Drawing with gel pens is an interesting activity. It does not require special artistic talents and skills, only perseverance and accuracy of movements are important. And the drawings are intriguing.

Drawing theme: "Cat under the stars." They conceived a simple cat, but after looking at the result, they concluded: the cat, of course, is not simple, but fabulous. A preschooler, even a preparatory group, will not master such a drawing alone. Our cat under the stars is drawn by an adult and a 6.5-year-old child. And for schoolchildren, a picture in independent execution is quite capable of itself.

How and on what to draw with gel pens, where to start, you can read in detail in this article. So…

Drawing a cat with a black gel pen

The cat will be black and white, but if desired, it is easy to color it with colored pens or felt-tip pens.

Sequence of work

1. We draw a sketch with a simple hard pencil with a thin line, without pressing and leaving no furrows on the paper. The pencil is erased when drawing is completed. The sketch shows the main details of the drawing: a sleeping cat, a bird, a tree sprout, the sun and the moon. Stars will be added later. As you can see, all the figures are stylized. Any of them is able to portray each.

2. Outline the main details of the drawing with a black gel pen. The usual sequence is from top to bottom, so as not to smudge dry lines. In our drawing, it is broken, because we really wanted to decorate the cat first. This is not essential for drawing in the right hemisphere way. We just flipped the painting "upside down" and continued to work. A muzzle, paws with claws are drawn. Design whatever patterns you like. The question arose: why the moon and the sun are present at the same time. This is understandable: the country is fabulous. They wanted to draw a tree, but it turned out to be a sprout in order to reduce the amount of work for the child.

3. We continue to decorate the cat and the tree. The tree will look better if you draw circles instead of dots. Our leaf circles turned out to be small, more like the dots into which we turned them.

4. The picture must be limited in space by a frame. We took the simplest zigzag, complete with dots inside and outside. We close the corners of the picture with arcs. Artist Dmitry Rybin, engaged in "energy" drawing, claims that energy leaves the picture through the corners. We draw the starry sky. Stars are large 6-7 rays.

5. In the real sky, stars of different sizes. We have the same, so we add small stars like snowflakes from three crossed lines. Even smaller stars can be scattered over the entire remaining unoccupied surface. Draw them with dots. Our picture is quite light and transparent. And if you put down the dots-asterisks with a black gel pen, then it will be night without any coloring.

The picture is ready. When drawing with gel pens, you need to make sure that even the smallest dots and details do not overlap and merge. All the irregularities, mistakes that children's drawings (and not only children's drawings) sin on are less important. They somehow hide behind the amount of small details. Something very cute comes out of a kind of crooked and oblique.

Zentangle, Doodling and Zendoodling drawing techniques.

Getting to know drawing techniques like Zentangle, Doodling and Zendoodling

I really liked the drawing technique, it is especially good (in my opinion) for those creative natures who want to express themselves in drawing, but do not have classical skills.

Here, in order to achieve success, you need a lot of imagination and creativity and a minimum of drawing technique, although spatial imagination is still useful to us. The pictures are unusual and exciting, they can be looked at and studied for a long time.

Unfortunately, I did not find information about these techniques in Russian, so I translated from English sources (do not judge strictly my translation).

A Zentangle is a small piece of art made with a fine-tip pen and graphite to highlight light and shadow. It is compiled in a certain order. Take a square of watercolor paper and place 4 dots in each corner with a pencil about half an inch from the border of the sheet. Connect these points with a pencil border, which can be either straight or curved (irregular). Inside the resulting frame, "lines" are drawn with a pencil, the so-called crazy lines. This divides the drawing area into sectors of various sizes and specific profiles. Take a fine fountain pen and fill the form with a variety of repeating patterns. When you've filled in the gaps, the pencil lines are erased and then shading is added to give the Zentangle its shape.

If your drawing doesn't follow these guidelines, then it's not a Zentangle. Zentangle is an abstract pattern and can be viewed from any angle. If it has a recognizable image, such as a face or eyes or an animal, it is not a Zentangle. However, it may well be a stylized Zentangle or ZIA.

