.Morgan Hill Locals Drawn Together by Zentangle Classes

With a stroke of a pen, simple scribbles turn into intricate lines, swirls and shapes. In a few minutes, a blank sheet of paper is covered in unique patterns and shaded in hues of black.

This transformation is Zentangle®, an art form that uses hand-drawn motifs—affectionately called “tangles”—to create abstract designs. Hailed by South Bay locals as an easy-to-learn, relaxing and fun activity, Zentangle has taken the region by storm. Classes on the drawing method pop up every month, and walls in public art exhibitions are reserved for completed pieces.

In Morgan Hill, there is even a club dedicated to practicing and learning more about these tangles. It’s led by Nancy Domnauer, who works as a full-time certified Zentangle teacher.

“It’s easy to learn,” Domnauer said. “In one sitting you now have a hobby to do for the rest of your life. … It’s very rewarding to see people learn it for the first time.”

Almost every month, the Morgan Hill resident hosts a session at the city’s downtown community center. The activity is free and open to the public, with the next one taking place on Dec. 17. For those who can’t make it in person, Domnauer also provides weekly online classes where she virtually guides participants through the process.

The only materials required are pens or pencils, sheets of paper and a sense of creativity. Unlike other art forms, tangles are not planned out ahead of time. The process is supposed to be instinctual and somewhat spontaneous, Domnauer says. Zentanglers warm-up by jotting down a few doodles on the page, and then continue to add and build upon the design.

There are hundreds of tangles people can draw inspiration and mix and match from.  No two finished pieces are exactly alike, and even the same artist can end up drawing similar tangles differently, Domnauer says. “It will always look different based on your mood,” she says.

A former Morgan Hill preschool teacher, Domnauer first discovered Zentangle in 2013 through a San Jose art class. Back then the art form was a rarity in the region, although it would eventually witness a boom several years later during the COVID-19 pandemic. Domnauer was instantly drawn to the art’s simplicity and relaxing process. Combining her love of teaching with her newfound interest, Domnauer started hosting Zentangle lessons around the Morgan Hill Community.

Zentangle was created by Massachusett husband-and-wife duo Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts in 2003. Since then, the pair have spread the Zentangle word all over the U.S and even worldwide. Under their business, Zentangle Inc, they offer annual certification classes, seminars and training sessions.

Zentangle is considered to be a meditative drawing method, one that is meant to help people relax, reduce stress and achieve a meditative state. Drawing tangles have been noted to reduce stress across different ages; from high schoolers to undergraduate students to older adults. It also has been touted as an effective therapy technique to improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.

“Its almost like you’re grounding yourself,” Domnauer said. “We all have random thoughts in our heads. When you put pens to paper and draw these patterns you slow down, time fades away. You enter this zen phase.”

In 2015, Domnauer journeyed to Rhode Island for a Zentangle Inc certification seminar, where she became eligible to teach. She is just one of around 3,975 certified teachers scattered across 46 countries. Domnauer said she’s made friends all over the world, who all have a similar mental and emotional connection to the craft.

“It’s like this gift you’re giving out,” she says. “It’s a way to bring peace to the world because we’re all connecting with one another.”

Nancy Domnauer will teach an Introduction to Zentangle class on Jan. 30; the hybrid class is available via Zoom or in person at the Morgan Hill Community Center. For details, visit linedotcalm.com.