Joy of Zentangle: Drawing Your Way to Increased Creativity, Focus, and Well-Being (Design Originals) Instructions for 101 Tangle Patterns from CZTs Suzanne McNeill, Sandy Steen Bartholomew, and Others

I tried a few Zentangle squares and quickly realized I needed some ideas and techniques. This book is a great starting point--and even all you need for quite a while. The book illustrates a number of patterns but also gives the principles of Zentangles --where you start with a border on (usually) a square tile of thick paper and then move on to a "string" (a scribble that divides up your space) and then how to fill with patterns. These designs are addictive and very fun for relaxation. You end up focusing on your drawing and shading and forgetting all the annoying things for a half an hour or so--very medicinal. This book is useful and will get you started well.

Really great ideas, suggestions and instructions in this book. As a newbie, I appreciated how it starts with basics and progresses to advanced techniques, covering shading, as well as the use of color. Joy of Zentangle stresses the importance of individual expression and gives tips on some of the places one can find inspiration. The illustrations are beautiful, and the supplies are simple and inexpensive. I doubt most readers will initially invest in the "professional" tools offered for order in the book, but I was able to achieve good results with a fine-tipped pen and some good paper. You do want to use paper that won't allow the ink to bleed. For my first zentangle, I used what I had, which was just a pine-point pen and plain white paper. It was ok, but I will be purchasing better paper and some of the recommended pens from my local art supply store. The beauty of this concept is that you can do it anywhere, with a minimum of supplies. I did my first as my 6th graders were taking a vocab test. I'll be interested to see if the many additional benefits they tout, come to fruition. Happy tangling!

This is a very enjoyable book, and a very well written intro to zentangles. Let me take a minute to explain the concept of zentangles for those who don't know (I'll explain the 'but' in the title in a bit). Think of zentangles as a zen or meditative way of doodling. You take a square card, put some marks in the corners- or really any random location- and using a pencil, connect those dots in a loose, 'unthinking' manner. The whole point is that you CANNOT make a mistake, because whatever you wind up with, you work with; there is no erasing. From there, you switch to a pen and use patterns to fill in the spaces, or if those spaces inspire you with images, go from there. I have to say that so far, I'm having a lot of fun with it and will probably purchase more books. There are books for various patterns and levels of experience. I purchased the book based on (almost literally) glowing reviews by people who had really gotten into them. I was trying to jumpstart my artistic side, and the whole concept of sparking creativity by drawing on a small card reminded me of a writing exercise I was taught, where you try to tell an entire story in one brief sentence. The small space, limited colors and short amount of time force you to stretch those creative muscles. I can see this being helpful to many people; artists, writers, or even people looking for a new way to meditate. The authors know their stuff and are all certified zentangle teachers (czt), which brings me to the 'but' in the title. On the page called "zentangle resources", there is information about respecting the zentangle copyright (which is a good thing), and becoming a czt. I wish wholeheartedly they had put this at the end of the book. The tone was not unpleasant, but it cast the rest of the book, and indeed the whole 'zentangle movement' in a negative light. Between that and the near dazzling reviews, it started to come across as kind of cult-ish. The endorsements scattered liberally throughout the book pretty much all stressed the importance of taking a class and the excitement of being a teacher. Then, the insistence on pigma micron pens and the notion that you COULD do zentangles on 'regular' paper, but it's sooo much nicer to do them on 'official' zentangle cards, well, that bugged the heck out of me. At approximately 50 cents a card, and considering the cost of the pens, this was no longer a very inexpensive hobby. Don't get me wrong- I applaud the creators, Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, for coming up with the idea, which really seems to work for many people. I don't know, maybe I'm too much of a 'granola' kind of girl, but the whole notion of such exclusivity and conformation seems to belie the very concept of zen. All that aside, I can honestly say that I do really enjoy doing zentangles, and will purchase other books in the future. I WILL NOT, however, be puchasing any 'official' (my choice of words) zentangle products. I've found that paper coasters (approx. 16 cents each) make wonderful subtitutes for zentangle tiles. Being rigid makes it really easy to punch a hole in the corner and attach a ring type binder for an instant book, and you can use both sides! Also, any gel type pen works great on them. So, while I DO recommend this book, I also encourage you to keep the zen in zentangle and use what you've got on hand or can get cheaply. I also really, really encourage the authors and other certified zentangle teachers out there to not push product so overtly. For some strange reason, it reminds me of the Tupperware and Home Interior parties my mom used to go to; yikes!

