Author Archives: Iiiireader

Zendoodle Coloring Presents Fairies in Dreamland: An Artist’s Coloring Book

By: Denyse Klette

Rating: 5 of 5

I first came across Denyse Klette’s artwork in her funny and quirky quilt fabrics and panels. I was immediately drawn to her unusual artistic style and have enjoyed it for several years now. When I found Fairies in Dreamland, it was a much buy on my list even though I could not even see a Look Inside at the time I pre-ordered the book. I absolutely have not been disappointed as the same cute style of illustration I enjoy in quilting is now available to me in an extra thick coloring book.

The book has 64 design pages (including the title and presentation pages which have designs on them as well.) The designs are of long thin fairies draped over toadstools, vines, branches and what have you in a garden setting. There are tons of quilts in the pictures as well. I especially like the cute little pigs that pop up from time to time. The designs are detailed and some are quite intricate with lots of tiny details to color. To color some of the tiny detail, I will need to use extra fine nib pens or extremely sharp pointed pencils. For most of the designs, my regular coloring medium will work well.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing it with my coloring medium. I will list, in the comments section below, the coloring medium I use for testing and coloring.

64 Quirky Fairy Designs by Denyse Klette (includes title and presentation page.)

Printed one side of the page

Paper is heavyweight, white, slightly rough and non-perforated.

Glue Bound

Some designs merge into the binding area

I can get the book to lay fairly flat with some effort (it is a thick book); however, coloring into the binding area will take some maneuvering

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly

Water-based markers and India ink pens leave shadows (some showing the color) on the back of the page

Gel pens do not bleed through but some larger nib pens required additional drying time. Be sure to check your specific gel pens so you don’t smear your work or close the book before it finishes drying.

Colored pencils did well with this paper. It has just enough tooth to grip pigment well. I tested both oil and wax-based pencils and they all performed well with multiple layers of the same color for deeper pigment, multiple layers of different colors, and blended easily with a blender stick.

I am using and suggest the use of a blotter page under your working page. I use card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper. This will keep seeping ink from getting to the pages below.

Off the Beaten Path Coloring Postcard Book: 20 Adventurous Designs

By: Samarra Khaja

Rating: 4 of 5

I have enjoyed my first coloring book by Samarra Khaja (Off the Bookshelf) and have been looking forward to her releasing more in the same vein. I just discovered her new set of post cards in Off the Beaten Path and was happy to pick them up. The illustrations are rather quirky and show the interesting view that artist has of the world. Some of the designs are easy to color and some have very tiny and intricate parts that will require the use of tiny nib pens or very sharp pointed pencils.

While I really like the illustrations in this set, what I don’t like is how the set of post cards were put together. Usually, post cards are glue bound in a manner similar to notepads where you can remove a page easily and in whole. This set of post cards is set up with perforated pages. I’ve only experienced this with one other set and that was by the same publisher.

The perforations leave a rough edge when you remove them from the book but more problematic, in this book unlike the other one from the same publisher, the designs cross over the perforations and into the binding. I’ve found that in some instances (such as the one that I have colored and will upload with this review) that important parts of the design will be lost if I remove the post card from the book. Coloring over the perforations was also difficult.

I rate the illustrations a five and the publishing a 2, and as I cannot leave a 3.5 on Amazon, I always round up – hence an overall of a 4. I like the set but it could have been much improved with a little forethought. I wish that the pictures had been sized to fit on the page without crossing over the perforations or that the publisher had used the standard glue-bound post card binding. Either would have worked and made the set easier to color.

I found that only alcohol-based markers bled through the paper which is a medium weight card stock. Water-based markers, gel pens, and India ink pens did not bleed through. Colored pencils (both oil and wax-based) did well with layering and blending and did not dent through the page.

Because of Bethlehem Christmas Coloring Book: Love is born. Hope is here. (Coloring Faith)

By: Max Lucado

Rating: 5 of 5

I have read Max Lucado’s books over the years and have found that his words have always been a straight arrow into my heart and soul in pointing me back to the direction I know I should be following. This coloring book is based on one of his books with his writings and with Scripture quotes/cites as well. The book is illustrated by Lizzie Preston and Claire McElfatrick.

The designs are quite detailed and are Christmas oriented. There are lots of doodle style elements for adding lots of different colors. While the designs are detailed, they are not intricate with tiny spots to color. Approximately half of the designs incorporate wording as well. Some of those designs are more detailed than others. In the designs, there are many Christmas and seasonal subjects, including among them: Christmas trees, stockings, sleighs, snow globes, various animals, the Three Wise Men, the Manger Scene, nutcrackers and even a partridge in a pear tree.

