A to Z Challenge: P is for (Colored) Pencils

Pencils seem to be a favorite medium for colorist and with good reason. Although, I had my doubts at first. That's because I started out with a horrible set of old, cheap kids pencils that Tom had lying around. I thought all pencils were the same because I tend not to buy into any marketing hype of "our product is better because it costs more."

Now, I've seen sets that run as much as close to a $1,000 and I still think that is excessive just to color a drawing that someone else created. However, there are differences between student and artist grade, dollar store and brand pencils. Mainly, it's because having more pigment in the "lead" costs more money to make. While there are brands that perform better than others, higher cost among the brands does not necessarily denote an increase in performance.

Also, there are differences between oil-based, wax-based and clay-based pencils. I won't bore you with those details as people who know way more about this than I do have already written about it. Plus, "better" performance also depends on how the colorist uses pencils.

There's one thing that still bugs me about pencils though: When you ask around for recommendations, people generally mention only a handful of brands, four at best. For the longest time, I was under the impression that only a handful of brands existed.

Then I came across this link: As you can see, there are dozen of different color pencils. I asked in a coloring group why people did not talk about other brands, but that inquiry was not well-met. I understand that not everything is accessible to everyone, but this was an international forum and surely different countries have different things available? I'm in many international adult coloring groups and people still focus on the same brands.

And that brings me back to my dislike of marketing hype. Just because somebody does not talk about something or promote it, does not mean it's not any good.

Review: Wild Oceans-Saltwater Fish and Deep Sea Creatures by Nick Mayer

I first found out about Nick Mayer's art when I saw his leafy seadragon design in the summer issue of Do Magazine. The creature looked so fantastic that I had to do some research to see if it really existed, and that is how I found some fascinating images online of this very real life form. That made me interested in Nick Mayer’s Wild Oceans Coloring Book: Saltwater Fish and Deep Sea Creatures in which the leafy seadragon appears.

If you think that marine life is boring or monochrome, think again. There are some wonderfully vibrant species in this book. So, no worries, you’ll get to use your reds, blues, oranges, yellows, greens etc. Or, you can use soft, neutral, earthy or even metallic colors and create some lifelike scallops, seahorses, starfish, oysters etc. Of course you also get to choose from plenty of oceanic fish species. There's even a sea turtle.

One common complaint I encounter from fellow colorists is that they want their husbands/fathers/boyfriends/brothers/sons to join the adult coloring ranks, but they can’t find any coloring books that appeals to them. Well, this is the book that fills this void. Of course you don’t have to be a guy to enjoy it. I’m obviously not a guy, nor am I particularly outdoorsy (unless gardening counts).

Here are the factors that appeal to me particularly, and that I find others of any coloring skill and background will enjoy:

1. The book includes tutorials that are easy to understand (including one on how to color fish eyes).
2. The designs give you a chance to color realistic, lifelike subjects.
3. The pages are perforated for easy removal.
4. You learn something new because of the factoids on the back of each page.
5. The paper is of high quality.
6. You get real-life, color examples of the species on which the drawings are based.
7. You can learn new techniques, or improve upon existing ones.

People are always on the lookout for something different and unique, so I find that these words are often overused. In this case, both adjectives are warranted. The main factors that make this book different from most, besides the subject matter, are:

• The factoids for each subject appear on the back of the page, so when you remove it and display it in a binder you can see the appropriate fact. Most books, if they have any pertaining info, have it printed on the left side of the image on the back page of the preceding design.
• It's one of the most nicely produced coloring books in my collection!
• Some of the pages have a separate, removable section on the bottom of the page that includes a color palette suggestion and color example, as you can see below.

Here is a suggestion: Make this book a nice addition for family activity time because you can have everyone pick something, remove their favorite pages from the book, and color away. Nick also has a shop on his website where you can purchase calendars, prints, cards etc. (not all are ocean life, you can get birds and butterfly designs too).

 This is an example of one of the pages that have color suggestions. The bottom part is perforated.

Here is my colored version. I did use the suggested palette as a guide.

I used assorted colored pencils (nothing expensive or extravagant).

As you can see, I removed the bottom part with the color suggestions. It comes off easily.