Doodle (translated as doodle) is a focused drawing made while the person's attention is occupied with something else. Doodles are simple drawings that may have specific representational meanings or may simply be abstract shapes.

Stereotypical drawing examples are found in the school notebook, often in the margins, done by students when they daydream or lose interest during class. Other common examples of drawing are done during long telephone conversations, with pen and paper handy.

Popular views include cartoon versions, images of teachers or schoolmates, famous television or comic characters, fictional creatures, landscapes, geometric shapes and patterns, textures, banners with legends, and animation scenes made to sequence on different pages of a book or notebook.

Zendoodling is a cross between Zentangle art and Doodling. Zendoodles are often free-form and have an abstract look, sometimes with splashes of color.

It's not strictly called Zentangling because it doesn't use the "string" method, nor does it require black and white.
Zendoodles are created using black ink on any type of colored background, not necessarily white paper. It is also allowed to use watercolors, pencils, chalk, markers, etc. at your discretion.

Zentangle is a simple and fun way to create beautiful graphics using repeating elements and ornaments. Almost everyone can use it. This activity develops attention and creativity, and also perfectly cheers up. Zentangle is a method known all over the world, it is used by people of different ages and with different interests.

This technique does not require complex materials. For work you will need paper, pencil (for the initial drawing) and a gel black pen (liner).

Liners are pens, but with water-based ink, so they can draw a fine, beautiful line. They are convenient because there are liners of different thicknesses on sale. Thin lines are suitable for detailed drawings, bold lines are suitable for large planes. Liners are sold at any stationery store.

The advantage of the zentangle technique is that you can not be afraid to make a mistake and make an uneven line. So you have a great opportunity to draw right away without a pencil.

To make it easier for you to learn the zentangle technique, I will add a few ornaments that you can use in your drawings. Most of them I came up with myself.

Do you want to create a small zentangle masterpiece? Then let's go! Today we draw animals.

How to draw a zentangle fish

1. First of all, let's think about placing the fish on paper. Light planes (ovals) denote the body, tail and fins of the future fish.

2. Now we refine the contour of the body of the fish, draw the fins and tail. At this stage, you can also finish the face of the fish: plump lips and eyes.

3. The fish is ready! It's really not that hard, is it? Now divide the body, fins and tail of the fish into strips with lines. Why, you ask? On each of these strips will be placed a special ornament - You will invent it yourself, or choose from my examples.

4. When the pencil drawing is completely ready, circle the outline with a black pen or liner. After that, you can safely proceed to coloring the fish using the zentangle technique. Let's start with the smallest fin. Decorate each strip with a different original ornament.

Pay attention! It is not necessary to exactly repeat the ornaments that I drew. Add originality and your own personality to the drawing. You can change the order of ornaments, invent your own, etc.

It is important to know! Some ornaments can be repeated several times-it's even good.

Pay attention! Some ornaments can be made darker, while others-lighter. This difference is possible due to the different density, or thickness of the lines. It is important to alternate light and dark ornaments for contrast so that the pattern does not turn out to be too light or dark.

6. If the fins and tail are ready, move on to drawing the body of the fish. Decorate each stripe with an exclusive ornament!

Advice. Do not be afraid to fantasize and make mistakes, this gives the work a special personality. Try to draw all the ornaments without a pencil, just with a black pen, so you will gain courage in drawing and you will quickly develop your creative abilities.

7. At this stage, we move on to the face. Make it a little lighter than the body and fins - then the border of the body and face will be clearly visible.

8. Congratulations! You have mastered Zentangle for beginners perfectly. The fish is ready! Now you can finish the details of the environment: air bubbles in the water, algae, sand and stones. Do not forget that the background must also be made in this technique so that the picture looks harmonious.

How to Draw an Owl Zentangle Step by Step

1. First of all, on clean paper, lightly mark a circle that will be the body of an owl. Divide the circle with two auxiliary lines: the middle line of the body and the line of the eyes. These lines will help you better navigate the drawing.

2. Draw the contour of the bird's body: slightly narrowed at the top, wide in the middle and very narrow at the bottom. Draw a triangular tail with a rounded tip from below and small ears on the head, a bit like horns.

