LITTLE DID I KNOW over the past several years of evangelizing coloring books for kids, I was scooping in a thoroughly adult market — with a cause, even! Spiked has posted an article about the trend toward “infantilising” — and we’re also told that the popularisation of the idea of wellbeing is itself culturally significant. Okay . . . so color on!
LITTLE DID I KNOW over the past several years of evangelizing coloring books for kids, I was scooping in a thoroughly adult market — with a cause, even! Spiked has posted an article about the trend toward “infantilising” — and we’re also told that the popularisation of the idea of wellbeing is itself culturally significant. Okay . . . so color on! Spike writes :
The adult colouring-book industry is a spin-off of the marketisation of wellbeing and mindfulness. In an era when therapy culture dominates the Western imagination, the transformation of the childish hobby of colouring-in into a worthy adult pursuit has been made possible by its association with some mental-health benefits. In a world where ‘mindfulness’ is successfully marketed as a panacea for the existential problems of humanity, it isn’t surprising that colouring books are sold as a remedy for stress.
The adult colouring-book industry is a spin-off of the marketisation of wellbeing and mindfulness. In an era when therapy culture dominates the Western imagination, the transformation of the childish hobby of colouring-in into a worthy adult pursuit has been made possible by its association with some mental-health benefits. In a world where ‘mindfulness’ is successfully marketed as a panacea for the existential problems of humanity, it isn’t surprising that colouring books are sold as a remedy for stress. 
Here are two recent articles about the adult coloring phenomenon taking the world by storm! As a bonus, I’ve supplied nearly 40 excellent sheets to get you started, from very simple beginners to extraordinarily complex background. Get inspired. Get coloring. Get healthy . . .
Dust off your crayons: Adult coloring books are here
While browsing Amazon’s bestseller list, you might have noticed something out of the ordinary: Seven of the books in the top 20 are coloring books. Adult coloring books, far removed from the ones you scribbled in as a child.
Billed as stress-relief tools, they’re gorgeous and sophisticated—you’ll find intricate gardens, labyrinthine cityscapes, mandalas, and patterned woodland critters. Coloring books might also be a reaction to a screen-weary culture, hungry for a tactile experience.
(You can avoid all the screen spam on this site by clicking the 
‘READER’ icon in the address bar of Firefox! 
Full story : Entertainment Weekly
Yahoo’s Lifestyles surrounded with spam, coloring too!
Amongst all the screen spam and stalker links you’ll find an interesting read — Yahoo’s take on the adult coloring phenomenon . . . they ask “Why are so many adults taking crayon to paper?” and further :
The current colouring-book craze was ignited in 2013, when Scottish illustrator Johanna Basford published “Secret Garden.” The seemingly obscure offering had an initial printing of 16,000, but has since exploded into a runaway international bestseller, selling nearly 6 million copies — almost 4 million in the past five months alone, according to Debra Matsumoto, marketing manager at Laurence King publishers. Click the Firefox ‘READER’ to avoid screen spam on this site! Full story : Yahoo Lifestyles in Australia
Hey, don’t take my word for it, dig in to these books, and enjoy coloring any of nearly 40 excellent coloring sheets from simple to complex!
Get started on your coloring therapy today!
Before we drop you into the sample sheets gallery, here are the books you’ll be seeing. These are so reasonably priced, you may want to pick up more than one while you’re at it. Two come with CD-ROMs full of many more designs. Have fun and let us see some of your results. . . I know you’ll do great things :
Geometric Designs Collection Coloring Book
This riot of geometric images offers a kaleidoscope of coloring possibilities! Fractals generate a host of pyramids. Spirals form the rays of a sun. Myriad shapes converge into a hall of mirrors. This collection of 63 complex illustrations is a mind-bending mix of geometry and art, awaiting your addition of vivid color. Full story : Creative Haven Geometric Designs by Hop David
Geometric Genius Stained Glass
Geometric Genius Stained GlassDrawn from an authentic Victorian stained glass pattern book that dates back to 1848, here are 16 antique patterns to color. The Art Journal says : Some of the designs are very quaint and curious, others most elaborately beautiful! After coloring, place the perforated pages near a light source to admire the brilliant effects. Specially designed for experienced colorists Geometric Genius Stained Glass Coloring Book by Henry Shaw
Here’s a whole CD full of creative designs
This treasury of dazzling geometrical designs includes prismatic configurations that recede and advance, optical illusions that confound the eyes, intricate kaleidoscopic images, and more. Illustrators, designers, and craftspeople will these 176 designs indispensable for art and craft use, as wallpaper and textile designs, and more. Full story : Geometric Designs (CD-ROM & Book)
My First Geometric Designs 3-D Coloring Book
My First Geometric Designs 3-D Coloring BookHow many circles can you count? How many squares? In this introduction to geometric coloring — give it a shot — count the shapes within each of the 30 images. And by following the easy directions, they’ll create dazzling coloring effects that will float off the page. Includes 3-D glasses! 3-D Coloring Book: My First Geometric Designs by Anna Pomaska
Geometric Patterns and Designs for Artists and Craftspeople
This dazzling new, original collection by a master of the genre presents over 260 high-impact, royalty-free designs that exploit the dramatic potential of squares, triangles, rectangles, and other geometric elements to their fullest. Invaluable for use in projects ranging from wallpaper and textile design to packaging and computer art, these files provide artists and crafters with great images for immediate use and inspiration for creative ideas of their own. Full story : Geometric Patterns and Designs by Wil Stegenga
Here you go, now you get to try any of these!
The Geometric Coloring Sheet Gallery
Browse any of these simply by clicking, or take the entire slide show by clicking on the images on the arrival pages. Start with a simple one, or go ahead and dive into the more complex. We’ll be adding more next month, so have fun until then . . . .
These are just a few of the wonderful books you can sink your teeth into without a monitor, a keyboard or an internet connection. That’s important in today’s society — and they are all every inexpensive. Any time you can spend time with the real world tools of arts and crafts, is the best time you can spend.
IF YOU ARE STILL READING, you can download a pattern for making an impressive 3D pop-up greeting card of a holiday tree. I published this in 1987 as part of the “Poor Man’s Publisher” and then again in 1990 as eps and printable PDF files in the Publishers’ Warehouse Holiday Gifts section. Have fun!
Happy Holidays
And, thanks for reading
Editor/Publisher : DTG Magazine
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Published online since 1988
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