Drawings of graphics with gel pen. How to draw a temporary tattoo with a gel pen, step-by-step tips for beginners, safety precautions, how to do it yourself

How to learn to draw zentangle and doodling?

If you have not yet tried drawing using the popular Zentangle or Doodling techniques, then it’s time to learn them.

You may not create real paintings from your drawings, but you will definitely have an activity that you will turn to when you need to throw out the accumulated negativity and 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 of paper with simple but effective patterns, and how drawing techniques differ, but you will also be able to develop your hidden abilities.

What is Zentangle and Doodling?

People have adopted the Zentangle technique a long time ago. creative professions for creating amazing and mesmerizing drawings, filling out the pages of notebooks, sketchbooks.







Even art therapists use interesting patterns during their trainings. Drawn on cards gel pen You can see patterns on the Internet, or you can create wonderful designs yourself.

Advantages of drawing using zentangle and doodling techniques:

  • Drawing is seen as a way to meditate
  • You can take your mind off your pressing problems for a while
  • you can see familiar things with fresh eyes
  • an opportunity to reconfigure and get inspired for new projects
  • is an excellent remedy for insomnia
  • way to increase self-esteem
  • drawing simple patterns calms and relieves stress
  • a way to develop hand steadiness, eye, improve handwriting
  • attention is increased and fine motor skills are developed

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









So, what are they? beautiful works art in miniature?

Zentangle- these are those drawings that are created unconsciously while waiting, or simply to relax and calm down.



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

Drawings using the Zentangle technique are characterized by repeating motifs. The Zentangle technique got its name in 2006 in the USA from two words:

  • "Zen" is one of the Buddhist sects
  • "tangle" - means tangle, interweaving


Doodling- these are the same doodles that people do so well of different ages: from small to large. A drawing using the doodling technique consists of simple shapes and curved lines.

With 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 using the Zentangle technique is different in that it requires significant concentration of attention to complete. Draw patterns on square cards, the size of which 9x9 cm.





Cards can be cut out of thick paper, or you can buy ready-made ones at an artist store

Zentangle can be drawn in a notebook by drawing a sheet of paper into squares with sides 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 determine the boundaries of future patterns and figures, combining them into one composition.

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

Examples of patterns:





Zentangle drawing for relaxation, inspiration and pleasure

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

If you are emotionally exhausted or tired, a marker, felt-tip pen or regular 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 patterned squares add up to an interesting finished piece without requiring any special drawing skills.

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

What is the meaning of meditation while drawing using the Zentangle technique?

  • To make a drawing beautiful, you need to be able to focus on the moment “here and now.” And this is only possible if total immersion into the drawing process.
  • Automatic hand movements on paper become conscious over time.
  • Spontaneity is gradually replaced by thoughtful composition.

Drawing techniques in zentangle and doodling style

There are certain rules for zentangle designs:

  • The pattern is made in black and white colors
  • the pattern is limited to a square frame inside a card of a given size (9X9 cm)
  • lines are drawn randomly inside the frame, dividing the square into sectors
  • the sectors formed after drawing the lines are filled with bizarre random patterns
  • the plot of each composition is abstract

Drawings using the doodling technique 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 using the Zentangle technique you will need the following materials:

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

Various and unique patterns are created according to one scheme:

  • We cut out classic size Zentangle tiles from paper (9x9 cm).
  • We draw the 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 on 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 the line evenly: some carelessness will give a special charm to the tile with the drawn pattern. This way we set 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, you can skip this step and start drawing without preliminary “marking”.
  • How to mark a square into “zones”? Drawing lines without lifting your hand from the paper. In the photo you can see what such lines look like.


  • Now you need to fill the empty space between the lines with patterns. We sketch segment by segment. This is what it looks like:


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








  • When you think that the drawing does not require adjustments or additions, erase the pencil lines you drew earlier.
  • Be sure to add shadows by determining the location of the light source. Without shading, the eye will not glide across the picture and attract attention.
  • Having decided where the light will fall on the pattern elements, let’s add hard pencil and blend the painted borders well.
  • Shade the sides of the filled segments, giving the image three-dimensionality.

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

Zentangle patterns are given in this section. You can make changes to them or come up with your own. However, if you are just learning how to draw zentangles, then it is better to use classic pattern templates.


When drawing, we turn the Zentangle tile around its axis to make it easier 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 step by step for beginners

  • Drawings using the doodling technique do not require compliance with any rules and there is no need to cut out tiles. You can simply print out the outline of the animal, geometric figure, plants and fill the empty space with patterns.
  • You can draw a square or oval in the center of the sheet, and then call on your imagination to help and draw whatever comes to mind. Draw pigtails somewhere, add a spikelet somewhere, or let the ribbons coming out of 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 direction and draw simple repeating patterns from within.