3. At this stage, we move on to drawing the face. Draw the owl with huge round eyes so that it can see well at night, and a triangular beak between the eyes. Don't forget the wings. Lightly mark where they will be located on the right and left sides.

4. At this stage, draw the wings in detail, highlighting three planes in them, similar to feathers. Also add feathers on the tail and ears. Don't forget the little paws. Draw a branch for the owl so that she has something to sit on.

5. Now it remains to add details. Highlight the face area around the eyes and beak. And in the other part of the body, which will be the body, draw semicircular feathers.

6. Now outline the outline with a black pen or liner and move on to the ornaments. I started to draw an owl with wings and ears.

7. Now you can draw feathers on the tail and eyes. Make the small pupil darker, and add a light ornament around. For example, I chose lines with a circle at the end for the eyes - such an ornament is somewhat reminiscent of natural ornaments in the eyes of a person.

Near the pupils themselves, make the lines a little thicker and darker in order to highlight the look well. And the closer to the edge, the more you leave the paper white. Also paint the beak.

8. At this stage, paint the feathers of the body. There are many of them, so you will have to try. But the result is worth it. Don't forget that you can use your ornaments.

9. The drawing is almost ready! It remains only to finish the ornaments near the eyes. Make them lighter than the feathers of the body. However, near the eyes, let the lines be thicker and darker, this will highlight their outline well.

Congratulations! The owl is ready! It remains to decorate the branch, and finish the fantastic leaves.

How to learn to draw zentangle and doodling?

If you have not yet tried to draw in the zentangle or doodling techniques that are popular today, then it's time to learn them.

Let you not create real pictures from drawings, but you will definitely have an occupation that you will turn to if necessary to throw away the accumulated negativity, think about something good and beautiful.

This article contains information about zentangle and doodling drawing techniques. You will not only learn when and who first came up with the idea of ​​filling a white sheet with simple but spectacular patterns, and how drawing techniques differ, but you will also be able to develop your hidden abilities.

What is zentangle and doodling?

The zentangle technique has long been adopted by people of creative professions to create amazing and bewitching drawings, fill the pages of notebooks, sketchbooks.

Interesting patterns are used even by art therapists during their trainings. The patterns drawn on the cards with a gel pen can be seen on the Internet, or you can create wonderful drawings yourself.

Advantages of drawing in zentangle and doodling techniques:

• drawing is seen as a way to meditate
• you can take a break from pressing problems for a while
• see familiar things with fresh eyes
• the opportunity to reconfigure and be inspired by new projects
• is an excellent remedy for insomnia
• way to boost self esteem
• drawing uncomplicated patterns calms, relieves stress
• a way to develop the hardness of the hand, eye, improve handwriting
• increases attention and develops fine motor skills

The photo below shows spectacular black and white and color patterns drawn using the zentangle technique.

So, what are beautiful works of art in miniature?

Zentangle (zentangle)- these are the drawings that are created unconsciously while waiting, or just to relax, calm down.

Having studied some features of drawing patterns, you can not just drive a pen over a sheet, but transfer unique abstractions onto white paper squares.

Zentangle drawings are characterized by repetitive motifs. Zentangle technique got its name in 2006 in the USA from two words:

• "zen" is one of the Buddhist sects
• "tangl" means confusion, interweaving

Dudling- these are the very scribbles that people of different ages do so well: from small to large. Drawing in the technique of doodling consists of simple shapes and curved lines.

In this technique, you can start drawing without any knowledge or skills. After all, the main thing that helps to create an interesting pattern is the ability to act intuitively.

Drawing in the zentangle technique is different in that its implementation requires a significant concentration of attention. Draw patterns on square cards, whose size 9x9 cm.

Cards can be cut out of thick paper, or you can buy ready-made ones in an art store.

Zentangle can be drawn in a notebook by drawing a sheet into squares with sides of 9x9 cm

You can draw a regular sheet of paper into squares. Each square contains a separate composition. There is another option for making drawings: several small ones are drawn in a large square.

Curved lines inside the squares define the boundaries of future patterns and shapes, combining them into one composition.