This is my colored version of the leafy seadragon image that appeared in the Do Magazine.

The purple color choice might seem strange, but I did this for a color palette challenge, and I saw some pictures of leafy seadragons online that actually had purple.

Review: Beautiful Nature, a Grayscale Adult Coloring Book by Nicole Stocker

Of Flowers, Plants and Landscapes

When I first started coloring in October 2015 (no, I didn’t color much as a child) I did not know that not every coloring book was created equally. I initially fell prey to the self-publishing mill that uses stock art printed on cheap paper to crank out books by the thousands. (No knock on the real artists who rely on self-publishing their line art and do it well. I myself have used self-publishing services).

By the time I was ready to try grayscale, I was weary because the artwork consists of photographs that have been “edited” into a grayscale version. Since the nature of grayscale books requires compilation of these images, I was afraid of ending up with sloppy work. So, I turned to the friendly, knowledgeable folks in online coloring groups to help me find a good book/artist in order to give grayscale a try.

A couple of names rose to the top repeatedly, and that is how I ended up deciding to go with Nicole Stocker’s Beautiful Nature of Flowers, Plant and Landscapes for my first review of a grayscale book. There is also an animal version, but I didn’t feel quite ready for that. I chose to go with one of Nicole’s books because the subject matter appealed to me. I wanted a variety of pictures that weren’t too difficult for a beginner but still were interesting enough. Also, the pages are perforated, which is important to me.

As soon as I opened the box in which it was shipped, I knew I was holding a product of high quality. The binding and cover of the book are superb, and so is the paper quality. The whole book looks totally professional. The pages are thick (100 lb archival quality, acid-free paper) and smooth. The book measures 8 by 10 inches, so when you remove the pages they come out at around an 8 by 10 size.

It contains 48 images, and each page has a watermark on the back for signing and dating your completed picture. There is plenty of white space between the image and the edges of the paper. The look reminds me of a nostalgic photo album, plus the pages, when removed, look like they’re “matted.” I like the extra white space because I sometimes end up ripping pages during the removal process, even with the perforation. This way the design won’t get ruined. Plus, I can feel like I’m making progress and won’t take forever coloring something!

Also, each image has an artistic, fuzzy black edging to it for an extra imaginative touch. To see a gallery of completed images, ordering info and other good stuff, check out Nicole’s website.

Now, if you wonder why a grayscale coloring book-review by a grayscale newbie (yours truly) should have merit, here is why:

1. If you’re new to grayscale coloring as well, you’re most likely looking for the same criteria.
2. I spend a lot of time reading comments online by adult coloring enthusiasts, so I know what a lot of people look for.
3. As a freelance writer and author, I understand the trials of tribulations of the creative process and the publishing world.

Finally, I let my finished coloring speak for itself. It is my very first completed grayscale picture. Nicole’s website has a section with all kinds of tips and tutorials for grayscaling, and I gave them a quick once-over before starting. While a lot of the tips involve acrylic paints, I was able to complete this with colored pencils only (I don’t have acrylics). So, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced colorist, you’ll find what you’re looking for.

I also don’t have large sets, nor expensive pencils. I used seven different Marco Raffines for the leaves, and assorted open-stock greens (8 in total) (Raffines, Polychromos, Prismacolor Premier and, one Blick pencil and one Lyra Rembrandt) with a hint of black for the background. I also blended the background with a Prismacolor Premier colorless blender marker. The pictures are unedited (except for cropping) and were taken with an older model Samsung smartphone camera. This shows you that, regardless of media and skill level, this book will accommodate.

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.

***

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).

Adult Coloring Book Review: Wild Animal Fun Facts by Maria Oglesby

Wild Animal Fun Facts by Maria Oglesby is a bit smaller than the average adult coloring book, it measures about 7.5 by 9.5 inches. I find this an advantage because it stores easier. It has 24 hand drawn designs, but you can also color the cover page, if you like. The designs are single-sided, but there is a short animal fun fact on the back of the page. So, the design is on the right hand side when you open the book, and the fun fact that corresponds to that animal is on the left. The fun fact is also incorporated into each design. The designs have a lined border around them.

