And now for something a little bit different …
With time on our hands to do some exploring the last few months, there’s been rising interest in a trademarked drawing method called Neurographica™.
Once you’ve seen Neurographic art, combining neurographic lines with tangling seems like a natural fit.
But what exactly is Neurographica?
With collaboration for this article with Seattle-based Certified Neurographica Instructor Anna Romanenko, we’re going to get some understanding of it.
There’s much more to it than meets the eye!
It’s a nice long Labor Day weekend, I figure we have time to learn and explore something new 🙂 [BTW, you’ll find a list of sources at the end of the article.]
Anna explains,
“Neurographica is a fairly new method, it’s only six years old. It was developed by a Russian psychologist, Dr. Pavel Piscarev. Neurographica is a scientific subject. It’s registered as one and everything we do has a scientific approach.
The Neurographica method is based on the practice of drawing, coupled with the intention of the one who is creating the picture in order to express their feelings and emotions through the drawing.
The Neurographica method is very practical, it helps to initiate positive changes in your life. Neurographica is about breaking patterns. We are finding new solutions, finding organic ways to release outdated patterns in our lives.
Neurographica helps to recognize personal patterns or hidden obstacles, and try different steps to find a creative solution. It can be used as Art Meditation for self-exploration, expressing emotions, holding a positive intention.
We use Neurographica to balance our mind and inspire creativity and imagination.”
Neurographica is also known by other names: neurographics, neurography, neurodrawing, and neirographics.
© 2020 Anna Romanenko, used with permission. All rights reserved.
Like Zentangle, the Neurographica Method is trademarked and instructors are required to be certified to teach it.
Again like Zentangle, there’s much more to it than appears on the surface and it would be a disservice to attempt to “teach” something without the appropriate qualifications to do so.
The Neurographica method involves intention as well as drawing and anyone can do it.
Bear in mind that this an oversimplified overview, “Neurographica in a nutshell“. It’s accompanied by three of Anna’s videos which will give you more detail.
The first two brief videos cover two basic concepts of Neurographica drawings. The third is Anna’s two-hour introductory class for beginners and covers the entire process, including the intention portion which is often the first step (the catharsis).
So grab a cup of tea or coffee, a round coin such as a penny, a few sheets of paper (or your sketchbook), a favorite black pen or marker and half a dozen-or-so colored pencils if you have them. (This is an excellent economical set.) From my experience you want a pen with a wider nib than a Micron 01, something like an 03 or an 05. FWIW I’m loving my “everyday” BIC Intensity, a permanent 0.5mm pen. I also like to cushion my drawing paper by having a few extra sheets underneath, makes for a nicer drawing experience … here we go.
Video 1 – NEUROLINES
A neurographic drawing begins with neurolines drawn with a pen or marker in a free, intuitive fashion as explained and demonstrated in this video.
These neurolines create for all intents and purposes what we in Zentangle would call a string although in Zentangle a string is always done in pencil.
In Zentangle we use the string to create spaces for our tangles. In Neurographica the neurolines ARE the patterns.
Having done a few basic neurographic drawings myself based on the introduction in Anna’s videos, for me the intention and the process of creating the neurolines makes a very different experience from Zentangle. Equally calming and relaxing.
NEUROGRAPHICA, How to draw the Neurographica line.
Healing Art with Anna Romanenko (7:53) March 5, 2020
Video 2 – ROUNDING
The completed (for now) neurolines are then layered with rounding. This is a tangle enhancement we’re all very familiar with, but the term rounding is used in a completely different context in Neurographica.
As Anna described to me, “Pavel Piskarev, the creator of Neurographica, uses rounding with deep meaning as an element of transformation and connection between elements.”
The function of rounding in Neurographica is to create harmony by smoothing out and softening all of the harsh intersections where lines cross. The reasoning and purpose behind this is more fully explained in the video.
In effect, rounding of the neurolines visually creates a large-scale inked “Crazy ’Nzeppel” “string”.
Neurographica, How to do rounding in Neurographica.
Healing Art with Anna Romanenko (13:05) March 5, 2020
Video 3 – TWO HOUR INTRODUCTORY CLASS: BASIC ELEMENTS AND STEPS
In Neurographica, the “Crazy ‘Nzeppel string” is then filled with color as you will see in Anna’s introductory basics class.
“The philosophy is to connect small details in bigger shapes, bigger meanings, bigger energies. To see how everything in the world is connected and supportive. We draw our life, our thoughts, our emotions and they all are connected and depend on each other.”
This video was a recorded online session and includes the example of how to use this method for lifting inner constraints. As Anna explains, “This is just the tip of the tip of the iceberg.”
Neurographica Introduction Class. Basic elements and steps.
Lifting Inner Constraints. For Beginners (1:55:21) August 3, 2020
After the first stages of neurolines, then rounding and adding color …
FIELD LINES
Strong black lines, called field lines in Neurographica, are added after rounding on all the neurolines are completed.
How to do field lines and their purpose is explained in the basics video. Once drawn, the field lines, or universal lines, are integrated into the drawing with rounding.
© 2020 Anna Romanenko, used with permission. All rights reserved.
FINE TUNING & SHAPES
(1:25:00) At this point the drawing is analyzed for places where potential shapes present themselves — circles, triangles, rectangles, squares. “Circles represent harmony, love, divinity, balance.” In this video Anna adds a bold circular line in the area where she “sees” a circle. These new circles or shapes are then integrated into the drawing using rounding and highlighting.