While I really appreciate the designs, for me, the words are what I am looking for first. They speak to the need for a Savior and other life lessons that are important, not only to a believer, but to all. The Scriptures are taken from a variety of sources, including: New King James Version, the Holy Bible New International Version (NIV), The Living Bible, and the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. I will list, in the comments section below, the coloring medium I used for testing this book and which I generally use for coloring.

124 pages of Inspirational Christmas Designs and words (not including title pages)

Designs are printed on both sides of the page; however the designs are limited to a single page

Paper is heavyweight, smooth, white and perforated

Some designs cross over the perforations and into the binding. Some portion of these designs will be lost if you remove a page from the book

Glue Binding

The book is somewhat difficult to lay flat for coloring. It took an effort to break the spine enough to get it fairly flat.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page rapidly.

Water-based markers (except for the brush end of Tombows markers) and India ink pens leave shadows on the back of the page. Tombows did not leave shadows even when I tried dark brown

Gel pens do not bleed through or leave shadows but some require a considerably longer drying time than usual.

Colored pencils, both oil and wax-based, worked fairly well with this paper. With the exception of hard lead pencils in blending, I was able to get good results in pigment with multiple layers of the same color, different colors and blending with ease with a blending stick. The exceptions for blending were my Prismacolor Verithins and Tombow Irojiten. Those pencils had more of a smeary look to their blends than did my other pencils.

The Throne of Glass Coloring Book

By: Sarah J. Maas

Rating: 5 of 5

Attached to this review will be a silent flip-through of the entire coloring book and some sample photos so you can make an informed decision as to whether or not it will work for you.

The coloring book is based on various books and novellas in the series of books by Sarah J. Maas. I won’t discuss whether or not this coloring book what is I expected from the books but rather how I feel about it as an adult coloring book in its own right.

The coloring book has 46 different designs from different stories. The designs are by three artists Yvonne Gilbert, John Howe, and Craig Phillips. One of the three artists did not quite match in look and feel with the other two and it gave a slight discordant vibe to the book as I look through it. While I won’t detract in my overall review for that, it was certainly noticeable. Most of the designs are quite beautiful and elegant.

The designs are quite detailed and many of them have intricate and tiny elements to color. What is nice about this book is that the designs are printed on one side of the page with excerpts from the book on the opposing page. That allows me to use any form of coloring medium I choose without worrying about whether or not it will ruin a design on the back of the page.

This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. I will list, in the comments section below, the coloring medium I use for testing and coloring.

46 Throne of Glass Designs by three artists

Printed one side of page (with book excerpts on the back of the page)

Paper is heavy weight, white, ever so slightly rough, and perforated

Sewn binding

Designs are printed beyond the perforations and merge into the binding. Nothing essential will be lost if you remove pages at the perforations; however, you can remove several pages in whole by clipping a few threads of the binding.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper.

Water-based markers, gel pens, and India ink pens did not bleed through the paper. Some gel pens require additional drying time.

Colored pencils worked really well with the paper. The tiny bit of roughness to the paper allowed pigment to easily adhere to the page. I test both oil and wax based pencils and both worked well. I could layer the same color for deeper pigment, layer multiple colors and blend easily using a blender stick.

I like to use alcohol-based markers with this style of book (printed one side of page) but I use a blotter page of card stock under my working page to keep ink from seeping through. I would suggest either using a blotter page or removing the coloring page from the book beforehand if you use alcohol-based markers.

Halloween Faeries Coloring Book

By: Amy Brown

Rating: 5 of 5

I am having a lot of fun with Amy Brown’s light-hearted book of Halloween faeries. The designs are extremely cute and are easy to color. The artist’s sense of humor is evident from the cauldron on legs to what looks like her take on Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors.

The 20 designs are of cute fairies dressed in Halloween clothes and in Halloween settings. There is a nice level of detail to the line drawings without anything too intricate. I’m always looking for cute Halloween coloring books and this one is certainly cute. I own another Amy Brown coloring book so I knew the great quality of artwork to expect.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. I will list, in the comments section below, the coloring medium I use for testing and coloring.

20 Halloween Designs featuring Faeries by Amy Brown

Printed one side of the page

Paper is thin, white, slightly rough, and non-perforated. It is standard for any books published by CreateSpace.

Glue Bound

Designs do not merge into the binding and there is space to cut pages out if you want to do so.

Book opens fairly flat for coloring if you break or crease the spine.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper rapidly.

Water-based markers bleed through in spots.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on the back of the page which show colors easily. India ink pens can seep through in spots if used heavily or in multiple coats.

Colored pencils worked nicely with this thin but slightly rough paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils and got good color with multiple layers of the same color, good results from layers of different colors and nice blending results using a blending stick. Hard lead pencils easily dent through the page and can damage the page below.

