Zentangle is a forgiving way to draw: you fill an outline with repeating patterns, and the result almost always looks good. It also slows kids and adults down in a calming way, which is why it’s a favorite for kids. My book includes several Zentangle ideas for kids, and this page adds animals.
Here you’ll find 50 Zentangle animal examples to copy or take ideas from, including elephants, giraffes, birds, insects, and sea creatures. You’ll also get a quick-pick table, a simple five-step method for tangling any animal, and links to free outlines to print.
Brand new to tangling? Head over here for a free printable of beginner Zentangle patterns.
Zentangle animals at a glance
| Idea | Best for | Time | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elephant | Beginners (big open body) | 20–40 min | Elephant outline, fine black pen, pencil |
| Giraffe | Ages 7+; spots are easy to fill | 20–30 min | Giraffe outline, black pen |
| Bird or owl | Ages 6+ (simple shapes) | 15–30 min | Bird outline, fine pen, colored pencils |
| Butterfly or beetle | Beginners (symmetrical) | 15–30 min | Insect outline, black pen |
| Fish | Ages 5+ (scales and fins) | 15–25 min | Fish outline, black pen, markers |
| Sea turtle | Ages 8+; shell patterns | 30–45 min | Turtle outline, fine pen, pencil |
| Jellyfish | Ages 8+; flowing lines | 20–40 min | Jellyfish outline, black pen |
| Cat | Ages 6+ | 20–30 min | Cat outline, black pen |
| Koala | Ages 8+ | 30–40 min | Koala outline, fine pen, pencil |
How do you make a Zentangle animal?
Difficulty: easy. Ages: about 6 and up. Time: 20–40 minutes. You need a printed animal outline or a sketch, a pencil, a fine black pen (a 0.3–0.5 mm size works well), and a few simple patterns from the starter sheet linked above.
- Draw or print a simple animal outline. Trace it with a pencil if you want to simplify it.
- Divide the body into sections with light pencil curves, such as the ears, legs, belly, and tail.
- Trace over the outline with your pen.
- Fill each section with a different pattern (stripes, dots, scales, swirls, or crosshatch). Add a little pencil shading near the edges to give the animal depth.
- Step back, turn the drawing around, and add details like an eye and whiskers.
Pens are the only real hazard for little kids. Use washable or non-toxic fine markers for children under 5 and keep caps away from toddlers, since small caps can be a choking risk.
Zentangle Animal Ideas
Zentangle Elephants
Elephants are a perfect shape to draw inside, with an enormous body and a curvy trunk. Many of the designs below have mandala-like patterns radiating from the back of the elephant. Click each image to see the original.
Sophia Dei IllustrationBrikaBrak DesignsAlexandra NicoleDesign Best StudioMD DesignsTimestormNadiya ArtBioWorkZDJ PenscriptDesigned For YouTierre3012Easy Peasy and Fun
Here’s a tutorial for how to draw an elephant head and a cute elephant for younger kids to draw.
Here are some free printable elephant outlines to use for your own tangle designs:
3/4 view elephant walking forward
There are many more printable elephant templates here.
Zentangle Giraffes
Giraffe spots and long necks make natural spaces for patterns.
BimBimDesign StackBioWorkZRoman PoljakBioWorkZMillion Feed
Whole giraffe side view outline
Straight-on giraffe head outline
Giraffe coloring pages: trace one of these to simplify it if there’s too much detail.
Zentangle Birds
Pro Am CraftsChloeFaye HallidayThe Quilt Rattier tangleIain MacArthurBanar DesignsBanar Designs
Here are some free bird outlines to pick from. The pigeon is a nice simple one to start with.
Zentangle Insects
Insects lend themselves to Zentangle, with symmetrical bodies and legs that stick out in all directions.
Rosalind MonksEmily BrooksBleekenAlex KonahenDiana PryadievaSquidoodleart
Zentangle Sea Creatures
Fish, turtles, jellyfish, and starfish are great for scales, waves, and bubbles. I have my own sea creature printable outlines in my shop for you to tangle in.
[mks_button size=”large” title=”Buy Animal Zentangle Starters” style=”rounded” url=”https://store5650153.ecwid.com/” target=”_blank” bg_color=”#aa00dd” txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=”” nofollow=”1″]
PatchesfaceIndujournalsDesign KidsAndrea LarkoTumbleweed TexStylesCraft Foxes – The AquariumRachelBleekenTopVectorsFaye HallidayDesign KidsGolden Spider
Even More Zentangle Animals
A few more animal designs, including cats and koalas.
HejnumCTOCOPOKTrue North ImagesColoring RocksCheryl StieghorstBioWorkZ
What are the steps of Zentangle?
The official Zentangle Method has eight steps: gratitude and appreciation, corner dots, border, string, tangle, shade, initial and sign, and appreciate. You use a pencil for the first four steps, a pen to tangle, and a pencil again to shade. Our animal method above is a simplified version where the animal outline replaces the border and string.
Animal Zentangle Resources
Patterns: Here are some free printable zentangle patterns, and you can take plenty of ideas from the images above.
Outlines: The links above lead to animal outlines and templates, including my sea creatures outlines pack. You can also search online for “animal outline” or “animal coloring page” and trace.
How to Draw Animals: Artists Network has these animal drawing tutorials, which are probably better for kids making animal Zentangles.
The Graphics Fairy has this cute how to draw an owl tutorial, with links to birds, dogs, frogs, and squirrels.
Zentangle Supplies
Stock up before you start, and keep a spare pen or two so you don’t run out of ink mid-drawing.
Sakura Pigma 30062 Micron Blister Card Ink Pen Set, Black, Ass’t Point Sizes 6CT SetBuy NowZentangle SourcebookBuy NowHelix 360 Degree Angle and Circle Maker with Integrated Circle Templates, 6 Inch / 15cm, Assorted Colors (36002)Buy NowThe Great Zentangle Book: Learn to Tangle with 101 Favorite PatternsBuy NowNeenah Cardstock, 8.5Buy NowOne Zentangle A Day: A 6-Week Course in Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration, and Fun (One A Day)Buy Now
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some examples of animal zentangles?
Elephants, giraffes, birds, butterflies and beetles, fish, turtles, jellyfish, cats, and koalas all make good Zentangle animals. The galleries above show 50 examples across these groups.
What is the easiest animal you can draw?
Fish, birds, and cats are among the easiest because they’re built from simple shapes. For a Zentangle, start from a printed outline and skip drawing the animal freehand.
What are the 8 steps of Zentangle?
The eight steps are gratitude and appreciation, corner dots, border, string, tangle, shade, initial and sign, and appreciate. They are described on the official Zentangle site.
What is the difference between Zentangle and doodle?
Zentangle is a structured method: you follow set steps and build up repeated patterns slowly, usually on a small tile. Doodling is freeform and has no steps to follow. Both are relaxing, and Zentangle patterns often look like neat doodles.
Are there rules to Zentangle?
The Zentangle Method has eight steps to follow, but there is no right or wrong pattern, and you don’t need to be good at drawing. If a line wobbles, keep going and build the pattern around it.
Is doodling an ADHD thing?
No. Almost anyone doodles, and doodling alone isn’t a sign of ADHD. If you’re worried about attention or focus, a doctor or other health professional can help.
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