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Book Review- One Zentangle A Day

I received a copy of One Zentangle A Day: A 6-Week Course in Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration, and Fun by Beckah Krahula to review (Thanks Quarto Publishing!).
Zentangles are so fun to do. If you haven’t tried this neat drawing technique, keep reading and then grab a pencil or pen and start doodling. It’s super relaxing!
Let’s start with the official description of the book:
“One Zentangle A Day is a beautiful interactive book teaching the principles of Zentangles as well as offering fun, related drawing exercises. Zentangles are a new trend in the drawing and paper arts world. The concept was started by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas as a way to practice focus and meditation through drawing, by using repetitive lines, marks, circles, and shapes. Each mark is called a “tangle,” and you combine various tangles into patterns to create “tiles” or small square drawings. This step-by-step book is divided into 6 chapters, each with 7 daily exercises. Each exercise includes new tangles to draw in sketchbooks or on tiepolo (an Italian-made paper), teaches daily tile design, and offers tips on related art principles, and contains an inspirational “ZIA” (Zentangle Inspired Art) project on a tile that incorporates patterns, art principals, and new techniques.”

I have nothing but good things to say about this book. You want this if you want to learn how to zentangle and want to learn lots of interesting repetitive patterns.
Beckah gives you an introduction to the art of zentangling, the basic supplies you’ll need to start zentangling, extra supplies for ZIA (zentangle inspired art) and even how to make the “string” that is the guide of your zentangle.
This book is meant to be used every day over the course of 6 weeks, learning patterns every day, as well as tips on shading, understanding and using color, defining your style, etc.

I haven’t been using it every single day, instead I’ve been reading it and practicing the patterns in the my sketchbook (pictured above).

As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I have nothing bad to say about this book. It’s perfect in my opinion. Beckah Krahula has written a wonderful book full of gorgeous patterns and helpful tutorials.

You can purchase and find out more about the book here.

If you want more zentanlge inspiration, maybe check out 500 Tangled Artworks: A Showcase of Inspired Illustrated Designs, which is also by Beckah Krahula . I reviewed that book too if you want to know what I though about it, click here.

*I was compensated for this post with a copy of the book, but opinions are my own!

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Book Review- 500 Tangled Artworks

I received a copy of  500 Tangled Artworks: A Showcase of Inspired Illustrated Designs by Beckah Krahula to review (Thanks Quarto Publishing!). You may or may not know it, but I love zentangling. I first discovered it about 4 years ago at the Great American Scrapbook Convention and I really enjoy just doodling all of the fun patterns.
I actually own another of Beckah Krahula’s books, One Zentangle a Day as well as her Tangle Art zentangle kit.
To start off this review, here’s a little bit about Beckah’s new book:
“Become inspired by this vast collection of meditative drawing tiles known as tangles! 500 Tangled Art Works, curated by Beckah Krahula, author of the bestselling book, One Zentangle a Day, is the first book to feature a large and wide-ranging collection of exciting, beautiful, and experimental drawings. Tangles, a one to four stroke repetitive pattern used in a meditative art form called Zentangle(TM), are showing up all over the world in drawings, paintings, and many forms of mixed media art. With an introduction and history of this zen art form, 500 Tangled Art Works shares basic techniques, and features a cutting edge collection of the latest and greatest drawing from this contemporary movement. After seeing this amazing assortment of art, it will be easier than ever to start tangling on your own!”

If you’re looking for a “how to” type book, to teach you how to zen tangle, this isn’t it. You should consider Beckah’s One Zentangle a Day book, which shows you how to do a different zentangle pattern every day.

This book is jam packed full of inspiring art! It does have a nice introduction and the step outs for 4 beginner tangle patterns as well as a written tutorial for making a zentangle tile.

The first chapter is full of examples of the classic zentangle tile, a 3.5″ tile in achromatic colors. The second chapter has larger tangles rather than the simple squares also in achromatic colors.

The third chapter is a favorite, it has ZIA- Zentangle Inspired Art. Which means zen tangle patterns, but not necessarily on a tile and these also have color, which I love.

Chapter four has Mixed Media ZIA’s. A lot like chapter 3, only with more media, not just ink and paper. These are such an inspiration.

Chapter 5 is all about fiber ZIA’s. Think quilting and sewing combined with zentangling. I want to try some of this,

The last chapter (five) is about ZIA’s in sculpture. These are really neat, Tangles take on a 3d form with clay, restyled decor and unique art.

The book also contains an artist directory in the back, so if you see a tangle or an artist you especially love, you can see if they have a website and check out more of their work. Of course, ALL of the artists featured in this book are extremely talented!

I may be biased, as I already loved zentangles, but if you pick up this book I promise you’ll find a new love in tangling!

You can find out more about 500 Tangled Artworks: A Showcase of Inspired Illustrated Designs by Beckah Krahula here.

*I was compensated for this post with a copy of the book, but opinions are my own!

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Zentangled Jar using POSCA Markers

Using the POSCA markers I received from a giveaway at Crafted, I zentangled (doodled) a large glass jar I had.
I use this jar to keep the change I find laying around the house, or in parking lots, laundry, etc. (I love picking up pennies. haha.)
So far, I am loving the POSCA markers! 🙂
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A ZenTangled Card

I doodled this cute little Owl zentangle awhile back, (see him here.) and have been wanting to use him on something. I decided it looked fab on this card. Don’t you think?

To learn more about zentangling, Stop by the zen tangle website. Or if you want to learn some new patterns, I recommend visiting this page.

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SHIPPING NOTICE- All orders placed between 10/27/2020 - 11/07/2020 will ship on 11/09/2020. I am currently away on a creative retreat & gathering inspiration! Again, orders placed will ship asap on 11/09/2020. Dismiss