Jeanette Nyberg - Tangle Art and Drawing Games for Kids: A Silly Book for Creative and Visual Thinking

JEANETTE NYBERG

A Silly Book for Creative and Visual Thinking

2016 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

Text and illustrations 2016 Jeanette Nyberg

First published in the United States of America in 2016 by

Quarry Books, an imprint of

Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

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Suite 406-L

Beverly, Massachusetts 01915-6101

Telephone: (978) 282-9590

Fax: (978) 283-2742

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.

Digital edition published in 2016

Digital edition: 978-1-63159-191-4

Softcover edition: 978-1-63159-126-6

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available

Cover and Book Design: Laura McFadden

Cover Art: Jeanette Nyberg

Cartoon Illustrations: Shutterstock.com

Illustrations pages : Mike Wanke

For Christian, whose creativity is inspiring.

YOU ARE A CREATIVE KID. RIGHT?

Even if you dont think you are, you have creativity running through your whole being, and you are totally cool because of it. Do you already like to doodle and draw? Maybe your homework looks a little like a sketchbook. Maybe you fill pages of paper with drawings. Or maybe youre a little intimidated by drawing.

Whatever the case, were going to get you doodling and drawing all over the place and loving it. You wont even realize youre making art until its too late, and you look down at your page and see that youve been moving that marker across the paper like you just cant stop.

Sometimes, were all at a loss for what to draweven if youre a voracious art-maker and you want every bit of drawing inspiration you can get your hands on.

Welcome to this book! On these pages, I present to you forty-six fantastic, amazing, mind-boggling drawing games and tangle exercisesenough to fill your days with creating forevermore.

Many of you have already found the powerful ways that focusing on drawing can calm you, center you, and open your mind. I think most of us who have ever found ourselves using a pen to draw cool patterns across a page can attest to the magical benefits of doodling.

In fact, one of the best things about drawing is that you neednt feel like you are artistically talented to take it up. Its open to everyone, and you merely need a pen and piece of paper to get started.

Most of the projects in this book have been created in such a way that you can do them even if you have zero confidence in drawing. Flip through and try one out! Start with the very easiest (and sometimes hilarious) drawing games in the beginning or jump into the games that use more than one mediumcolor is fun to explore. Finally, if you are looking for a more meditative way to spend your drawing time, throw on some music and tangle the day away with the projects in the third section.

P.S. Always remember: All kids are creative; dont let that get away from you.

P.P.S. I bet your parents will want to do some of these with you.

Here are some of the materials used in this book, and feel free to substitute if you like using a particular material or if you just dont have it handy.

Permanent markers in fine and ultra fine points

Colored markersI use anything from Sharpies to Prismacolors, depending on the color and marker tip I like.

Watercolor and brushes

Ruler or straight edge

Black drawing pens like Microns or Faber Castells

Pencil

Black india ink

Blue painters tape

Ink pad

Crayons or oil pastels

SIMPLE DRAWING GAMES

Most of these games require a pen or pencil. A ridiculous disposition will also help. (I know theres some silliness lurking inside of you!) As I was developing these projects, I couldnt stop thinking up new riffs on these ideas. Let yourself do the same and feel free to add your own crazy twists as you try these activities.

Flip through the book and try whichever games appeal to you at first glance. Some of them require (or can alternatively be done) with a partner, so enlist the help of your friends or family.

Whenever you find a drawing game that you particularly love, be sure to play it more than once. You will see how the games have different outcomes every time you try them. Grab a big stack of paper (I adore white card stock) and keep the fun flowing. There are usually an infinite number of ways to approach these games, and your third or fourth try might end up being your favorite!

This is a fun drawing exercise to try for an hour or so when your younger (or older) sister (or brother) is totally annoying you and you need to go slam your bedroom door and CHILL. Grab a fine point Sharpie.

This beats hanging out with my sister any day.

Starting near the bottom of the page in the middle, draw a vertical line that extends up about a quarter of the page. This line will be your trunk.

Draw several straight lines or branches out from this trunk, taking your time and filling up the page.