Customer Reviews

#3450 Zentangle Basics

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

The front and back covers are given page numbers too, so basically there are only 15 pages in here. I thought it would be a bit more of a comprehensive introduction to many of the techniques of zentangles. I guess that's why there is a zentangle 2, which should have been added in with this one. A few pages per book?? I should have just saved my money and got the "official" zentangle kit at their website instead.

Don't bother buying the book. Just about all the patterns can be found on the authors blog site. I felt I really wasted my money.

I originally purchased Zentangele 2 and because I liked it so much, I went ahead and bought this first edition. It's okay, but I prefer and recommend Zentangle 2 over this one. You can get some great ideas for projects and how to use Zentangles in art from this basics book. Some patterns in this first book and Zentangles 2 are repeated, so you will be disappointed if you buy both books thinking you'll get double the tangle ideas (I was). Overall, it's an okay book and can get you started creating your own Zentangles, if that's what you're looking for.

Hope Wilbanks, author of 37 Tips For Successful Homeschooling: A Beginner's Guide to Make Homeschooling Fun and Easy For The Entire Family (Volume 1)

I bought this book because I've become obsessed with Zentangles. This provides the simple basic tangles to get you started. Be aware that while the cover states "25 *more* Tangles" it actually contains repeats of tangles included in the first edition of this book, Zentangle Basics. If you're looking for tangle ideas to get you started on your own Zentangles, I would recommend this book over the Zentangles Basic book.

Hope Wilbanks, author of Step Into Your Life: A Self Empowerment Guide For Women (Volume 1)

Because I could not choose, I bought all three of the Zentangle books by Suzanne McNeill. And Totally Tangled by Sandy Steen Bartholomew (see my review there) as well..

I like them all.

As other reviewers already stated, each of the Zentangle series books can be used on its own. But if you would like to begin at the beginning, the basics book is best.

I do not agree with the reviewer who said that Zentangle 2 is almost a repetition of Zentangle Basics. This is simply not true. The very basics of Zentangling are summarised in Z2, but this is a kind gesture for those who do not own both books.

Z1 gives you 24 designs - plus simple variations, such as reversing black and white, which gives the pattern a completely different look -, Z2 repeats four of them, and adds 25 more - also with variations -, as it promises. So, if you buy them both, you will have 49 different patterns.

Some reviewers complain that the books contain so few pages. True. But the techniques are so simple that I feel that adding extra pages would only fill out the book, without adding substance. There is no waste of space in these books, so I feel that you do get value for money: lots and lots of patterns to try out for yourself, and to experiment further with.

If you really do not want to buy all three of them, it does not matter very much which book you choose, as the basic steps are repeated shortly in vols 2 and 3.

If I really had to pick one favourite, perhaps I would choose vol. 3. This book focuses a tiny bit more on how to incorporate the patterns into your own drawings, with a whole page of spectacularly zentangled flowers. Really mouthwatering for anyone who loves doodling. Books 1 and 2 are slightly more basic, but the difference is small.

If you are a greedy person, like me, and seeing 20 patterns just makes you want to see MORE, then do buy all three of them.

Good luck! I hope my review will help you pick and choose!

Zentangles Basics was a good book to get started. Zentangles 2 is a waste of money. It's mainly repeats of the basics and then has pages of where to draw your Zentangles (clothes, ATC's, scrapbooks, etc.) Don't waste your money on 2. Instead, get Totally Tangled by Bartholomew.

You really don't need the book. Just about all the patterns and ideas are found on the authors site. Big disappointment when the mail arrived.

tanglepatterns.com will give you tons of patterns.
Google "flickr hive mind zentangle" for a huge gallery of completed tangles by multiple artists...great ideas!

I bought Zentangle Basics, and Zentangle 2, 3, and 4 at the same time.

Zentangle Basics is a very basic book. It has lots of good, simple tangles, a summary of Zentangling, some examples, and some fun applications. It also explains how to start shading your tangles.

If you are wanting a complete library of Zentangle books this would be a worthwhile addition. I plan to keep this book around to loan to beginners who are new to the concept because it would be perfect for that, plus this book would also be great to include for classroom activities, group activities, etc. It's not too involved while explaining everything to give you a good foundation plus patterns to start out with.

Also, I have to say:

1. yes, it only has a "few" pages compared to most art books. But it's listed on the Amazon listing that it's only 20 pages, so why people give it low ratings for that reason boggles my mind. Also, Zentangling is supposed to be a simple concept that doesn't require much explaining - it's about the patterns and the activity itself.

2. Yes, you can find patterns online, but I don't like being tied to my computer when I want to tangle. I'm still relatively new to tangling and I need references and ideas, and the time/ink/paper that it would take to print everything out would far surpass paying $8.99 for the number of tangles in the book. Also, by buying the book you are supporting an independent artist that loves what they do.

If you've never seen anything at all about Zentangles before, then this book will teach you to do simple doodles. However if you've spent a couple of hours looking at the free websites that describe the common zentangle patterns, then you already know everything that is in this book. Don't waste your money or your time on this book. You'll be much better off reading the excellent tanglepatterns.com site.