Zenspirations: Letters & Patterning (Design Originals) Beginner-Friendly Techniques for Frames, Doodles, Lettering, Patterns, and Borders to Decorate Your Journals, Drawings, Crafts, Gifts, and More

This compact book with so much information is a Dynamo ! Definately worth your time and money. It's loaded with enough ideas that you will be sparked to have some of your own. The Content is nicely laid out and very organised by the categories. My main reason for purchasing this guide book is for the Lettering anf the Borders. The rest is a bonus !! The author, Joanne Fink has done a fine job of keeping the learning interesting.

The book is everything it's advertised to be. Anyone can draw these things and the fun is in the embellishing. Add dots, lines, curves, and so on. I love playing with a pencil but my talent for drawing and sketching leaves much to be desired. I am generally left feeling frustrated with every attempt. With the ideas in this book I have had fun drawing and creating and new ideas keep on coming. It is a very relaxing and playful endeavor, because you really can't mess up. Crooked lines are part of the charm of the drawing! I highly recommend this book to anyone who simply enjoys drawing and playing with color. I would think even a talented artist could enjoy these exercises simply to clear the mind and find new inspiration. Joanne Fink also has a few videos on YouTube that are interesting and informative. She demonstrates several of the techniques in the book. I have another book on doodling and also have tried some of the Zentangle books. But this book is by far the easiest and most fun of all.

When I first heard of "Zentangles" I briefly investigated the idea, but was turned off by the "official" patterns and "certified instructors" and forgot about it. I came across this book at the library, and was so enchanted I ordered my own copy immediately. I love the "out of the box" approach and the exuberance of Fink's style. The book is printed on heavy glossy paper so the colors and designs are crisp. There are examples of using the art by itself or to enhance other objects - cards, bookmarks, calendars, the ideas are endless. Her experience as a lettering artist come into play as well, and she demonstrates a simple alphabet that can be embellished for use with the drawings. She makes doodling fun!

to become more creative with your writing whening doind crafts, letters, photo journals, any cards, etc. You can even apply it to everyday uses to dress things up, shows step by step my kid can use it for reference. Timely delivery. A book that comes off shelf regularly. Thanks for the good price.

I should start by saying I think I own every Zentangle book out there and I think this book would appeal to both the beginner and the advanced Zentanglist (is that a word?). First, for the beginner ... you start with borders or strips of Zentangles or patterns. Somehow that seems to be easier, not quite so overwhelming? (Anyone can do one border, right? How about another one?) For the advanced, I think this book demonstrates a different "look." While Zentangles look very striking with bold lines and black & white contrast, Zenspirations seems more fluid. If you look closely at the ABC on the cover, you can see multiple lines that cross over each other to make these letters. Then within some of the lines are the Zentangle patterns. Inside the book, you will see color added to some of the letters, which adds a dramatic punch. (Personally, I think this alphabet was worth the price of the book!) So, if you can't tell by now, I think this book would make a wonderful addition to any crafter's library.

I have a fair few Tangle books now, and those I have, I adore. This one seemed different - so I ordered this one too. It IS different!! It's absolutely lovely. I like to do finishing touches, draw some cards to send to family and friends, or simply a letter and I will try to embellish it a little, to cheer it up a bit with a squiggle here and there :-). I had been looking around for alphabet letters I could simply "Tangle" fill-in, when I was in a hurry to get something done. I also like to do a nice edge or border around a design. Joanne's book here has wonderful hints for that. She shows you all these cool designs for frames around photos too - imagine finding a pattern you can easily copy to adorn your favourite affirmation !! - you really just want to get stuck into them !! Her letters and patterning have really added to my store of "ingredients" for future cards, letters, drawings, and last but not least Tangles !! :-) My many thanks for this fantastic book of yours Joanne, it's great !! Kind regards, L.B.

I really like the author -Joanne Fink- and her teaching style, a lot. I watch her videos on YT done for Sakura products . She teaches you how to do Zentangle type art with Sakura products. Sakura makes various pens/paints for exactly this type of artwork as depicted in this book. However, this book felt like one big promotional ad for Sakura products with very little teaching information. In fact, what this book offered in information, I had already gotten off one of her videos. This book is scant with HOW TO's- and it is written in a style that is definitely for beginners. But even beginners might be disappointed in how little is offered here in the way of information. Joanne Fink is wonderful to watch at work and her enthusiasm for the kind of art work she teaches is very contagious. I am both surprised and disappointed this book did not offer more for the price. It is a thin trade sized paperback. On the upside, what instruction she does offer in the book, she does offer clearly and concisely. Yet, overall the book is a big disappointment :-( If you have to buy this- get a used edition. And if check her out on YT under both her name and Sakura. As a side note- I purchased via Amazon through one of their LIGHTENING DEALS, a superb set of pens that you would use for Zentangle type art- Pigma Micron 6 piece set in Black. The set comes with 6 different sizes and is a set Fink would recommend. I love how they write/draw! If you have not bought your gel pen set yet, check out Amazon for this great set by Sakura!

I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into with this book. This was my first Zentangle book and I absolutely love it!!! It's great for the beginner or the advanced. Joanne Fink does a wonderful job explaining the steps to draw beautiful borders, frames and images. Plus she included great illustrations with step by step photos. I haven't drawn in years but after getting this book I can't stop. It's so much fun and is easy. Plus there aren't a lot of expensive supplies to buy which is a big plus. Overall this is a fantastic book and I highly recommend it to anyone who just wants to have fun!!!