The pages are not perforated, and the paper is the typical Create Space texture. The book lies flat easily enough, and the designs are far enough away from the spine of the book, so you can spiral-bind it or remove the pages with a blade, if you wish.

The designs are hand drawn but of superb quality. I liken the images to the quality of those from major publications like Dover. You have closeups of animals as well as medium and far away perspective. The animals are drawn in their  natural habitats. Some designs are very detailed, others allow you to add your own. Animal selections include favorites like wild cats, birds and elephants, but also some that aren't usually seen, like bats, penguins, a walrus, a hippo, a sea otter, just to name a few. The fun fact tells you what animal you it is that you're coloring.

The landscape scenes that appear with the animals are a mix of wide open spaces, detailed leaves, trees etc.There are very few flowers. The hummingbird and squirrel designs have them. So, if you're tired of spending more time coloring flowers than the actual focal point, you'll enjoy this because the designs aren't bogged down with unnecessary stuff.

Everything is very lifelike and realistic, no annoying extra doodles to fill up space. I recommend color pencils, but there is no reason you could not try markers and gel pens. Just remove the page first, or put a paper in between pages if you do.

I am not an advanced colorist, and I would say this book has designs that can be colored by people with multiple skill levels, but keep in mind that some of the designs have small details.

Adult Coloring Book Review: Magical Landscapes

Magical Landscapes is part of the Creative Haven series. If you're not familiar with the Creative Haven adult coloring books, they generally have perforated pages and the paper quality is awesome. The artist is Miryam Adatto who also illustrated Dreamscapes, a coloring book I reviewed in a prior post. The designs are single-sided, another hallmark of the Creative Haven series.

This book is somewhat like Dreamscapes, but the designs, while still abstract, are much clearer to figure out and less "neurotic." Miryam did away with the jagged lines and pointy shapes that were featured on some of the designs in Dreamscapes. I do like the Dreamscapes book, but wasn't able to complete all the designs because I found some of them to not be relaxing at all.

Magical Landscapes lends itself to bright colors and the use of markers. There is no reason why you can't use subtler colors, pencils or gel pens if you want. But I really love using markers on the designs, and they really pop with bright colors. The book is ideal for those who don't need to color grass green and the sky blue.

The designs encompass scenes with meadows, forests, tropical waters, sunrises (or sunsets), fancy trees and more. Just keep in mind that they're abstract, as you can see by my colored samples below. All in all, I love this book and it's a go-to when you don't feel like obsessing about choosing the "right" colors.

Adult Coloring Book Review: Inspired by Nature, Erica Henry

Inspired by Nature is a coloring book by Erica Henry published through the Create Space platform. Fun fact: It was released on my birthday 2015. The book features 25 hand drawn pictures, mostly of assorted whimsical garden scenes, and several blank pages in the back that you can remove and use as a shield against marker bleed-through. No worries, the book has single sided designs, this is just a precaution for those who don't like using colored pencils. The pages are not perforated, but remove easily with a box cutter or scissors.

Below you will find two examples that I colored. The illustrations might not seem terribly challenging, but leave lots of room for you to add your own personal touches. I'm not a really advanced colorist, so my colorings seem simple, but the designs in this book allow you to experiment with different techniques, backgrounds etc. As such, I think it's good for beginners because they won't feel overwhelmed with a lot of tiny details, but also for advanced colorists because they can use these pictures to experiment.

For example, the first picture you see was for a challenge that required to color leaves without using the color green. The second was done for a challenge that required the use of gray, black and white, plus one color. Also, this book is good for when you're having an off day or aren't feeling well because it won't hurt your eyes to look at too many swirls and things. Or, perhaps you have older children who are too old for kiddie books, but don't have the attention span yet to focus on intricate designs. Lastly, if you love nature, this is definitely for you, just as the book title suggests.

One thing though: Since it was published through Create Space, it has that awful paper that they use. However, that's beyond the artist's control.