In each pattern, it is necessary to highlight and show the shaded area. Shadows and highlights in the drawings will emphasize depressions, create the illusion of three-dimensional patterns, and help make an unfamiliar world attractive. Tonal contrasts will make the world recognizable.

Pattern examples:

Zentangle drawing for relaxation, inspiration and pleasure

Zentangle drawings are what we draw on paper, sitting at a meeting, at a lecture, during a protracted telephone conversation. Doodles and dashes help not to lose concentration, to overcome drowsiness.

With emotional exhaustion, fatigue, a marker, felt-tip pen or an ordinary pen will distract you from pressing problems: you will start creating without thinking about anything. mental energy at such moments is not wasted, and therefore the information received continues to be processed and assimilated.

A few squares with patterns turn into an interesting finished work and it does not require any special skills in the field of drawing.

Today, zentangle or doodling elements can be seen on various decorative elements. Strange and intricate figures are combined into bizarre surreal stories.

What is the meaning of meditation while drawing in the zentangle technique?

• To make the drawing beautiful, you need to be able to focus on the moment “here and now”. And this is possible only if you are completely immersed in the drawing process.
• The mechanical movements of the hand on the paper eventually become conscious.
• Spontaneity is gradually replaced by thoughtful composition.

Zentangle and doodling techniques

There are certain rules for zentangle patterns:

• The pattern is done in black and white colors.
• the pattern is limited to a square frame inside a card of a given size (9x9 cm)
• inside the frame, random lines are drawn that divide the square into sectors
• the sectors formed after drawing the lines are filled with bizarre arbitrary patterns
• the plot of each composition is abstract

Drawings in the technique of dudling are performed intuitively, there are no rules when performing them. Zentangle, unlike doodling, is created in such a way that the pattern is complete and complete from any side and from any angle.

To draw in the zentangle technique, you will need the following materials:

• thick watercolor paper
• liner (capillary pen), marker or regular
• ball pen
• simple pencil

Diverse and unique patterns are created according to one scheme:

• We cut out tiles of classic size in Zentangle (9x9 cm) from paper.
• We draw lines: put four dots with a pencil at the corners of the tile, stepping back a little from the edge. We try not to press the pencil so that later we can easily get rid of the lines.

• We connect the lines with one solid line. You should not use a ruler for this or try to draw a straight line: some carelessness will give a special charm to the tile with a drawn pattern. Thus, we set the boundaries for further work.
• The next step is to create "zones" inside the square for future patterns. They will not be scattered in a chaotic manner, but will create a complete picture.

• When the zentangle patterns begin to turn out, then it will be possible to skip this step and start drawing without preliminary “marking”.
• How to mark a square into "zones"? Drawing lines without taking your hand off the paper. In the photo you can see how such lines look.

• Now you need to fill in the empty space between the lines with patterns. Draw segment by segment. Here's what it looks like:

• There is no specific sequence that must be followed: fill the segments with a pattern as your imagination tells you. Leave some areas undrawn, this will not affect the overall picture.

• When you consider that the drawing does not require adjustments and additions, erase the pencil lines drawn earlier.
• Be sure to add shadows by determining for yourself the location of the light source. Without shading, the eye will not slide over the picture and attract attention.
• Having decided where the light will fall on the elements of the pattern, add a hard pencil and blend the painted borders well.
• Shade the sides of the filled segments, giving the image a three-dimensional look.

The shaded patterns “Pebbles”, “Leaves”, “Peas”, “Balls” look especially impressive. If your shadows do not work out or are too dark, you can erase them with an eraser or brighten them.

Zentangle patterns are shown in this section. You can modify them or come up with your own. However, if you are just learning how to draw a zentangle, then it is better to use classic pattern patterns.

While drawing, we turn the zentangle tile around its axis to make it more convenient to draw lines. You can indicate where the bottom of the picture is by putting a signature on one of the sides.

