ANDOVER — In a world that rarely slows down, artist Jean Schwerdt Stewart has found a way to help people pause — one pen stroke at a time.
Stewart is a certified Zentangle teacher who introduces students to the Zentangle Method, a meditative drawing practice that blends creativity with mindfulness. Designed to quiet the mind while engaging the hands, Zentangle offers a surprising sense of calm — no art background required.
Art has always been part of Stewart’s life.
With a degree in fine arts, she has taught oil and watercolor painting, jewelry making, and other creative disciplines over the years. But her introduction to Zentangle came unexpectedly, during a weekly gathering she hosted years ago in Lawrence.
“I used to invite friends over every Thursday night to paint,” Stewart said. “I had turned our basement into a jewelry and art studio, and everyone worked on whatever inspired them.”
One evening, a friend arrived with a small, intricate drawing composed of repeating patterns.
“I was absolutely fascinated,” Stewart said. “I remember thinking, ‘How have I never heard of this?’”
Curiosity led her to explore the method further, and before long, she was creating her own Zentangle drawings — small, thoughtful pieces that felt both grounding and expressive.
After the death of Stewart’s husband eight years ago, Zentangle took on a deeper meaning for her. Seeking a way to channel her grief, she enrolled in a multiday workshop to become a certified teacher that was hosted by the founders of Zentangle, Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas.
The experience, held at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island, brought together students from around the world.
“It was life-changing,” Stewart said. “I left not only certified, but eager to share this practice with others.”
Begun in Northbridge, Massachusetts, by well-known calligrapher Thomas and longtime meditation practitioner Roberts, Zentangle was born from the meditative state that Thomas experiences when she illustrates text.
At its core, the Zentangle Method is simple and accessible. Using structured patterns — known as “tangles” — students draw combinations of dots, lines, curves and orbs on squares of white paper called tiles.
The process is intentionally unplanned and nonrepresentational, allowing the artist to focus on each stroke without worrying about the final result.
“There’s no right or wrong, no up or down,” Stewart said. “You rotate the paper as you work, keep your hand relaxed and follow the steps. The beauty comes from letting go.”
That sense of ease has resonated deeply with her students, many of whom come to Zentangle during periods of loss or transition.
One longtime student from Brightview Senior Living in North Andover, Mary Todd, discovered Zentangle while navigating her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and eventual move into memory care before his death in 2022.
“I don’t know how I would have gotten through those years without Zentangle,” Todd shared with Stewart.
Last year, Todd published a memoir about her experience, “You Make a Big Good: A Journey With Alzheimer’s.”
Another student whom Stewart met at her seasonal campsite in West Ossipee, New Hampshire, was grieving the loss of his wife of 25 years. After being introduced to Zentangle, he began drawing on his own, returning regularly to share his progress.
“He’s still grieving,” Stewart said gently, “but Zentangle gives him a peaceful place to go. Now, sometimes, other campers hear him playing music again.”
For Stewart, stories like these affirm the quiet power of the practice.
“For people dealing with stress, trauma or anxiety, Zentangle can take them completely out of their worries for an hour or two,” she said.
“All you need is a pen and a small piece of paper. You can carry it anywhere.”
Stewart teaches Zentangle classes throughout the Merrimack Valley at libraries, senior centers, retirement communities and private homes. She also offers a monthly class at The Robb Center in Andover.
More than an art lesson, her classes offer something increasingly rare: time, stillness and the freedom to create without pressure.