(If you would like to read more more of my adult coloring book reviews, click the tag underneath the post that says "adult coloring book reviews)

Adult Coloring Book Review: Grumpy Cat Hates Coloring

I'm not one to jump on any bandwagons, and most everything that is popular or that people love, I hate. Grumpy Cat is the exception. I've been a Grumpy Cat fan since the early days when the memes first started circulating on Facebook. Since Grumpy Cat hates most everything as well, I can identify with her demeanor. So, that's one of the very few times I don't mind participating in the merchandise craze, although I do keep it contained. Small living space, smaller wallet/pocketbook and all that.

However, when I found out in April that the humans behind Grumpy Cat were releasing an adult coloring book as part of the Creative Haven series by Dover Publishing which I absolutely love, I had to have it.  I pre-ordered it on Amazon. Yesterday (July 21) was the day it finally arrived (5 days earlier than Amazon had promised).

The first copy had a major ink smear across two pages of the book. I chatted with an Amazon rep, and within six hours I had a new copy (and I don't even have Prime). Now, this one is a bit smeary as well, but it's contained mostly to the back of one page, which is blank anyway, so I'll let it go. It has been extremely hot here and the book is literally fresh off the press, hence they get a pass.

Anyway, to the book itself. A lot of the designs do have quite a bit of "ink" in the design (see example below). So, it's definitely not a "childish" book, unless  you think the whole Grumpy Cat movement as childish. In that case, I can't help you.

The designs are definitely oriented towards adults or experienced colorists, but with an animated/cartoonish vibe. That's because of the illustrator, Diego Jourdan Pereira whose design credits include Toy Story, WWE, Transformers and LEGO.  However, a lot of the illustrations also have a zentangle-type composition. In true Creative Haven fashion, the pages are perforated for easy removal and feature one design per page (reasons why I love the Creative Haven books). The inside and outside cover have completed designs for color inspiration.

I give this adult coloring book two paws up. Oh, and there is already another one in the woks, "Grumpy Cat VS the World," which will be released in September 2016.

(If you want to get notifications when I post more coloring book reviews, scroll down and click "Join the Heep." If you would like to read more more of my existing adult coloring book reviews, click the tag underneath the post that says "adult coloring book reviews) 

Adult Coloring Book Review: Sensational Succulents

Sensational Succulents (Timber Press) is definitely not your average coloring book. It's a collaborative effort by renowned photojournalist Debra Lee Baldwin (the "Queen of Succulents") and artist Laura Serra. Debra Lee is a passionate gardener and author with three best-sellers about succulent growing and gardening under her belt. Laura is an accomplished European illustrator.

The book has 75 illustrations. The pictures are on the right hand side, with the appropriate botanical references printed on the left side. Debra Lee took the photographs on which the designs are based, and Laura drew them so the coloring enthusiasts could create their own master pieces by coloring them.

Speaking of photographs: If you feel intimidated or simply want some inspirations, you can view all the photographs that were used as inspiration for the illustrations on Debra Lee's site. The drawings are really very close to the originals. However, this is NOT a grayscale book. That is not a negative because I wasn't looking for a grayscale book. I'm just mentioning it in case you're a grayscale lover. Also, keep in mind that while cacti are succulents, the book doesn't center on those, although it has a few. Just to let you know, in case you were looking for mostly cacti.

With 75 designs, you probably worry about the paper quality, but you needn't. I'm very sensitive to weird textures. For example, I dislike the paper that Create Space uses (although it won't stop me from supporting artists who publish through that platform), but the paper in this book feels very nice and smooth.  Also, it's white, not ecru, cream or anything like that.

Something to keep in mind: If you're used to the typical 31-design books, this is obviously thicker. So, if you have trouble coloring near the spine of a book or take pages out before coloring them, you'll have to adjust. The dimension are 6.5 x 8 inches, and the book is 1/3-inch thick.

This book really is a monumental effort. Imagine having to look through hundreds of photographs to narrow selections down for a coloring book, then having someone draw them all, and match the botanical names to each page. Hence, the $12.95 retail price tag is quite reasonable.

If you're looking for good art supplies to use on Debra Lee's book and others, check out her recommendations. If you have no interest in coloring, but love succulents, you can order a nice selection of those lovelies through Debra Lee's website.

Here are some samples from the book. It does have a lot of variety, and many of the illustrations are quite detailed, but there are simpler ones as well.

