Respect Zentangle

“Nature” | 2023

8 x 9 inches, Ink marker on Paper

A Zentangle is a piece created with a Zen-like style of repetitive patterns and shapes. I wanted my own Zentangle to focus on Respect, so I chose a leaf for its subject. Using nature to symbolize respect and connection, I tried to convey the Zen-like qualities of nature and the mutual respect between nature and humans. I used leaf, tree, and circular patterns to match this theme. I used spiral lines to replicate wind and simulate the leaf blowing through it. I kept the shapes circular and tried to avoid straight lines in the patterns, except for the patterns above the top and bottom of the leaf that I thought resembled light. Dots take up most of the drawing; the ones on the side are vertical and the ones in the middle are diagonal.

There are shapes made within the dots slightly hidden by their surroundings that make circles and leaves. In the corners is another line pattern with spirals at the end that I thought resembled curled-up plants. All of the patterns outside the leaf are mirrored, so if they are present on one side, they will be present in around the same place on the other, mirroring the symmetry of nature. Inside the leaf, I used leaf-like patterns along with heart shapes to further emphasize respect. The only colors present in the drawing are black and white to bring focus to the patterns. There is very little negative space in the drawing, with most of the paper being occupied with a pattern.