C is for Coloring
for Adults
Long before it was popular enough for the books to be sold at Borders
or Michaels, I got into Coloring for Adults. There were some wonderful coloring
books featuring goddesses and heroines that captured my attention, and I began
coloring them in.
Coloring is a very relaxing and all-encompassing activity. The
repetitive movement of the hands, back and forth, and back again, relaxes the
mind. Today, artists are deliberately creating coloring books that are meditative. If you look for adult coloring books on Borders or Amazon, you’ll find that many
of the books have the word “meditative” or “relaxing” in the subtitle.
My son bought two adult coloring books for me when he was on a trip to San Diego. People that know I’m an artist asked him, why he would buy me such a
thing? He simply replied that she loves them. The truth is, when I don’t feel
up to writing or tackling a painting or drawing, I turn to my coloring books.
As in my previous post about blogging, the page of the coloring book is a
finite one. Most can be completed rather quickly.
You have to think
differently:
With what sorts of colors or marks will you fill the small spaces
left to fill in?
How will the pre-designed space turn out with your personal
touch?
You know that you probably won’t be showing the coloring to anyone. Often, the idea that the colored page is a part of your personal
expression frees up a creative blockage.
·
You’ve accomplished something.
·
You’ve made something interesting, perhaps even beautiful..
·
Your creation didn’t take much time or effort..
 |
| Rising Energy, c. 2008 Stephanie Rose Bird |
As you work in a meditative state, you become more
relaxed, open-up and generate enough energy to tackle your main project! Coloring leads me to work in my studio in colored Prismacolor pencils on pieces like this one shown above.
I have 2 colouring books so far and they are comforting. When we were kids, we coloured and it passed the time and we enjoyed it so it makes perfect sense that it would make us feel the same. I like that art work at the bottom
ReplyDeleteThanks Birgit. I like the books too and like drawing freehand, like in this piece I shared.
DeleteI've never tried colouring books for adult, even if I see them around now. But I may try.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a very long time since I drew my own pictures, maybe this would help getting me back in the mood :-)
I do think you'll find it fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephanie! Some long while ago I bought a Postcard Colouring Book: Japanese Designs as a gift for my brother actually ... but I realised that he wouldn't 'take' to it - so I've had them for a long while now. Just the other day I used water soluble coloured pencils to do one - two fish, very fine detail - and small postcard size... my very first one and indeed I found it meditative -
ReplyDeleteLook at your beautiful Rising energy! It's so lovely!
That must have been a cool experience. Thanks for sharing it Susan!
DeleteI enjoy coloring, but don't really care for the books I see "for adults." I don't see any story in the pages, so it doesn't attract me as much as the coloring books my kids get.
ReplyDeleteJEN Garrett's Lexical Creations
That's interesting.
DeleteI don't even remember colouring as a kid, let alone as an adult. I know JoJo Earle uses colouring books a lot and really enjoys doing them.
ReplyDeleteJO ON FOOD, LIFE AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE
Oh!
DeleteI've always loved colouring books so I was happy to receive one as a gift. I find them very relaxing although some of the patterns are quite intricate and can be overwhelming. I love your image the colours are so subtle. Sue @Sizzling60 from
ReplyDeleteSizzling Towards Sixty
Yes Sue, the patterns are getting intricate. Perhaps that's needed to capture our full attention?
DeleteI just tried one..I've done mandalas before, and enjoyed that. Somehow this time, I got started and felt I was very calm and then it quickly turned to a sense of distracting myself from what I truly needed to address,. Perhaps I'll try again.
ReplyDeleteBeth Lapin
Activities for a Good Life
https://bethlapinsatozblog.wordpress.com/
That's very honest Beth. I guess I work around that call to work, by only attempting to color when I know I have a free mind.
DeleteThe first time I saw an ad for adult coloring books, I thought they were kidding, but the more I think about it, the more I think it might make good occupational therapy for someone rehabilitating a hand.
ReplyDeleteJohn Holton
Blogging from A to Z Challenge Co-Host
The Sound of One Hand Typing
Thanks for stopping in John. I never thought about the occupational therapy prospects, but it is a good thought.
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