Zentangle Panda Coloring Page

Every part of this bear is filled with pattern on this zentangle panda coloring page. A seated panda looks straight at you with big round eyes, framed by a border of pink leaves around its face. Its arms carry bold black diamonds and rings, and its belly stacks up six bands of triangles, scales, diamonds, arches, circles and leaves. Tall patterned bamboo stems stand on both sides.

This is a detailed page for teens and adults, ages 12 and up. The spaces get quite small near the paws, so it can take two or three hours. It is the kind of sheet you pick up in the evening and return to over several days.

Dark parts stay dark

What keeps this drawing looking like a panda is the balance of dark and light. The ears, eye patches, chest band, arms and feet hold solid black points and diamonds, even before you add any color. The belly and face are open and light. Try to keep that balance as you go.

A good way is to use cool, deep colors on the dark parts. Navy, slate, dark purple and charcoal gray all work. Save your pale and bright colors for the belly. If those dark zones stay deep, the panda will still read clearly from across the room.

Leave the middle of the face white. Your eye needs a place to rest on a busy page, and a bright face makes the eyes the focus. The only other color up there should be the leaf fan on the forehead and the flowers on the cheeks.

Zentangle panda coloring page palettes

Choose your colors before you begin, because a palette matters more here than on a simple page. These sets look good:

• Bamboo forest with five greens, plus one gold accent
• Jewel box with sapphire, ruby, emerald and amethyst on the belly
• Soft pastels on the belly with dark gray on the fur
• Two colors only, such as teal and coral, in light and dark shades

Each stem has five sections with chevrons, scales or diamonds. Use a repeating order on all four stems and the sides of the page will tie together.

Tips for tiny shapes

Fine liners or very sharp colored pencils give the cleanest result. Gel pens are great on the dark zones, since they show up well next to solid black. Work from the top of the page down, and keep a sheet of scrap paper under your hand so you do not smudge finished work.

Lots of small spaces can feel like too much. Pick one band and finish it, then stop and look at it before you move on. The scales near the floor go quickly and are a good warm up. The round foot pads are slower, but they are also the most satisfying part. Each one works like a tiny mandala with a red center.

Why the black and white matters

The real coat has a purpose too. In a 2017 study in Behavioral Ecology, reported by UC Davis, scientists said most of the body is white to help the animal hide in snowy places. The arms and legs are black, which helps it hide in shade.

The study linked this to diet. Poor food means no long winter rest, so these bears stay active through the year in very different settings. It is a useful thing to think about as you shade those dark arms.

Show it off

Date your page when you finish it, and write down the colors you used on the back. Those notes help if you ever want to repeat a palette. Finished pages look striking in a simple black frame, and a color copy makes a thoughtful handmade gift for a panda lover.

Coloring clubs can use this page as a shared project. Give each person the same sheet and the same four colors, then compare how different the results turn out.

More detailed pages

If you enjoy this style, the zentangle cat coloring page is a good match. You might also like the panda mandala coloring page, which has eight small cubs around one big face.

Questions