can be a highly enriching personal experience, if you want it to be. You can explore shapes, colours and patterns to represent anything from your current state of mind or a state of mind that you would like to achieve.<\/p>\n

Whether you embrace the spiritual aspect of this or not, your mandala will be uniquely yours.<\/p>\n

So how do you get started and what do you need?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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  1. Paper (with a smooth surface ideally), pencil, ruler, ink pen (optional) coloured pencils\/paints\/markers (optional), compass (optional)<\/li>\n
  2. Start by pinpointing the centre of the mandala and then measure 3 points equally from this, increasing the distance gradually each time. Do this horizontally, vertically, and then diagonally. This will give you the points to connect and create your \u2018circles\u2019. Don\u2019t worry if the lines of the circle are not ‘perfect’.<\/li>\n
  3. Start to complete your mandala with patterns, circles, symbols and shapes. These are entirely up to you – the only important thing is that they are repeated, it is this repetition that is a key element of a mandala.<\/li>\n
  4. With your lines in place you can add colour to your design, even watercolour – there are no rules. You\u2019ll find there are some truly beautiful designs to be created.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n