Finding My Way to Zendoodle Calm

A Review of Zendoodle Calm By Felicity French and Lauren Farnsworth

Zendoodle Calm is a fantastic new kind of coloring book for adults.

You color designs with doodles, not solid color. This makes coloring more of a meditative activity, and thus the name, Zendoodle Calm.
Coloring with doodles is a lot like the pattern shading that Albrecht Durer made commonplace in his famous rhinoceros woodcutting in 1515. I actually tried an art project with my kids once to recreate their own versions of that Durer rhinoceros, but it was a disaster. The kids were too young for the concentration required to make the detailed patterns and the experience did not lead to calm.

As an adult, Zendoodle Calm, is a challenging and calming activity.

You can express your own artistic whims while following along with the instructions for each picture. And, I discovered that while the design of the cover attracted my kids’ attention, I did not have to worry about them wanting to have my wonderful coloring book once they saw the level of doodling detail involved. It was all mine!

The first impression you get when you get when holding this book, is that the paper is thicker and more sturdy than most books.

That is critical as you will be doodling and drawing and coloring all over each page. No matter how much I doodled with pencils and ball point pens and markers, the marks never transferred to the next page. The paper is that perfect for art.

The book begins with a short set of instructions.

The wonderful thing about Zendoodle Calm art is all you need are the tools you have laying around your house. You don’t need to go purchase new artist pencils or expensive markers. You just use what you have.

Then, unless you are much braver than I, you begin practicing patterns.

The part that drives you to a state of calm is that you need to push all those everyday worries and cares away and focus on making the repeating doodle patterns. My patterns did not look exactly like the samples in the book, no matter how hard I tried, but it turns out that it doesn’t matter. The results are still relaxing and pretty and rewarding.

You can try using color to enhance your Zendoodle as well.

Also, as you get more comfortable the authors encourage you to branch out and try using different colors or changing the size of the doodles you use depending on the size of the space you are filling in the picture.

Regardless, the book is fantastic. If you take your time and enjoy the process, I can see this book lasting you and very long time, making the $12.00 purchase price a heck of a deal!

 

Book Information

ZENDOODLE CALM

Stress-free Pattern Play for Relaxation

by Felicity French and Lauren Farnsworth

Plume Trade Paperback Original

ISBN: 978-0-7352-1694-5

List Price: $12.00