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Let's Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!!!
In today's busy world, finding moments of peace and quiet can be a challenge. Zentangle drawing offers a sanctuary of serenity—a space where you can let go of your worries and immerse yourself in the joy of creating.
Today I'm teaching you how to draw a zentangle feather. This little project is SO easy! If you've never tried zentangling before, don't worry—I'm here to make it accessible and enjoyable for you, no matter what your skill level is. What's truly remarkable about this zentangle project is how beginner-friendly it is. If you've harbored a desire to dive into drawing but haven't taken the plunge yet, this project is FOR YOU because we're starting with a stencil! The rest is a series of EASY zentangle feather patterns you can follow along with as I show you what to do start to finish, step-by-step, in real-time. If you're an advanced drawing artist in the mood for a quick and easy project that's zero pressure- you've found it! Let's get started...
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If you're new to my drawing channel on YouTube or my philosophy on art supplies in general, I'm a HUGE FAN of using whatever you have on hand. I don't care what you use to create your drawings with.
What I care about is that you just draw. Please don't feel obligated to buy anything new. If you ARE looking to add some drawing supplies to your stash, and want recommendations, here's what I used... Zentangle SuppliesHot Press Watercolor Paper (You only need to use watercolor paper if you want to add watercolor like I do at the end of today's project. If you prefer to keep your zentangle feather drawing project in black and white, use cardstock, Bristol, or a scrap piece of notebook or computer paper). Large Feather Stencil (I had one lying around in a drawer - just look this up on Amazon, or give freehanding it a try while you watch the video! It's a fairly simple shape). Any old pencil (I think I used a mechanical one because that's what I had nearby). Fineliners and/or Sharpies in a variety of thicknesses or nibs (these are my favorite pigment-based and NON WATERSOLUBLE fineliners) Derwent Inktense Watercolors (this set is great to use with alcohol or pigment based markers like I'm using in today's video because it won't smear your zentangling).
If you're a drawing beginner, or have seriously never drawn a single thing before- I suggest you lean into stencils and feel NO GUILT over it. Stencils can be an amazing way to start a drawing project. They're also an awesome tool for providing a little dose of inspiration!
I suggest you hop over to Amazon and just start looking up "Large Feather Stencil." There are TONS to choose from! Pick the one that speaks to you most, grab a sheet of drawing paper (I like this one if you need a recommendation), some fineliners (I love these, but you can totally grab a sharpie or black pen!), and let's get started.
One of my tricks to add greater interest and sophistication to a zentangle drawing (or ANY drawing for that matter!), is to add line variation throughout my piece. The easiest way to do that is by using fineliners (or sharpies!) in a variety of sizes.
Personally, I love to outline the main shape of my drawing with a thicker nib (fatter marker), as shown above. I also use my thicker marker to section the larger drawing off into little segments where each zentangle pattern will go. As you'll see in the video, I used a straight edge for this - not because I care about being perfect, but because it took the pressure off! Today I'm all about embracing the short-cuts and drawing aids :)
When I'm ready to start adding some zentangle feather patterns inside each little section I've created, I switch to a thinner marker with a smaller nib (from my Molotow set of pigment-based, NOT WATER REACTIVE ink fineliners). I feel like this helps the viewers' eye to discern the difference between outline and inner patterns. A smaller nib also makes it easier to create more intricate zentangle patterns if that's what you're in the mood for.
As you'll see in the video, I LOVE to keep my zentangle patterns super simple on purpose. I feel like easy zentangle patterns look really striking and sometimes even BETTER from the really busy, intricate ones. To me, sometimes less is more with zentangle art. This approach might help you feel less overwhelmed for this and any other zen doodle project you create.
If you find yourself struggling for new ways to fill in the sections with fun zentangle patterns, consider simply adding more thickness, or color, to the patterns you've already created.
You can ALSO add interest to your drawing as a whole by adding something in the background of your focal point. I decided to add some circles to mine along with a bit of loose watercolor to mix things up! HOT TIP: If you want to follow me and add watercolor to your zentangle feather drawing, it's extremely important to work on watercolor paper. I recommend HOT PRESS watercolor paper for this project because it's smoother for your markers.
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Karen CampbellFounder of Awesome Art School. Mixed Media Artist. Author of 18 Instructional Art Books! Archives
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"Karen is flipping hilarious and she's very real...I like the way she teaches in a way that really gives you confidence, whether you're a beginner or advanced there's always something new to learn!"
- Elizabeth W. |
What Fans Are SayingKaren, you are absolutely fabulous! You make me feel like I can draw anything. I have recently retired and finally have the time to do some of the art that I have loved since I was in school. I am really at the beginning of my art journey and I hope to learn as much as I can. Thank you for all you do. |
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