You will learn how to draw using the doodling technique by watching the video.

Video: Doodling pen

Zentangles 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 designs.

Below are some easy tangles for beginners.





Some beautiful variations of the Cadent pattern for your inspiration



Video: drawing tangles

Video: 24 Doodling Patterns, Zentangle Patterns

Zentangle - manicure

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

A whole work of art on the nails new technology will complement the image and help make it harmonious. In addition, even the girl who has long given up on designing her own nails can apply an ornate design using the doodling technique. After all, many people believe that they cannot draw anything.




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

  • search the Internet for a suitable template that you can repeat
  • disassemble the pattern into its components and practice performing it step by step on paper
  • start sketching the pattern, carefully transferring lines, circles, petals
  • Don't worry if some of your lines are uneven: doodling can hide many mistakes!
  • If you take a closer look at the nail design in the doodling style, you will be convinced that there is nothing complicated in these designs.



The process of creating a manicure includes several stages:

  • covering the nail with primary color varnish
  • applying a pattern with varnish of a thinner consistency
  • Instead of varnish, you can use acrylic paint to paint patterns
  • secured with a top coat that adds extra shine

What tools will you need?

  • special thin brush
  • If you don’t have a brush, you can use a toothpick or a pen

The photo shows available 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: draw a second circle above the first circle, then petals that spread to the sides and fill the empty space with dots or strokes.
  • Video: Zentangle for Beginners

Anyone can learn to draw with a pen. Whether a student or a pensioner. Everyone once drew in the margins of notebooks. Some did well, some not so much. Some drew strange images, some skulls, and some little fairies, cuties from manga. And we all enjoyed it.

What do you need to start drawing? Of course, desire and patience. Without these qualities, it will be difficult to learn anything in principle.

For any drawing, including with a pen, you need to become familiar with the basics of composition and the basics of drawing. For starters, you can just read it. Drawing theory has never been superfluous, and it is advisable to refresh your memory from time to time. I recently came across a book

If you compare a pen (liner, rapidograph) or a pencil, then this is quite different instruments. With a pencil we can achieve airiness in a drawing, learn correct construction on a piece of paper (you can always use an eraser) and draw realistic portraits.

A pen, unlike a pencil, disciplines. If you draw it, then you draw it. But this does not mean at all that the handle has fewer maneuver options. There are completely different techniques here.

Selecting a tool (handle).

Let's start by choosing a tool (drawing pen). After all, to draw well, you must have a convenient tool, so that, first of all, you like it.

1. The best one to draw is the one that doesn’t drip, always writes, and draws without obvious effort. It is easy and convenient to draw with this pen.

If you choose between ballpoint and gel pen, then it’s better to choose the second one. I for a long time I drew with a gel pen. Most of my drawings before 2012 were drawn by her.

There are several tricks to vary the thickness of the gel pen line. If the drawing is placed on a stack of paper, the lines will be thicker. And if you put the sheet on glass or a bare table, the lines will be thinner.

2. Another option is liner or rapidograph. If a gel pen may not write over a pencil or for some reason does not want to work on the edges of the sheet, then a liner writes always and everywhere. practically does not get dirty, lays down softly, without unnecessary effort. Of course, it costs 4 times more than a pen and is not always needed. But if you still decide to buy, then it is better to take liners from Uni and Sakura. Liners have different thicknesses.

My preferences for tool thickness are:

a) the main drawing will be convenient to draw with a 0.3 mm liner;

b) objects on in the background— 0.1 mm;

c) and if you decide to “bring it black,” then 0.8 mm will do.

3. The third option is . Many foreign illustrators, such as Matthias Adolfson and . I use a hero 901 fountain pen for sketching and continue to use a gel pen for graphics.


Paper

Any paper will do. You can get a notebook with thick sheets so that you can draw on both sides. I have several types of notebooks. This is a watercolor notebook on a spring, moleskine, ordinary sheets for a printer, fastened with a metal spring, and which I sewed with my own hands. What's convenient about a notebook is that it's always at hand. Just don't take notebooks with textured paper. The texture is more suitable for watercolors. And for a full-fledged drawing, a regular A4 or A3 sheet, as well as any smooth thick paper, is suitable.

In 2017, I drew with a fountain pen on textured paper. The result was also pleasing, but it was still better on a smooth one.

Drawing process

1. Usually, when drawing with a pen, I don't sketch with a pencil. There are exceptions when you need to draw complex architectural buildings such as a city, streets, interiors and other complex objects. Everything that should correspond to reality.

To make outlines for the future drawing and avoid the fact that the drawing will ultimately not fit on the sheet, you can use dots. If we draw thin lines with a pencil, then with a pen we can put dots. And if you tint the drawing, the dots will merge with the main landscape and will not be conspicuous. But, of course, you can make a sketch in pencil, no one forbids it.