I suggest using a blotter page of card stock or a couple of sheets of heavier weight paper under your working page. It can keep seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

By: Hanna Karlzon

Rating: 5 of 5

I recently purchased a set of postcards by Hanna Karlzon that I enjoyed so well that I purchased two more of her books immediately. This is the second of the two books that I bought with Summer Nights being the first one. Both books are somewhat similar but have different designs. I am really enjoying coloring Ms. Karlzon’s designs and find them very unique among the books that I have collected. I like them so well that I have also purchased additional books to give as gifts this holiday season.

Because the book is printed two-sided, I’m being very careful with what I use to color in it. I’m currently using Faber-Castell Polychromos because I like the color mix available for these designs. I like the look of the oil-based pencils on the cream colored paper. There are some wet medium that works okay with the paper but, for my taste, I still prefer the look of colored pencils.

This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing it with my coloring medium. I will list the coloring medium I use for tests and coloring in the comments section below.

90+ pages of imaginative and beautiful designs by Hanna Karlzon

Printed on both sides of the page

Paper is heavyweight, cream color, somewhat smooth, and non-perforated

Sewn binding with some glue as well. You can still snips the threads to remove the pages from the book but may have to contend with a tiny bit of glue on a few pages. I personally will not be cutting the book.

Some designs merge into the binding area. It is difficult to color into those bits due to the hardcover. It makes it more of a challenge to tilt the book to get the right angle for coloring

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page. If you use these, you will have ink seep through and mar the design on the back of the page.

Water-based markers, gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through the page.

Colored pencils work well with the paper. I was able to blend, layer the same and multiple colors using both oil and wax-based pencils with ease.

Animals: A Mindful Coloring Book

By: Georgie Woolridge

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my third coloring book by artist, Georgie Woolridge. I have been enjoying her first two books Birds and Waterlife and now have come full circle with Animals. The designs are quite detailed without being overly intricate or too hard to color. There is an emphasis on doodle style drawings within the animals themselves. The designs are a nice blend of common and unusual animals from around the world. There are a number of animals inspired by a trip the artist took to Australia.

On the back of preceding page (opposite the coloring page), there is a thumbnail of the animal along with information about it so you can familiarize yourself with it while you color. There are also thumbnails of the animals at the end of the book along with the name of the animal and what page it is printed on. I will list the animals in the book at the end of my review.

As with Birds and Waterlife, Animals is beautifully made. The cover has a lovely colored pony with copper metallic accents. The front and back cover have fold out flaps that are decorated with colored samples of designs from the book. The book itself is slightly larger than most coloring books.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. I will list, in the comments section below, the coloring medium I use for testing and coloring.

37 Animal Designs with lots of doodle and flower details within the line drawings.

Printed on one side of the page (with animal information on the back of the page.)

Paper is heavyweight, white, smooth, and non-perforated

Sewn Binding

Most designs do not run into the binding area

Alcohol-based markers bleed rapidly through the page. I also had feathering (sideways bleeding) with my juicier Copic markers

Water-based markers and India ink pens leave slight shadows on the back of the page.

Gel pens did not bleed through but some of the larger nib pens required additional drying time.

Colored pencils worked well with the paper. I was able to get good pigment from multiple layers of the same color. I was able to layer multiple colors and to blend with a blending stick. Some of my blending was a little smeary probably due to the smooth paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils.

I will not be removing pages from this book. Instead, I am using the set of three as some of my coffee table books while I am coloring and when I have finished the books as well. I am using a blotter page below the page I am working on to keep ink from seeping through. I generally use card stock for this purpose.

Here are the animals included in this book: Armadillo, Australian Sheepdog, Bactrian Camel, Beagle, Beaver, Bengal Cat, Blackbuck, Blue Dart Frog, Eastern Box Turtle, Galapagos Giant Tortoise, Giraffe, Gold Snub-Nosed Monkey, Highland Cattle, Indian Elephant, Jaguar, Japanese Harlequin Rabbit, Kit Fox, Koala, Lion, Mandrill, Namibian Rock Agama, Panther Chameleon, Pony, Pygmy Goat, Quokka, Red Kangaroo, Red Panda, Red Squirrel, Red-Eyed Tree Frog, Red-Sided Garter Snake, Ring-Tailed Lemur, Sea Otter, Sumatran Orangutan, Thorny Devil, Vicuna, Wolf and Zebra.

