Bijou Be Well Series

The United States has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month each May since 1949. Every year, businesses, organizations, schools, and individuals use this time to honor those affected by mental illness while promoting new ideas, events, and programs that support treatment and prevention.

Many people experiencing mental health challenges have discovered that creating art can serve as a powerful form of therapy, often with meaningful, positive effects. A regular creative practice can help relieve stress, build confidence, and support overall mental well-being, not only for those facing specific challenges, but for anyone. The Zentangle Method offers a simple yet impactful way to access creativity, opening pathways to the artist within each of us. Through basic strokes and step-by-step guidance, anyone can create beautiful images using this approach.

When Rick and Maria developed the Zentangle Method more than twenty years ago, they did not anticipate the role it would come to play in supporting mental health. Over time, tanglers from around the world have shared how meaningful and effective the method has been in managing their well-being. It is only fitting that we take part in Mental Health Awareness Month, sharing tangling tutorials, stories, studies and meaningful musings, in what would become known as Bijou's Be Well series.

Below you will find information about our current Bijou Be Well Series as well as links to previous years series.  We have also included links below to blogs and our stories and studies page where you can explore CZTs who are using the Zentangle Method to foster mental health with their students and themselves. We encourage you to explore and take moments to take care of you!

Be Well, Be You, Bijou!

2026 Bijou Be Well 

This year, we are creating on one bigger piece by adding a tangle a day for 21 days. Each day, we will share articles. stories, and research exploring creativity and its impacts on mental health. There will also be a featured tangle with it's step-out for you to add to your composition, encouraging you to take time for your mental well-being.

Join us on this year's journey here.

Bijou Be Well Through the Years

2025: Bijou Be Well 

Bijou and the Zentangle Staff gathered ideas for 24 NEW Bijouisms to add to Bijou's Bijouisms Series. What is a Bijouism you ask? A Bijouism is a short yet powerful bit of wisdom from Bijou himself. For 21 days we contemplated Bijou's wise words while we tangled for a few moments each day. Check out the fun Mosaics that were created! You can find all the videos here.

2024: Bijou Be Well

Maria and Bijou paired up to create a series of comics. Maria had always dreamed of becoming a "cartooniste"!  Each day, through Maria's pen, Bijou shared more wisdom and we tangled our way once again through 21 days, 21 3-Z tiles, with just 15-20 minutes a day to take the time to take care of ourselves. You can explore last year's series here. Again, the Mosaic at the end of the series was incredible!

2023: Bijou Be Well 

This was our inaugural year of our Bijou Be Well Series! With a tinful of Bijou tiles, a sprinkle of Bijouisms, and some carefully selected pens, we tangled our way through 21 days of Bijou's wise advice. You can explore the series here. Below is the incredible Mosaic made at the end of the series.

2022: #WELLbeing

Zentangle HQ used May to highlight a series of blogs that explored using the Zentangle Method as a tool to support mental health and we had fun exploring the tangle Well. You can explore the whole series here.

2021: Zentangle Project Pack No. 14: Tangled Musings

Molly and Maria created a very special booklet called Tangled Musings. Released in Project Pack No. 14, this project pack series is designed to highlight the importance of art and creativity in mental health and wellness.

Blogs

Laurie Chester, CZT, finding stability in tangling, Let Your Pen Soothe Your Soul, Volume 1.

Jessica Abresch, CZT, tangling through grief and anxiety, Let Your Pen Soothe Your Soul, Volume 2.

Melanie Moore, CZT, founding Warrior Arts to serve veterans, Let Your Pen Soothe Your Soul, Volume 3.

Miriam Zimms, CZT, finding balance in her mind, body, and soul after cancer diagnosis, Let Your Pen Soothe Your Soul, Volume 4.

Judith Adriaanse, CZT, writes about her own journey and is now teaching as part of Art on Prescription program in the Netherlands and Pam Atwood, psychotherapist and neurocognitive disorders specialist and CZT, writes about using the Zentangle Method with her clients, Let Your Pen Soothe Your Soul, Volume 5.

Maria Tovar and Mercedes Perez, sisters and both CZTs, sharing the method with health care providers to support their mental heath, Spanish Congress - Part 1 and Spanish Congress - Part 2

Russel McDonald, CZT, shares his journey in recovery in the CZT Family Tree.

Gale Sherman, CZT, teaching and empowering women at the Sister Jose Women's Center: Sisters Helping Sisters.

Page Sheinberg, CZT, helping people reduce stress and anxiety and increasing focus and motivation, Tangling Journeys from an Art Therapist.

Jody Genovese, CZT, teaching at a hospital mental health clinic, with very personalized stories of impact, How Can I Help?

Studies and Testimonials

Explore various studies that have been done on the effects of tangling. And listen to the stories of some of our CZTs' tangling journeys, why they were so drawn to the Zentangle Method and why they want to share it.