Review: Great Garden Quotes, a Gardening Book with Wit, Wisdom and Heart

"GreenPrints Magazine, the Weeder’s Digest" years ago when pitching one of my gardening stories for publication. I didn’t make the cut, but the editor, Pat Stone, left a favorable impression on me because of his personable way of dealing with writers. Trust me, that’s not a given.

That’s why I was delighted when I found out a few months ago that he was compiling a coloring book with “Wit, Wisdom and Heart” (he even had readers vote on the cover). The result is Great Garden Quotes, a careful selection of art and quotes, all with a gardening theme, obviously.

These appeared originally in various issues of the Weeder’s Digest over its 26-year span. The quotes are the same, but the original artwork was adapted to suit more of a coloring book style. Some of the 69 drawings are quite detailed, others less so. While I’ve been coloring since October 2015, I don’t consider myself advanced at all because I have health and vision problems that impact my coloring. Still, I would be able to manage the majority.

Keep in mind the paper isn’t very thick, but since the pages are perforated for easy removal, you can use media besides colored pencils without fear of bleeding through to the next page. Most illustrators, editors, publishers etc. who have no experience with coloring books usually don’t realize the importance of such a detail, so I am really impressed that the book has perforated pages. Plus, the pages, once removed, measure around 7.5 by 9.5 inches, so they can be matted nicely in an 8 x 10 frame.

I know that many people don’t need to frame pictures and can handle coloring in the book with the pages attached, but I have to remove mine prior to coloring (yes, I’ve tried techniques to get around that but without success). Perforation makes it so much easier. Big thumbs up for that, and I tested the perforation too. With some books, even the perforated pages won’t come out easily and still rip, but mine came out easily.

Whether you lovingly tend a few plants on a high-rise balcony, turn a strip of trailer park dirt into a tiny paradise, or work your magic on acres of greenery, you can relate to the content. However, you don’t have to be a gardener to enjoy this coloring book. For one, the artwork itself is exceptional. Since the drawings were created by over 20 illustrators, you get a variety of styles (some artists are obviously represented multiple times).

Speaking of artists: Each page is numbered on the back, and the beginning of the book has an index that lists each artist and the name of the picture he or she illustrated (in numerical page order). Experienced colorists know that this is important because you always want to cite the artist/source when sharing your colored creations online.

Plus, the humorous, thoughtful and uplifting quotes are sure to bring a smile to your face, and they weren’t an afterthought. They complement each drawing perfectly. You’ll find sayings by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Princess Grace Kelly, Gertrude Stein, William Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Mark Twain, Ray Bradbury (who knew?) and a host of others.

You can order Great Garden Quotes at the GreenPrints website. You can also see some samples of illustrations that are in the book via that link. While there, check out the other parts of the site. It’s easy to navigate, even on my outdated equipment, and despite my blurry vision and Swiss-cheese mind.

Below is the first picture I colored from this book (artist is Peter Loewer). I’m very happy that Great Garden Quotes included a snowdrop because it is my favorite “spring” flower (and the page features my favorite poetry form, haiku). That’s another reason the book is exceptional because it doesn’t just offer typical floral favorites, it’s about a happy way of life.

Review: Outside the Lines and Outside the Lines, Too (Souris Hong)

Outside the Lines, a New York Times bestseller, and Outside the Lines, Too aren't your typical coloring books as each feature curated art by 100 contemporary artists. As such, the books are thicker than any other coloring books I've encountered as an adult. Most of the avant-garde designs were specifically commissioned for the books by Souris Hong. The illustrations are single-sided, and the back of each page lists the artist info pertaining to the design on the front side. The paper has a nice, smooth texture.

Art knowledge is not required to enjoy these books. For example, when I first received the books and leafed through them, Andy Warhol popped into my mind, and I have no idea about the art scene. Later, when I read the intro paragraph, I noticed that, indeed, Outside the Lines was inspired by Ms. Hong's daughter's affinity for Andy Warhol's art. However, the artists represented come from many creative backgrounds.

While knowledge of the art scene or about different styles is not required, appreciation for contemporary art and a desire for expression help because many of the images are open to interpretation. As such, they inspire many facets of the creative coloring process. You can use different media (just remember to put a paper behind each page like you would with any book in which you color). So far, I have used markers, but removed the pages before I colored them.