2. The drawing process itself should be fast. Draw lines quickly and confidently, even if the drawing turns out to be crooked. Curved drawings can be very lively and interesting. In any case, you need to get your hand used to the instrument. Don't stay in one place for too long.

Prepare plenty of paper and make one sketch after another. Always finish a drawing, even if you don't like it. In the end it can turn out very interesting.

3. What to draw? Draw everything you see. Start with ordinary objects, a lamp, a teapot, a mug, a computer, a cat, a dog, a chimpanzee. You can also draw while sitting at home. Exit to Fresh air and drawing there would also be a good idea. Make your drawings more complex over time. Draw still lifes, interiors, streets, people. Let your notebook always be with you. The main thing is practice and more practice.

4. Don't evaluate yourself after each drawing. Turn off your inner critic. One drawing doesn't mean anything. Build up more luggage. At first everything will turn out clumsy and ugly. As our drawing teacher said: “quantity will smoothly develop into quality.” Patience and perseverance will help us here.

Southern Bay of Sevastopol. Series of sketches

Toning

1. Toning can be different. You can make a drawing in black and white (without gray tones).

2. Can be done with intersecting lines. The lines are superimposed one on one, changing direction. This tinting option will give you many shades of gray.

, Just . All crookedness will be immediately visible.

It all seems very complicated, but at the same time so simple. If you put enough effort into it every day, everything will work out.

We are used to painting in black and white... Perhaps that is why white drawing on black or colored paper it looks especially impressive: breaking patterns and impressing. Although the same drawing, in black and white, will not seem as striking.

I fell in love with painting with white paints on a black background as a child. And thus she “hacked” a couple of drawing competitions - this decision was so unexpected for the audience. And now - when I got carried away - I prefer unusual combinations when choosing colors :)

Mandala gold on black:

Doodling silver on red

Zentangle white and black on orange:

But the most impressive thing still remains White color on a black background - regardless of whether you draw mandalas, zentangles or are just learning:

Today I have 4 white pens in my “arsenal”. They are different and appearance, and a line that can be left on paper. This:


In Minsk you can more or less easily buy Crown Hi-Jell Roller is a familiar gel pen, but with white ink.

Handles production Sakura are rightfully considered one of (if not the) best white pens for drawing on black paper. Masters all over the world, from the USA to New Zealand, draw mandalas and zentangles with their pens. For some time now, Sakura pens can be found in Belarusian stores. And once upon a time Gelly Roll I brought from Ukraine and Russia, Decorese They actually sent it to me from the USA...

Uni-Ball They are famous for their wide range of pens and liners, but I haven’t seen them in Belarus either. But with some luck, you can find them on AliExpress (if it’s difficult to bring from other countries).

Crown and Gelly Roll have a thinner line (meaning you can draw more graceful mandalas or zentangles):
But thanks to the thickness of the line, Uni-Ball and Decorese produce a more saturated and bright color. There is no need, for example, to draw a pen twice along the same line. Moreover, you can draw with them almost anywhere. For example, on stones:

Now you have a better understanding of white pens for drawing on black paper, which means you can already navigate a little in the range of these products yourself. Of course, there is much more choice on the same AliExpress: a simple search reveals dozens of types of white gel pens for drawing, in different price categories, individually or in sets. Choose, order - and draw!

If you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments or send by email.

If you are interested in what I am drawing with all this, you can look in my Instagram @bygirl, and if you want to quickly learn yourself, I collect pictures on Pinterest, and on Youtube videos with lessons and examples.

Magic fish. Master class on drawing with a gel pen.

Author: Fedorova Larisa Zinovievna, teacher primary classes.
Place of work: MBOU "Bushevetskaya NOSH" Tver region, Bologovsky district.

Goal of the work: creating conditions for experimental activities of students.
Tasks:- introduce children to the technique of drawing with a gel pen;
- cultivate accuracy and patience;
- development fine motor skills hands;
- promote individualization, self-expression, self-realization.
Purpose: This master class will be useful for primary school teachers, students and their parents.
Materials for work: black gel pen, pencil, eraser, sketchbook sheet (A4 format).
I work as a primary school teacher and lead the “Crazy Hands” club. With our students in our circle lessons, we draw a lot with gouache, watercolor paints, colored pencils. But when a child draws with pencils, his hand gets tired very quickly because he puts pressure on the pencil. The brush must be kept suspended at all times. This is also not entirely convenient. This time I decided to try drawing with them with gel pens. I looked at a lot of drawings on the Internet. They amazed me with their expressiveness, contrast, and graphic quality.
Why are the drawings done with a helium pen and not a regular one? Drawings with a gel pen are clear and contrasting. When drawing with a gel pen, we will truly enjoy our work. The gel pen does not smear, does not scratch paper, and does not freeze in cold weather.