The drawing isn’t done until you want it to be. More neurolines, more color, more shapes … whatever you feel you want to make it feel done to you. This can take place right away at the same sitting, or maybe you might add to your drawings over a period of weeks or even months.
After you have finished the initial drawing it’s important to review it and see if your relationship to the subject has changed since you began. How have your emotions changed, “see what has changed. What is your new relationship to the topic, did you find something new about it, did you find any solutions?“
BTW, Anna held a similar online introductory class in July and if you’d like to see more that video is here.
© 2020 Anna Romanenko, used with permission. All rights reserved.
SUMMARY
Many in the Zentangle world have instantly recognized the possibilities of combining the two Methods in their Zentangle-inspired art and filling the large-scale Crazy ‘Nzeppel with tangles. Neurographica even uses our concept of rounding as a crucial aspect in the creation of neurolines.
The intuitive creation of neurolines at the heart of the Neurographica Method creates a perfect “string” or canvas for your tangling explorations.
“In Neurographica the internal process during the drawing is the most important aspect. Drawing is just a reflection of it. We pay attention to our reactions, our resistance, our body sensations. NeuroGraphica helps to achieve goals, process deep emotions, identify resources and use them.“
I’ve been finding that creating these neurographic drawings — without involving tangles — to be a very relaxing and calming thing to do and I’m hoping you find this as interesting as I have.
After reading this article if you are inspired to learn more about the Neurographic Method beyond its apparent affinity with tangling, please visit the Neurographica website listed in the resources below and contact a certified instructor like Anna Romanenko. Anna’s YouTube playlist has additional videos.
BTW, If you sign up for a class make sure your instructor is certified and qualified.
RESOURCES:
- https://www.neurographica.us/
- https://www.neurographica.us/introductioninneurographica
- https://www.neurographica.us/posters
- https://www.neurographica.us/instructors
- https://www.neurographica.us/in-the-press – a Q&A interview of Neurographics originator Pavel Piscarev
- Anna Romanenko’s YouTube Playlist
- https://annaromanenko.com
- https://neurographicacademy.com
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September 4, 2020 | 
More like this: 
Thank you very much Anna and Linda for this great post and wonderful demo’s. After visiting the special meeting of CZT in Germany in December 2019, I visited the website of a German CZT Gabriele Joppien who I met in Frankfurt. She is a Neurographic trainer also and I felt immediately in love with her drawings. Neurographic art is almost not known in Belgium but more in Germany. That is why I’m going to follow lessons, already next week in Aachen near the Belgian border. I’m looking forward and I think this kind of art can be beautiful combined with Zentangle art!!!
I love that you are introducing Neurographic art. I too have just recently become very interested in the method and the beautiful meaningful drawings. Thank you for your article and very useful information
Thank you, Linda. I’m sure I’ll take time to explore this. It reminds me of the slow drawing classes that I’m taking through Mindful Art Studio, but seems to go much deeper into the analytical and therapeutic aspect. I love lines!!!
Wowza! Thanks so much. Absolutely fascinating! I can hardly wait to try it.
This Neurographica article is fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
Great article! Thanks Linda and Anna. I find this really fascinating and I’m interested in finding out more.
Kind regards
ThIs process is very interesting. I plan to investigate it further and integrated into my Zentangle drawings. Thank you Linda and Anna Romanenko for sharing it.
Hmmmmm, yes, it has attracted my interest, however at the moment, I am finding it difficult to just “keep up” with my tangling projects, and frankly there is not enough hours in a day.
I intend having a better look at it later in the year though, when some of our health nuisances are sorted!
Thanks for sharing Linda, I shall enjoy the investigation!
Wow, Linda. This is great. The method speaks to me and I will definitely explore it some more.Thanks to you and Anna.
Muchas gracias por toda la información que nos has brindado en este artículo Linda. Me ha resultado muy interesante. Y de seguro que seguiré investigando sobre el método.
I was delighted to see that Neurographics has been given space here. I discovered the technique long after I had started using it without realizing that it was “officially” a style, but finding it a useful way of starting or even enhansing a drawing, I tried it on its own and missed the challenge of doing something “useful” with the spaces I was creating instead of ust colouring them, and tangles are an obvious solution. The combination of styles offers great freedom to create abstract drawings, using even intricate tangles. It is also possible to create special spaces deliberately so that in fact much of the pencilled string idea of Zentasngle is created deliberately and in ink. The (at first imagined?)tangles seem to grow out of the spaces. I expect we’ll see a lot more of Neurographics now it has been brought onto the Zentangle scene. The (official?) webite also includes scientific photos of neurons and is facinating, proving the legitimacy of giving the style its name.
I learned about this method of drawing in my Healing Doll Way class. It was called Neurotangle and of course I was naturally hooked! It is only slightly different but I absolutely love drawing them! I look forward to watching the videos here. Thank you and Anna for this gift!
Beautiful article! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank-you so much for this post Linda. I imediately fell in love with this technique and have already completed my first A3 size piece following Anna’s 2 hr video. I’m not sure I will combine it with my tangling practice as I don’t think the method needs it. It has come along at just the right time for me, I seem to have a number of life challenges that I need to process at the moment and I really think this will help.
I’m pleased this came at a good time for you, Lucy. I too am enjoying doing these pages (and tiles) without tangles. The results are completely different from a Zentangle or a ZIA but the process is equally calming and enjoyable.
Thank you ever so much for the article on Neurographica. It does indeed seem like a natural companion to Zentangle and a new direction for 2021.
Thanks you for reposting this article. I remember completing a piece and thoroughly enjoyed the process and final results.