In our collective rush to grow up we can often mistakenly leave things behind that we can enjoy throughout all of life. Coloring books were fun and instructive – we learned how to “stat inside the lines”, a skill that can serve us well in many aspects of living and social engagement.all specially drawn for the book – range from traditional motifs – hearts, sailors, girls, skulls, roses – to more elaborate compositions with a contemporary edge.”
At an objectionable extreme, metaphorically staying inside the lines teaches us to conform to norms, which could generate robot-like followers rather than creative leaders.
On the other hand, using time to relax and create something beautiful is “good for the soul”. Not everyone is artistic, but almost everyone can create beauty by coloring pictures with crayons, colored markers, colored pencils, or even a combination of device.
Coloring might help to release tension, but it’s a fundamentally more directed and restrictive activity than painting something from scratch.One roadblock has long been the kinds of drawings available for adult coloring, called colorists in some circles. The days of fat bunnies and wood nymphs are past and the more mature colorists would gain greater satisfaction for patterns that are more artistic and offer more of a challenge.
Since Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book by Johanna Basford was release, in 2013, it has sold over two million copies worldwide. For a time, this book and a follow-up from the same author, “Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest and Coloring Book,” were the two best-selling books on Amazon. The artwork is sophisticated––not like a car or a bunny with a bow in its hair.
For those less interested in picture books, there’s Mandala, a spiritual and ritual symbol in Indian religions, representing the universe. The basic form of most mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. In historical, social and political sense, the term "mandala" is also employed to denote traditional Southeast Asian political formations. Regardless of whether you look at the Mandala with religious or political eyes they are intriguing and look artistic when completed, whether by a beginner of an accomplished colorist.
There are numerous Mandala drawings available on the internet – free to download, print out, and color. If you prefer the drawings in a book form, Amazon – and local bookstores – offers many selections. A popular – and inexpensive – offering is The Mandala Coloring Book by Jim Gogarty. It costs under $10.00 and Amazon Prime members can get it with free shipping.
For something less “holy” or mundane, you might want to take a look at The Tattoo Colouring Book by Megamunden The Amazon description says the book is, “packed with stunning illustrations, this unique coloring book celebrates the art of the tattoo. The tattoo designs –
Starting small is easy – whether you download free drawings from the internet , or invest a whopping $10.00 buying a bound book. Colored pencils are cheap and even available in grocery stores. I tried it and I like it. You might too.