The designs vary greatly in regards to emotional and technical aspects. You can find many layers of human emotions in the designs while others are a blank slate. Some are very inky, some appear to be very simple, others are very detailed. There are a few images with grayscale attributes. Many don't seem to appear "complete" until you add your own design touch. Yet, technical skill is not a requirement: As the name suggests, you're quite welcome to color "outside the lines."

Outside the Lines 

256 pages
Publisher: TarcherPerigee; Csm edition (September 3, 2013)

The creative masterminds represented include cartoonists, animators, graphic artists, fine artists, musicians, illustrators, photographers, outsider artists, video game artists and street artists. You'll find the works of AIKO, Exene Cervenka, Jen Corace, Shepard Fairey, Keith Haring, Ryan McGinness, Keita Takahashi and more.

Outside the Lines, Too

256 pages
Publisher: TarcherPerigee; Csm edition (September 1, 2015)

The creative masterminds represented include cartoonists, animators, graphic artists, fine artists, musicians, illustrators, photographers, outsider artists and street artists. You'll find the works of Tim Biskup, Justina Blakeney, Richard Colman, Dalek, David Ellis, Jim Houser, Ryan Humphrey, Rainer Judd, Kevin Lyons, Maria E. Piñeres, Timothy Tompkins and more. Unlike the first book, this one has perforated pages.

You can purchase both books through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and many other retailers. In the case of the first release, it has its own website with ordering info.

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Here are two of the pages that I colored, one from each book:

From Outside the Lines, colored by me (Alexandra Heep). Artist for this picture is Hitotzuki

From Outside the Lines, Too; colored by me (Alexandra Heep). Artist for this pic is Jim Houser.

Adult Coloring Book Review: Unicorns are Jerks (3 in 1 issue) by Theo Nicole Lorenz

Includes: Dinosaurs with Jobs and Mer World Problems. Unicorns are Jerks has been available for several years, since 2012, but this 3-in-1 issue will be released October 1, and you can pre-order it on Amazon.

If you've seen the book Unicorns are Jerks and read the online reviews, you probably noticed that a lot of the reviewers run with the humorous theme of the book but don't really tell you much about whether you would enjoy it or not, unless you speak some fashionably geeky insider code or have an existing relationship with a unicorn jerk. Of course, if that applies to you, then you already know this book is for you. While this book includes two others that were released separately on prior dates, they all run with the same type of theme. If you're not familiar with the book, unicorn jerks et al, here's the mundane scoop on this release for those whose inquiring minds want to know.

I've seen many colorists complain that there aren't any books out there that appeal to both genders, or that everything is the same: flowers, mandalas, landscapes, worn-out fantasy themes and all-around cute, girlie stuff. Or, the other extreme: stuff that's not fuzzy, but too extreme and graphic. Your answer to this dilemma is called Unicorns are Jerks, Dinosaurs with Jobs, and Mer World Problems.

This coloring book is definitely different. The drawings for each of the three segments are like cartoons, depicting fantasy characters in plausible situations, and each one has a humorous caption. These run the gamut from sarcasm, juvenile, screwball, parodic, satirical, dry and sardonic. The book has no coarse language, so it's okay to leave around the house if you have children. (Unless you object to a bit of bathroom humor).

The book has 126 pages that seem like your typical Create Space paper, and the designs are one-sided. Still, as usual put a piece of paper behind the picture if you color with markers. The designs are suitable for any skill level and since they are cartoon-style drawings, they are ideal for those who feel anxious about trying to color "realistic" pictures perfectly. You simply can't color the designs "wrongly."

Don't let the term "cartoon-style" fool you though. The quality of the drawings certainly speak of the creator's art skills. While the three individual books that were compiled into this issue have different main characters (unicorns, dinosaurs, and merfolk, obviously), they're done in the same style.

Beneath all the humor and the carefree drawing style, though, lies a kernel of truth, and that's what the book, to me, is really about: stress-relieving therapy to deal with true life situations that one might encounter on any given day (in the case of Unicorns are Jerks), and trying to make sense of the mundane by making it fantastic (in the case of Dinosaurs with Jobs and Mer World Problems).