That sounds like fun, but it reminds me too much of art exercises that I hated and rebelled against. It's a lot different when you're not being judged! And you can skip the ones you don't like or relate to. I did a progressive doll once where each doll also had a journal you were supposed to add a page to, talking about your part of the doll. I remember doing really different sketches from anything in my normal style because each doll had a character of her own, and the only rule for the media is that they don't wreck the journal. Your examples remind me of that as well. ;) I kind of love Zentangle, which is all about doodling with intention, but I get bored with it, so can only do a really small area. For the student, however, or the I-can't-draw person, or someone looking for more original designs to color, it's perfect. While doodling the Zentangle way, you learn all about positive and negative space, texture, fills, depth, accents and highlights -- while just doodling for fun to waste a little time, paper and ink. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=zentangle&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Azentangle

I am so surprised that no one has added anything to this thread, or even commented on it. Seems like adult coloring books are really the rage right now. You've done beautiful work, Ravencajun. (Love that screen name!) I finally gave in to this craze a couple of days ago. Nothing anywhere near completed to show yet. But I am hooked! When I first saw the books, I thought "NO way! I'd be a blithering idiot in no time if I tried to color in all those tiny spaces!" But it almost seemed like those books were out to get me! I began to see them everywhere I went, including all over the 'net. Then my DIL had asked for and received one for Christmas. Looking at it, I again said no way! Then I was killing time in Walmart, waiting for a prescription to be filled, and I picked up a book called "Winter Wonderland", I think. Anyhow, it had pictures of winter scenes to color in, as well as some of snowflakes, and other wintery type things. I thought about it for several days, ended up going back & getting it. Well, I didn't want to 'waste' my good Prismacolor artist's pencils on it, so I also picked up a cheap box of 72 pencils from amongst the kids' coloring and art stuff. I started out with a page of snowflakes, to get the feel of those pencils, and to figure out if I could do it or not. My hands have gotten very shaky in the last year, so I wasn't sure if I could stay in the lines or not. Well, it's not easy, I do get out of the lines some, but I'm thinking maybe the concentration will help steady my hands. I've read where people use different mediums for this, what are you using? It's been quite a few years since I've picked up a paint brush or a colored pencil, or a chalk pastel. Maybe, if nothing else, this will encourage me to get back into doing something. I've always been much happier when I am creating something. Rusty

The same Amazon 52 set pens are at AC Moore for $12.99 (reg. $24.99) if they still have any left. I know some areas, like Raven's, do not have AC Moore stores. I bought the Crayola Twist colored pencils for $6 at AC Moore for my mom. Right now, they have BoGo 50% off their Crayola supplies.

Yes they are everywhere now. I have been seeing them in the checkout lanes at the grocery store and pharmacy even at Lowe's! But surprisingly none of the gel pens with them I don't think they know about the pens they have regular crayons and pencils with them. Even hobby lobby and Michaels have very limited pens. So glad those are back at big lots it's a good deal. I have enough books I am not buying any more! I'm pretty I will buy more pens. The company owner of the color technik pens emailed me to thank me for my review at Amazon and gave me a code for 10%off my next purchase. I had also suggested they think about offering refills for the pens because they are nice pens and refills would mean less trash in our landfills. He said he loved that idea and has already submitted it for them to get it done. I would support that. Can you imagine how many of these empty pens will be going to the trash. Very nice guy it's a small family owned and operated business.