The Villages - August 2019 - 27

ZENTANGLE EXPERIENCE
WITH JACKI ROSE

Shapes, patterns and textures - take a Zentangle class
with Jacki Rose and you will use them all to create simple, yet
complex pieces of artwork.
Zentangle, a newer type of "art for people who aren't
artists" as described by Rose, is an ever-evolving artform that
has become incredibly popular around the world in recent
years.
Zentangle, founded by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas,
revolves around varying patterns and shapes, and the
intricate, repetitive patterns help Zentangle artists relax,
focus and expand their imaginations through a unique
creative outlet.
Rose, a Village of Lynnhaven resident, teaches Zentangle
classes for beginners and experienced Zentanglers alike with
The Enrichment Academy, though she stresses that anyone
can enjoy any of her classes, regardless of skill level.
"It's a mindfulness art," Rose said. "When we do
Zentangle, it's very different from a typical art class because
we don't focus on the outcome. When you take an art class,
it has to look like something - it has to look like the sailboat
or the flower or the portrait, but with Zentangle, it's nonrepresentational. They're just patterns that can be taught."
When Rose teaches a pattern, she breaks it into a step-bystep process that makes it easy for her students to learn and
interpret it as their own. As such, each finished work, while
similar, varies from person to person as they put their own
spin on the patterns.
It's a personal touch on patterns she has been teaching
for years, and Rose enjoys seeing what her students come up
with.
"In Zentangle, there's no rules, there's no right or wrong,
there's no mistakes," Rose said. "We teach patterns, but they
don't have to do it exactly - everyone does it differently. At
the end of class, we put them all together, and everyone's
'looks very, very different."

Rose emphasizes that creativity and personal expression
are encouraged with Zentangle - if someone wants to alter
a pattern or add something different, they can. Zentangling
is all about finding ways to relax and stretch your
imagination - sort of like mindless doodling in the margins
of a book report or study notes in school, but this time with
a purpose.
"When I teach classes, I have meditation music on,
nobody's allowed to talk and it's just like a meditation class,"
Rose said. "People just love it. It's healing for people, and
it's fun and many tap into their creativity that they never
thought they had."
Beyond her beginner classes, Rose also teaches classes
that offer Zentangle patterns of varying sizes, shapes and
topics - including one class that draws the patterns on
canvas bags.
The satisfaction of seeing her students express
themselves and relax through the art of Zentangling is
what makes it all worth it to Rose. She fully believes in
the meditative benefits of art, and Zentangle has helped
bring that sense of relaxation and creativity to her and her
students.
"One of my students said, 'I was laughed at in
kindergarten when I was so proud of my art and I never did
any other art until now,'" Rose said. "She
kept coming back and now she's at a place
where she said, 'Oh, I like that one!' and
it was hers and she didn't even know
it. I've heard similar stories, so it really
is something. It builds confidence, it
builds creativity - it's just fun."

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rose teaches Zentangle classes throughout the year,
including multiple beginner classes. Register for classes
with The Enrichment Academy at any Villages recreation center
between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. or by visiting its website at
districtgov.org/departments/Recreation/enrichment-academy.

MAGAZINE

http://www.districtgov.org/departments/Recreation/enrichment-academy

The Villages - August 2019

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