Daily Archives: June 1, 2016

Adult Coloring Book with Color by Number or Not – Mandalas Vol. 1 (Volume 2)

By: C. R. Gilbert

Rating: 5 of 5

This my second book in this series of coloring books which are designed to teach you to color. The concept of the book is quite different. As with my first book in this series, there are two versions of each of the 20 designs. The first is a regular line drawing and the second has color numbers placed in each of the segments of the design. These two pages are followed by an additional page which provides the key to the color by number page as well as two additional spots where you can use your own colors to replace the colors for each number. On this page, you are provided two segments of the design in which you can test out your color choices.

While I generally do not do color-by-number books, I really like the way this book is put together. As I don’t like to have numbers showing through, I can follow the key for colors but do it on the version of the design that doesn’t have the numbers printed. For those who can cover those numbers or for those who simply don’t mind, the pre-numbered designs work well, too.

There are 20 different mandala designs in this book. They range from fairly simple to very detailed. For my first two projects, I chose a a designs that had fewer intricate spots but involved many round shapes. I used different coloring medium for each (pencils on the free-style version and water-based markers on the pre-numbered one.) I did my version of the design first so I would not be influenced by the color by number design and used a wide variety of colors. I then colored the same designs using the pre-printed number page and following the color key which essentially used three shades of blue.

This is what I found in coloring, testing and looking through this coloring book:

20 Designs printed in two formats along with 20 test pages as well for a total of 40 coloring opportunities
Printed on one side of the page
Paper is thin, white, slightly rough, non-perforated paper typical of CreateSpace published books
Book is Glue Bound
Designs do not merge into the binding area
Coloring book can open fairly flat for coloring purposes
Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through this paper.
Gel pens and India ink can spot through or leave shadows of color depending on how much I put on the page.
Coloring pencils work well: wax and oil based soft lead lay down color (both with a soft and a firm hand), layer, and blend well; hard lead (like Verithins) dent the back of the page but lay down good color

I received a free sample copy of this coloring book for test and review purposes.

Mermaids Grayscale Coloring Edition (Fantasy Coloring by Selina) (Volume 7)

By: Selina Fenech

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my second grayscale coloring book by Selina Fenech. While I loved the artwork in both books, this book is a vast improvement in how it is printed compared to the copy of her first book that I purchased. In that book, the skin tones were too dark and rather muddy. Because of how clear and good the contrast is in this book, I am left wondering if I received a bad printing with the first one.

I really like this book. I love the artwork as I do with Ms. Fenech’s line drawn coloring books as well. This book appears to have been taken, at least in part, from the first mermaids line coloring book Ms. Fenech published. I don’t own that book so I can’t verify that for sure.

This book has many mermaids both close ups of one and group designs of multiple mermaids. There are a couple of designs that mimic Art Nouveau poster art and which match the lovely fairies that I colored in the first grayscale coloring book by this artist.

I’m looking forward to coloring these pictures and having fun with the colorways because the book contains two of each of the twenty-five designs. If I really mess something up, I have another one to try. If I have problems deciding on a colorway, I have two designs that I can try two different ways. For my first projects, I used alcohol markers with an overlay of colored pencils. It worked well but as I am new to all of this, the results are not all that great but I sure enjoyed the time I spent coloring these pretty pictures.

25 x 2 each Grayscale Designs from Selina Fenech’s actual artwork

Printed on one side of CreateSpace typical white, thin non-perforated paper

Glue Bound

Designs do not merge into the binding area. There is a framing line around the outside of each design so you can cut the page out without any design loss.

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through this paper (I suggest you use a blotter page below the page you are working on if you use these.)

Gel pens and India ink pens leave color shadows on the back of the page.

Coloring pencils work well with this paper. You can put down light to heavy color, it blends and layers well. Hard lead pencils leave dents on the back of the page.

Sweet & Simple Whimsy Girls: Mermaids and More to Color

By: Hannah Lynn

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my second full size coloring book by Hannah Lynn. I somehow missed her smaller pocket size book but plan to pick that up in the near future.

The designs in this book are as cute as those I have been enjoying in her first book. The girls all have big eyes and lush hair. I find the designs to be somewhat detailed but not with intricate or small spots to color. At the front of the book, the artist has included thumbnails of each of designs. I appreciate this table of contents as it helps me find my designs and make my coloring decisions. She has also included a few tips and hints as to ways to color with the book.

There are fantasy girls such as fairies and mermaids and there are also some fun themed designs which include Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. I have been having so much fun coloring these designs. I have been using alcohol-based markers or various brands of colored pencils and, in some cases, a combination of both markers and pencils to color my first projects.

This is what I found in coloring and testing this coloring book:

50 Cute Fantasy and Theme Big Eye Girls

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is typical CreateSpace, thin, white, slightly rough and non-perforated.

Glue Binding

Designs do not merge into the binding area

All designs have framing lines around the outer edge which provides a good stopping point and finishes off all elements. I find this makes it easier for me to color and have a more finished looking project.

Alcohol and water based markers bleed through this paper to some degree. Alcohol-based bleed through rapidly while water-based are more spotty on the back of the page.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. If I have to apply a lot of color, sometimes the ink can spot through on the page.

Coloring pencils work well: both wax and oil-based pencils lay down color (both with a soft and a firm hand), layer, and blend well; hard lead (like Verithins) dent the back of the page.

Because of the seeping ink and potential for dents, I used and recommend using a blotter page behind the page you are working on. The artist also recommends this. While she suggests 4-5 pages of regular paper, I have found that a page of thick card stock also works well.

Fabulous Women: A Colouring Book for Adults: Lovely Ladies at Work and Leisure

By: Christine Vencato

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a coloring book which depicts women of various time periods size, shape and age. I really appreciate that the scenes are those that I might expect from everyday life. I love the title Fabulous Women and that it applies to all women who do what they do every single day.

The designs are all very nicely drawn and are easy to color. What I notice first about them is how the eyes of the subjects grab your attention and draw you into the design. It is almost like looking into the soul of the woman and seeing what she is doing from her eyes as well as from your own.

For my first project in this book, I used a variety of colored pencils that I have been considering. I purchased a couple from various brands and was pleased with how they worked. That put all of them on my to-be-purchased list over time. I find that my coloring pencils work fairly well with CreateSpace paper.

This is what I discovered in testing and coloring in this book:

24 Designs of Women in everyday events (for their time period)
Printed on one side of the page.
Paper is typical of CreateSpace. It is thin, white, slightly rough, and non-perforated.
Glue Bound
Designs do not merge into the binding area and have a framing line around the outer edge to finish all elements for ease of coloring.
Can be opened to a fairly flat position for coloring
I recommend a blotter page be used under your working page for all types of coloring medium to save the rest of the book from seeping ink or dents.
Alcohol and water-based markers seep through this paper to varying degrees.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page and can spot through if they are used heavily for deeper coverage.
Coloring pencils work well with this paper. Both oil and wax based pencils put down good color, layered well both with the same and different colors and blended easily. Hard lead pencils leave dents on the back of the page.

I received a free sample of this coloring book for test and review purposes.