Magical Jungle: An Inky Expedition and Coloring Book for Adults

By: Johanna Basford

Rating: 5 of 5

Magical Jungle is a very different coloring book from Johanna Basford. The designs are much less intricate than those of her previous books, especially when compared to the tiny and intricate designs of Lost Ocean. Another big difference is that it seems the artist made a concentrated effort to reduce the amount of elements in designs that cross over two pages (as the book is printed on both sides of the page.) There were still a few but that is so much less than in previous books, it is almost unnoticeable.

The paper in US version of Magical Jungle is ivory. It is not the same color of cream as used in Secret Garden or Enchanted Forest. Nor is it the white color that was used in the first four printings of Lost Ocean. I would have modified my review of that book to mention the ivory color paper starting with the fifth printing but due to a glitch in Amazon’s review system, I am unable to modify my review of Lost Ocean. If you buy a later version of Lost Ocean it now has the same ivory paper as used in Magical Jungle.

The designs are based on the jungle with cartoon style animals and lots and lots of plants and flowers. You should be sure to have a large number of green pencils/pens ready when coloring in this book. My preference turned out to be oil-based pencils for that reason. Between my two sets of oil-based, I have a lot of shades of green.

I also purchased the UK version of this book and found some common areas and some noticeable differences:

First, the paper, while definitely different colors and perhaps weight, were comparable when it came to coloring mediums. I would not choose one over the other thinking I could use a specific medium with better results.

Second, the color of the paper. The US version is ivory and the UK version is white. I will include two photos showing both the color difference and how the two-page designs line up. In those photos, the UK version is on the bottom and the US on the top. The rest of the photos and my colored designs are from the US version as is the video on Amazon.

Third, the UK version has a removable dustcover with a single long designs on the inside. The inside cover is a pea green with a black design printed on it. It does not have inside flaps. The US version has a fixed cover with the front and back having fold out flaps with the same sort of design on the inside. The covers are slightly different colors but still in the ivory family with gold foil accents.

Fourth, the weight of the two are the same (1.23 pounds) with the dustcover on the UK version. Without the dustcover, the UK version is 1.14 pounds. The paper portion of the UK version is 1/16th of an inch thinner than the US version. Between the weight and the slight difference in depth, I think the UK version is a slightly lighter weight paper.

Fifth, the binding is different and this makes for a real difference in how the designs inside line up. The US version is a hybrid glue/sewn binding with multiple stitches. The UK version is sewn binding with only a few stitches. My US version did not line up well but my UK version did line up well. For a couple of designs, there was a noticeable difference but, in general, as few designs spread elements across two pages, it wasn’t a huge factor.

I like both books for different reasons. I like the dustcover and the binding of the UK version but I also like the ivory of the US version. I can’t recommend one over the other. It really comes down to what you prefer for your coloring.

This is what I found as I colored in this book and tested the paper with my coloring medium. I will list, in the comments section below, the coloring medium I used for testing and for most of my coloring projects.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.

Water-based markers (except for Tombow’s) leave shadows and even spots of color on the back of the page. The brush end of Tombows did not bleed through.

Gel pens and India ink did not bleed through the page.

Colored pencils worked well. I tested both oil and wax-based pencils with good results. I was able to layer the same color for deeper pigment, layer multiple colors and to blend easily with a pencil style blending stick. Pencils did not leave indentations on the back of the page.

By: Nicole J. Percy

Rating: 5 of 5

I’ve been a fan of House Mouse for years. I have a number of items around the house with the sweet little mice on them. I have cross stitched several designs with plans for more (great book is available on Amazon), so when I found this coloring book, it was an immediate purchase for me.

The book has 21 cute designs. The designs are heavy on fur detail and has a bit of shading via dots (think pointillism.) I find the designs are very easy to color and are fun and quick projects that I really enjoy. While there are specific House Mouse characters, I choose to color my mice to my own fashion. Some of the designs are a bit more detailed to color but nothing with intricate or tiny details. Some of the designs seem almost like grayscale coloring because of the use of shading.

This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. I will list, the comments section below, the coloring medium I use for testing and for coloring.

21 House Mouse Designs from simple to more detailed in nature

Printed one side of the page

Paper is typical of CreateSpace published books. It is thin, white, slightly rough and non-perforated

Glue Bound

Designs do not merge into the binding area and there is plenty of room to cut out design if you choose to do so

Alcohol-based markers seep through the paper quickly.

Water-based markers seep through in spots.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink pens can spot through if several coats are applied or if you use the ink heavily.

Colored pencils worked well with this paper. It has a roughness to the texture which grips the pigment well. I used both oil and wax based pencils and was able to get good results from layering the same color, multiple colors, and blending with a blending stick. Hard lead pencils left dents which could read through to the page below.

I use and recommend the use of a blotter page to keep seeping ink and dents from marring the pages below your working page. I like card stock but a couple of pages of heavyweight paper work well, too.