Tangle
Magic was published in its original smaller format back
in 2016; this new edition is larger, which makes the fantastic
illustrations look even more impressive. The paper is smooth
with a slightly glossy texture and of above average thickness,
so will take water-based pens if you don’t press too
hard (not Sharpies). Like its sister publication Tangle Wood
(also reviewed on this site) it is also ideal for newer media
such as brush pens or watercolor pencils. Sadly as with other
coloring books by this author you won’t find perforations,
the designs often do vanish into the center of the book and
are printed on both sides. This is not ideal for framing your
work and you will have to carefully use a craft knife to remove
pages and choose which side you like best. Many pictures are
spread on two pages, and there are fewer options for your
own drawings than in Tangle Wood, but then this book has its
own charm.
For one thing it comes complete with
a coloring lesson at the front on how to color a gem using
pencils and there are quite a few gems to test your new skills
on. The emphasis is very much on fantasy, and the author’s
imagination has been given free rein resulting in some amazing
and original images. A peacock rides on a broomstick, a chameleon
wears a wizard’s hat, chickens ride bicycles and a bird
is made out of snowflakes. Birds feature widely; fighting
over gems, wearing clothes and ornate crowns. There are pages
of jewelry to add gems to, creatures made up of vegetation
and a blank crystal ball awaits your own vision of the future.
The line widths vary from very fine to medium but all look
hand drawn with no pixilation. Another feature common to all
this author’s books is a list of items to find hidden
in the pictures and a “this book belongs to” page.
Even the covers can be colored, plus the endpapers. I do hope
we haven’t seen the last of Jessica Palmer’s wonderful
coloring books.
If you cannot find a good range of
coloring and drawing materials locally try www.searchpress.com
for a list of suppliers.
All the art media mentioned and more
available from https://arteza.co.uk/
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