Drawings in the style of doodling with a pencil in stages for beginners

• Doodling drawings do not require any rules to be followed, and there is no need to cut tiles. You can simply print out the contours of an animal, a geometric figure, a plant and fill in the empty space with patterns.
• You can draw a square or an oval in the center of the sheet, and then call on your imagination to help and draw whatever comes to mind. Somewhere you draw pigtails, somewhere you add a spikelet or let the ribbons emerging from the mouth of the shell intricately intertwine.
• You simply add oblique lines to your creation, combine arbitrary elements into a circle, draw contours and get a unique picture.

Let your hand move randomly or determine the direction and draw simple repeating patterns coming from the inside.

How to draw using the doodling technique, you will learn by watching the video.

Video: Dudling pen

Zentagles step by step lessons: learn tangles

To fill the tiles with patterns, you must first make drawings of tangles - patterns. You can practice drawing tangles and only then start creating zentangle drawings.

Below are simple tangles for beginners.

Some beautiful variations of the Cadent pattern for your inspiration

Video: draw tangles

Video: 24 Doodling Patterns, Zentangle Patterns

Zentangle - manicure

Beautiful patterns have become popular not only among artists: doodling is used to create an unusual fashionable manicure.

A whole work of art on the nails in a new technique will complement the image and help make it harmonious. In addition, even the girl who has long given up on independent nail design can apply an ornate drawing using the dudling technique. After all, many believe that they can not draw anything.

What do you need for a simple but effective nail art?

• search the Internet for a suitable pattern that you can repeat
• disassemble the pattern into components and gradually practice performing it on paper
• start sketching the pattern, carefully transferring lines, circles, petals
• Do not worry if some of your lines are uneven: doodling can hide many mistakes!
• If you take a closer look at the design of dudling nails, then make sure that there is nothing complicated in these drawings.

The process of creating a manicure includes several stages:

• base color nail polish
• applying a pattern with varnish of a more liquid consistency
• instead of varnish for drawing patterns, you can use acrylic paint
• fixing with a top coat that gives extra shine

What tools will be needed?

• special thin brush
• in the absence of a brush, you can use a toothpick or pen

The photo shows improvised materials that can replace special tools. You can see how thick the strokes are when using them.

• Start with a circle at the base of the nail plate, gradually moving further: above the first circle, draw a second one, then petals that diverge on the sides and fill in the empty space with dots or strokes.







Video: Zentangle for beginners

Who wants.
Drawing and ink from scratch

I will start this post with "desire", because in the matter of gaining the ability to draw with a pen / pen, personal desire is even more important than talent and thinness. skills.
Usually, drawing in any other technique begins with a pencil construction, corrections, possibly a change in composition in the process, and therefore active use. In general, no one bothers to make a pencil construction according to all the rules for drawing with a pen / pen, but this post is just about how to learn how to do without it.

First of all, those who want to learn how to draw "without an elastic band" should be patient, a little time (but every day!) And a great desire. Why do I attach such importance to desire? Because very often, especially at first, there will be disappointment in your work, and as a result, in yourself, in your skills, and only desire will not let you spit on the whole thing from a high tree and decide that even without this skill you can live in peace.
Below, I will show some tricks that will help you get a normal result, as well as give examples of mistakes and unsuccessful work that you should not be afraid of at all. I hope all this will help to maintain the desire to learn and will not allow a feeling of inferiority to appear =)

So the tools are:
Pens. You can draw with ballpoint pens, gel, some other. I prefer to draw with either ink or liners.
I had to draw with reusable "Uni pin" fine line liners, but, apparently, either they are for smoother paper, or we did not agree with them in feng shui, but they wear out the core faster than the refill ends. Only once we ran them, and that was when Leo wrote in a notebook with them, and did not draw. Perhaps they are not erased, and the rod goes away when pressed into the body, but somehow I did not have to notice any special brutality in myself in the process of drawing. The most popular sizes are 01 and 02, sometimes I use 03, but this is when there is no 02 and very rarely 005 for especially small details, when I undertake to draw them at all

Very similar to the "Uni pin" liners from "Faber Castell", one of the series even in the cases is the same, only the inscription is different (now I don't have them, so the photo is from another series)

But most of all I like the liners "Centropen". Although they are one and a half times cheaper than "Uni pin" and two times cheaper than "Faber Castell", they are in no way inferior in quality and the rod does not go anywhere. The only difference is that they are disposable, but if you consider the fact that the rest are thrown away even before refueling, then the savings are not bad.