Everyone can draw elementary forms, but, ultimately, it is from them that the picture is created. Many graphic elements are simple and accessible to children: circle, square, triangle, dot, wavy line, three crossed lines (snowflake) and others.
Despite the simplicity of the elements, a gel pen can create very interesting pictures, similar to graphics, Chinese or Japanese painting(drawing "Tree of Life"). The drawing is laconic and complete.
And so, let's get down to our work.
1. Let's draw a fish like this.

Draw on a piece of paper with a simple pencil our fish. Here we must remember that a gel pen does not draw well with a pencil, so we draw the outline with a simple pencil with a very thin, maybe even a broken line.


2. We divide the body of our fish into parts.


3. We paint each part.






4. Our sketch is ready. Now you can start working with a gel pen. We begin to color each part in turn.





5. Our fish is ready. Now let's draw the algae.


6. Our drawing is ready. I hope you have a lot of fun drawing this fish.
I wish you all success.

It was in the search for pens for drawing that I made many discoveries. Firstly, the same pens can have completely different names in different stores and books. Secondly, there are an innumerable variety of pens, liners, markers and other drawing tools, and each type has its own characteristics. And thirdly, all this goodness is almost impossible to find in Minsk, and what you can find is several times more expensive than in other countries (even Russia and Lithuania)...

In my material, I will use the names that I ultimately came up with, and at the same time I will illustrate each tool with a photograph - so that you know what to look for (in fact, this is how I buy pens myself :))

Ballpoint pens. Of course, you can draw with them, but they are more good for doodling (see). Since the ink is distributed unevenly due to the ball, even a solid line with constant pressure can be different areas sometimes too pale, sometimes with too much paint (and it smudges! Yes, it’s ballpoint pens that usually smudge the most).

One of the possible uses of ballpoint pens with bright colors is to decorate an already finished black and white drawing color. By the way, “poisonous” (sometimes called neon) colors also work great on black/dark paper. I haven’t seen anything like this in Minsk yet, but I have experience buying from the Chinese. Apparently, such pens can be bought in neighboring countries - in particular in Russia.

Gel pens. They also suffer a little, like ball ones, from the inconstancy of the line, but:

  • They make best pens with white, silver and gold ink for drawing on black/craft, colored paper;
  • They are sold even in Minsk, although the Chinese have more choice;
  • They are very cheap.

Markers. Why not? For example, I just robbed a child of several colored markers and I even liked it. Felt-tip pens, of course, have their own characteristics: for example, if you pass them over the same place twice, the color changes noticeably, the paper becomes too saturated with paint, and some even “pillow” or get very wet. Therefore, it seems to me that felt-tip pens are good for drawing either on thick, smooth paper, or when your movements are already adjusted and confident.

By the way, double-sided markers are convenient:

Liners(in stores they are simply called pens, capillary, gel and God knows what else). An alternative name for these pens is liners: different masters are called differently. Liners are the most convenient and common tool for drawing, as they solve the problem of paint uniformity. Today they are produced in a variety of types.

What is a drawing liner? How can you tell if it's a liner? For the skirt - like this:

Liners can differ in thickness: as a rule, it is indicated by a number characterizing the thickness in millimeters. For example, here in the photo there are 0.7, 0.5 and 0.05:

It’s up to you to decide what thickness you need. But practice shows that initial stage It's easier to learn to draw with thick liners. Thin ones are more suitable for small elements within a large design.

Liners come in different colors. At the same time, as a rule, only black and brown liners are made of different thicknesses. Colored liners are usually equally thin. Well, or I didn’t come across any others :) In Minsk you can find them even in ordinary stationery stores, but I usually found a very poor selection.

Colored liners can be used for:

  • Coloring other people's mandalas (I haven't yet said that the most popular on Amazon last year with great triumph was anti-stress coloring book for adults— and it was made using the techniques I’m talking about?!);
  • Coloring your black and white drawings;
  • Drawings of colored mandalas and other elements.

Unfortunately, such liners are more suitable for drawing/coloring on white paper. For a dark base, they lack saturation and brightness (and for such cases there are other options;) Just about them next time).

Brown liners. I call them craft for myself - because their color is very similar to craft paper. They also come in different thicknesses, just like black ones. And from some manufacturers you can even find a brush liner! True, I haven’t mastered it yet - it was just included in the kit :))

By the way, in nature there are also hybrids, double-sided liners: for example, a tool that has a felt-tip pen on one side and a liner on the other. The good thing about such tools is that you have the same color in both cases. This is convenient when you use a thick line in the main drawing, and draw the details with a thinner one.

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