Pattern has been a passion of mine as far back as I can remember. Zentangle has been a part of my life since August 17, 2012, a little over two months. Since discovering this art form in Joanne Fink's book "Zenspirations - Letters & Patterning", I have purchased nearly every Zentangle book I can find, as well as the kit at Zentangle.com, created by the founders of this art form, Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. As a beginner in this art, I found "Joy of Zentangle - Drawing Your Way to Increased Creativity, Focus, and Well-Being" to be comprehensive, informative and truly inspiring. It is a fabulous book. "Joy" is the perfect word to describe how I feel about this book. "Joy of Zentangle" includes step-by-step illustrations showing how to create each of the 101 tangles presented in Chapter 5. A very high percentage of these 101 tangles are new to me, and the few familiar designs (such as Hollibaugh and Rick's Paradox) are classics that belong in a book as comprehensive as this one. These are just some of the features that set this book apart from the rest: The inspiring stories of how Zentangle has touched lives. A little "Chicken Soup for the Zentangle Soul". Color photographs of objects that inspired some of the tangles shown in the book. Fun exercises to expand your tangle repertoire. Better instructions for shading techniques. The best and most thorough explanation I've found in book form of what Zentangle is. A foreword/introduction by Alan Giagnocavo, Publisher, Fox Chapel Publishing/Design Originals. He gets it. This book is an excellent value. Full price or discounted, I think it is worth every penny. I know I'll come back to it time and time again for reference and inspiration.

By far the best Zentangle book I have read so far. I have looked through several different books seeking to understand and learn this art. This book gave a wonderful explanation of the background, purpose, and benefits of Zentangle. Through the use of this book, I have been able to unlock a new creativity and am creating beautiful pieces of art. I am finding myself craving time to tangle. It brings a calming that I have been seeking. It is equivalent to time spent in meditation. When I started tangling, I was copying the designs in the book and found online. Before too long, as promised in the book, my tangles are flowing and my designs just come. I don't have to think about them as my pen/pencil just flows from one design to the next creating a random yet beautiful work. This is a wonderful way for someone with anxiety or attention deficit issues to be able to clear their head and find a place of relaxation and peace. I am sleeping better since I have been tangling for about the last 30 minutes prior to bedtime. I am a happier person, more peaceful, and less restless. Tangling can happen anywhere. You can tangle on a napkin, a paper cup, a scrap paper. I have a sketchbook I have been using. I also have been using porcelain paint pens and tangling on coffee mugs, plates and platters. I plan to try a large canvas soon. It's an art form that has been around for years, yet has been hidden. And yet it is so very much more than art. It is healing.

I bought this book after I bought "Zentangle Basics" by Suzanne MacNeill. I highly recommend buying both at once. This book is easy to follow, and expands on her first book, with more patterns, and takes you through simple steps to what may look like a complicated Zentangle pattern: Kind of reminds me of the "Dummies" books because you won't feel dumb at all. I made holiday cards with simple 3" squares by creating a bell, a tree, or an ornament, and mounted them on black cards for a 4x5" envelope. People loved them, especially when they saw my intials on each one. I need to keep at it, as I get rusty! Treat yourself to a fun, new artform, where you cannot make a mistake! My favorite part.

Zen tangles are the best things you can draw when you’re bored. Only need pencil and paper and boom, brain fun. Very helpful patterns from some people who do this professionally. Really cool. I wanted to try shading one and you can see the difference it makes on the left vs right.

This is a gorgeous book, truly. The authors put an amazing amount of care and intentionality into creating a book that Zentanglers will absolutely love to open and explore. The instructions for Zentangling are clear and concise, easy to follow. The index of patterns is incredibly helpful in picking and choosing favorites. And the authors offer great instruction about shading and composing Tangles. I feel this book is best for rank beginners, people with little artistic experience or totally new to Zentangling. I have been drawing Zentangles since my first class about six months ago, and I found this book a bit elementary. I was hoping for a book that would further advance my skills. I ended up returning this book because it didn't have enough new information to challenge me and help me grow as an artist. For advanced beginner and intermediate Zentanglers I recommended Beckah Krahula's "One Zentangle a Day" which I absolutely love. It challenges what I know and is helping me take my art to the next level!

Es un buen libro

Very helpful...a must buy. I would recommend anyone who is seeking or looking for a self help tutorial book, with deep insight of the subject.

The patterns in the Zentangle book, provide a great face for those, just starting in the Zentangle world.

ペンで紙などに書くテクニックをキルトに応用するのはいろいろくふうが必要です。参考のデザイン画が応用につながりまあ納得しています。

It is actually a really good book. It explains the theory behind Zentangle, how it came about, why it is good for you and how to do it. It clearly shows how to do each design from start to finish, bit by bit. Once you have mastered each design, then off you go with creating your own Zentangle art. For someone, like myself, who can not draw at all, I found this amazingly brilliant. By breaking it down and showing you step by step how to draw the designs it has helped me learn to draw, something I never thought I would be able to do, so that is a bonus as far as I am concerned. Zentangle is a brilliant way of "shutting out" the outside world. Because you are so focused on what you are doing it actually does calm the mind and puts you into a "Zen". I found it incredibly helpful to take my mind off other things and when you have finished you really do feel calmer - I can see the benefits and understand why this is being used by professionals to help people in therapy. This is a starter book and shows you how to create 101 tangle patterns, which is a huge amount to get you going. I have had this book for a while and have not gone through all the patterns yet, but have already created some lovely work and have even done some more advanced work, where I have used the patterns to infill an outline of a plane for a Father's day card. The possibilities are endless. I do recommend that you use the pens suggested for your artwork, but when you are practicing the designs, then use a basic art book and/or graph paper and any fine nibbed pen.