Paper. Unlike, it’s most convenient for me to draw with a pen in notebooks - all the waste paper is together, it’s not lost anywhere and is always at hand. For work and ink, I use, and for liners I have a cheap Chinese notebook with medium quality paper, so it’s not a pity, because the paper leaves in batches, and the drawings there are basically not the ones that you should be proud of right now.

The paper is greyish, with a density of 98gsm, which is quite enough for double-sided drawings.
When I sketch this notebook, I will switch to good ones with white beautiful paper and pleasant bindings that have been waiting for me for a long time =)

Now we pick up the tools and start drawing. Basic rules/tips:
1. draw anything: objects on the table, furniture in the room, chandelier, interior, view from the window, flowers on the windowsill, etc. or from photographs (animals, birds, people, but do not get too carried away with photographs)
2. draw without construction as it turns out: clumsily, with errors, extra lines, compositionally incorrect, etc.
3. at first it is better to take a thinner pen so as not to blacken much
4. you need to draw lines quickly, do not tremble over every millimeter
5. every day. Even the most deadly busy person can find 10-15, even 30 minutes of time and devote it to drawing, everything else is excuses and the absence of that same desire. What is deadly employment, Leo knows very well and firsthand (1 job, 2 hacks, study at a hospital + diploma - and Leo had this). Therefore, I ask you not to write to me in the LAN and comments, they say, "I would love to, but there is no time," there is simply no desire and there is laziness, and there is no need and sense to notify me about this.
6. before evaluating the result of your work, you need to copy 100 pages, at least. I have now copied 101 pages, I draw on both sides of the sheet, since the density of the paper allows it, and there is no point in putting each such work in a frame. Many pages have 2-3 small drawings.

How to make life easier for yourself at first:
You can draw with dots. Actually, the construction is more in the mind than on paper, but putting an end to some key place, we create a visual support for ourselves

Connecting the dots

And now you can tint and detail, but in sketches of this type, this is superfluous. Here it is important to convey the form, movement, somewhere with a careless stroke to emphasize the volume.
I have no more than 10 pieces of such finished works for the entire notebook.

Most often my ducks look like this

The main mistakes that will be exactly:
Problems with the composition, crawling out of the sheet, or a lot of space from some edge. To avoid, at the very beginning, you can mark the extreme points of the object at least by eye

Disproportionality (it turned out to be a painfully beaked duck). Cures with time and practice

Wrong perspective, general clumsiness (here the perspective is lame on all four legs, with verticals it’s generally dark)

A jar of honey slumped

What to draw is necessary and useful:
Interior - wherever you live, you can always draw how it looks without even getting up from the sofa / chair / armchair / bed

All sorts of items, household appliances, utensils and so on (there was a meat grinder above - this is the most tin, especially from different angles).
Just a box

If there is, you can draw a pet from different angles when it is static (it is also necessary in dynamics, but this is more difficult and later)

It is good to draw indoor plants in such a way as to convey their volume and the appearance of the plant is clear.
Leo has a houseplant - oak, it's so obvious =)

Who doesn’t have indoor plants, don’t be lazy and buy some kind of flower, put it in a vase / glass and draw

It is also very useful to draw somewhere during a walk - we find a bench / stump, sit down and draw what first came to our eyes.
It is not necessary to draw every leaf, the most important thing is to convey the impression, volume

And you can draw if the object is piece

A good object for drawing is any stone. It is necessary to repeat the form, transfer the texture and not lose the volume (Leo still loses from time to time)

Drawing from photographs.
Also good, but in moderation and quickly. Open a photo, spend 5-7 minutes on it and move on to the next one.

So you can draw something that is not found in everyday life, all kinds of animals and birds.

Leo likes to take pictures of ducks in Vinnitsa and somewhere on the ponds, and then draw them in the evenings

The black and red Muscovy duck was so beautiful that Leo could not resist and went into details

In general, nothing complicated if you regularly devote time to practice.
Good luck and best wishes to all who are interested! =)