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Adult Coloring Book Review: Skyscapes

The Skyscapes coloring book is part of the Creative Haven series by Dover Publishing. I have several of that series and have not been disappointed with any. Like the others, designs are single-sided and the pages are perforated for easy removal. Both are big positives. One point I want to specify, however, is that this book should have been named Spacescapes because the designs all have an outer space theme. The back of the book does say that it comprises astronomy designs.

If you love planets, space weather and the like, this book is definitely for you. You'll also enjoy this if you like using deep, dark colors. There are plenty of opportunities for using black, midnight blue, dark purple and burgundy as well as glitter pens and markers.

Now, one word of advice: Some of the designs are pretty intense and feature scenes like exploding planets. Not exactly calming to color before bedtime. That's just me though, others probably find that interesting. There are still plenty of pictures to color that are more "serene." Make no mistake though, the designs are time consuming to complete, especially the ones that have asteroid belts.

Below are some of the pictures from that book that I colored:

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Adult Coloring Magazine Review: Create, Relax, Inspire (January Edition)

I heard from other colorists that the March edition of this coloring magazine is already out, so reviewing the January edition, which I picked up last November, might seem a moot point. However, before you rush out to find any of these magazine issues, read this first because you might decide not to go through with your purchase. (I picked this one up at a grocery chain store).

Okay, so this isn't technically an adult coloring book, but I guess it can find under that umbrella term. It's a magazine, which means it has thinner pages. Although, I have seen books marked as books that should really be magazines. Anyway, at least they got that right.

However, in my opinion, they didn't get much other stuff right. For example, I noticed, sadly at home and not in the store before buying it, that some of the designs have design flaws. Now, I have noticed flaws in other books too, but they were tiny and could be fixed. These are almost impossible to fix.

For example, there is an owl picture that has a big, random arrow in the design and some geometric shapes that don't seem to fit. Also, on the sunflower picture, the lines that split the petals radiate several inches outward, past the petals, on many of the flowers. I still colored it because it was the only sunflower picture in there and sunflowers are my favorite.

I have included both pics below (they are the only ones I completed from this magazine. What are the chances that the two designs I picked have issues, and what else is lurking? Hhm). Unfortunately, I didn't take a "before" pic, but I asked around in a coloring group and the flaw seems to be in all the prints of that magazine, not just mine, because the colorist found the same mistakes in her copy. I also did not keep the receipt, or I would contact the publisher of the magazine to get my money back.

It's kind of sad really, because a lot of the designs in the magazine are quite charming. While they are one-sided (a big plus), the design runs too far to the edge of the spine though, so if you want to remove the paper (which isn't perforated), you end up ripping it. I took the book to the local Office Max to get it spiral bound, but they told me they couldn't do it without ruining the pics because of that fact.

Why not just leave it all alone? I can't color within a book, I have to have the page out. It's just a personal preference, but I know many colorists who aren't bothered by that, while still  many others are like me and need the pages removed. Why did I buy the magazine then? Because the designs were good and I thought I could cut the pages out easier. Lesson learned!

Anyway, having $7.98 invested in this, I took the binding off myself and separated all pages. While being careful, I still ended up ripping a couple, including one of my favorites. I will color some more in the future and see if there are more pics with design flaws. Why did I not look already? Oh, I did, but without intensely poring over each of the 40-plus designs, you won't notice every tiny detail.

Adult Coloring Book Review: Dreamscapes

The Dreamscapes adult coloring book is published by Dover Publications and part of the Creative Haven series.

The pages in this book are perforated for easy removal and designs are single sided. This means that you only have one image per page so you can color without having to worry about markers bleeding through to a design on the back page. I do recommend removing a page first before coloring it.

The designs are abstract. Some seem like what I could draw, even though I can't draw. For example, they have irregular lines that are very uneven. Others are more "harmonious". So, it's hit and miss. However, I have seen some completed designs online that look really good, even though I didn't like the non-colored one when looking at it in the book.

Dreamscapes is an appropriate name for this book as some of the designs are what would show up in your bizarre dreams, if you have those. It's a good book for those who look beyond wanting to color grass green and the sky blue. On some of the designs, I did find it a bit difficult to make out what part of the design was.

Below are some of the designs I colored from this book.

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