You can do the following challenges by yourself, with a friend or even a group. Sometimes a little competition and encouragement can go a long way to completing a challenge.
Steps
1. 20 day patterns.
Starting small is a good choice for challenges. Attached is a sheet with 20 squares. Take the challenge to create a different pattern every day for 20 days. Too easy? Make more than one print of the page and continue challenging yourself.
2. Grid challenge.
Take a specific grid and see how many variations you can make within that grid. The grid supplement has three different background grids — blank, square and circle. There are many more you could use, but this is for a starting point.
3. Pattern challenge.
Create your own pattern based on someone else’s designs. You might also choose an area that interests you and find inspiration there. Some might include:
- Architecture
- Geometric shapes
- Graphic design
- Nature
- Public domain images
- Sports
- Transportation (cars / planes / trains)
4. Color challenge.
Start with a zendoodle design you have created. Make copies. Challenge yourself to color it many ways. Ask others to give their opinions on the colored versions.
5. Item challenge.
What can you zendoodle? You might choose ordinary items like t-shirts or white canvas shoes. You might go looking at the paper mache options at your favorite craft store. You might even look at stones or concrete statues as options. Let your imagination be your guide. Encourage others to take the challenge with you!
6. Holiday challenge.
Using silhouettes, find one you like for one or more holidays. Challenge yourself to create a different zendoodle for the holiday. You can use your completed designs in ornaments, cards, etc. Need some ideas? Check out the two supplements listed below.
7. Alphabet challenge.
You might challenge yourself to create a zendoodled letter for the entire alphabet. You could also do the names of family and include them as a piece of wall art. Choose a font that has a lot of space for doodling – look at heavy, ultra and black faces. Choose one, outline your letters and create your own alphabet art to zendoodle.
8. Feminine shapes.
Sometimes you’ll want feminine shapes. This would work for a gift tag, card or small gift. Start by brainstorming images that would work and then find clip art or draw a few shapes for you to zendoodle into. Be sure to keep your originals safe and work on copies.
9. Masculine shapes.
Just like feminine shapes, masculine shapes can be used for the same purposes. It might be more difficult to find or make shapes that you feel are masculine. If you get stuck, start looking at sports, movies and designs that are masculine for inspiration. Create your own masculine shapes and zendoodle into them. You can set up this challenge for as long as you like.
10. 365 challenge.
A year seems like a long time, but if you do a little each day, it won’t be so noticeable. Some things you might want to do for a 365 day zendoodle challenge include:
- Create a pattern a day
- Zendoodle an inchie a day
- Zendoodle a tag a day
11. Create your own challenge.
As you get into the challenges, you might want to either brainstorm your own or find one on the web to tweak and try. Ask friends and family who like challenges to help you with this step. As you work though this step, keep notes so you can go back to your challenge ideas later.
Supplements
SUPP_Zen Chall_2in_12up_larajla
- Avery 2” round label printable, 12 up
SUPP_Zen Chall_20 Sq_larajla
- 20 Patterns in 20 Days printable challenge
SUPP_Zen Chall_Checklist_larajla
- Badge checklist
SUPP_Zen Chall_Grid_larajla
- Pattern variation challenge
SUPP_Zen Chall_Holiday 6a_ATC_9up_larajla
- 12 months of holidays challenge — January to June
SUPP_Zen Chall_Holiday 6b_ATC_9up_larajla
- 12 months of holidays challenge — July to December
Sites to Explore
- tanglepatterns.com
- iambored.pro/30-easy-zentangle-patterns-to-give-you-great-ideas-for-your-own-zentangle-art
- www.facebook.com/laura.harms.czt
- www.dianeclancy.com/blog/diane-caroliens-weekly-zentangle-challenge
- pixabay.com
Get the infographic here > larajla blog post
Get the PDFs of the badge program / supplements here > Full badge PDFs