When is a Doodle More than a Doodle and Isn't it a Great Word?

Have you heard of a Zentangle? Apparently it's a new aid to doodling, a how-to-doodle primer. They even sell kits for $49 to teach you how to doodle the Zentangle way -- apparently in repetitive patterns, section by section.

My doodle on the left isn't a Zentangle, though it may look like one. I'm not sure how I feel about the concept of doodle instruction. It conjures up paint-by-numbers kits and Bob Ross videos, only not as ... necessary. Aren't doodles supposed to be "mindless" and "aimless"?

But I think I'm being narrow-minded about it. If you google the word Zentangle, the first few hits are from quite zealous Zentanglers. Most feel great about drawing something so well-formed and want to share the art and the experience. One wrote, "I have been calling what I do 'doodles' and kind of felt guilty about not doing any 'real' art. Then HOLY COW - I realized I was Zentangling. . . . " Geez. That reminds me of my mandala drawings (I'll paste one here). Before I had ever heard of mandalas, I had drawn many dozens of them and honestly thought I had invented the art form. Ha! However, I didn't feel guilty about it as a time-waster. Doodling and drawing repetitive patterns is a well-established meditative, relaxing experience. So I say, "Go Zentanglers!"

Pen and Ink

"Broken," pen & ink

Valentine's Day

How I've missed DRAWING! I've been so crafty lately instead. That's right -- caa-rafty.

I've been making cards and miniature books instead of drawing or painting. Fun, yes! But I need to fit in more drawing or I find I start craving it like a Cold Stone Creamery Chocolate with Almonds and Cookie Dough.

Currently I'm feeling inspired by* some Valentine's Day cards from the 1910's through 1930's, some very art deco, some art nouveau. I'm loving the art and must draw from them.

*"Inspired by" can mean "copied from," but I'm not that good. I take a lot of liberties.*

*"Liberties" can mean you purposely deviated from the original, but in my case, I take liberties when I make mistakes and have to go another direction to cover them up.

Here's another, to which I've added my initials. I want to start practicing calligraphy -- right after the letterpress class which starts very soon. My hope is that the letterpress art will synthesize with the printmaking and bookmaking and cards into ... something fabulous.