Daily Archives: July 14, 2016

Mini-INKLINGS colouring book by Tanya Bond: Coloring book for adults, teens and children, featuring 30 single sided fantasy art illustrations by Tanya … and other charming creatures. (Volume 3)

By: Tanya Bond

Rating: 5 of 5

I really enjoy Tanya Bond’s coloring book series, Inklings, so when I found out that she had released a mini format book, I immediately purchased it. I was very happy to see many new designs and a few that are familiar. The ones that are similar to her other books have been re-done to fit the new format and feel like a new coloring experience as well. The lines are nice and dark and well-connected unlike other books where the lines fade away because the images were reduced too far. These designs feel as if they were drawn for this size format.

The coloring book is approximately 9 x 6 inches and it fits perfectly in my handbag to carry around with me. The designs are detailed but not at all intricate which, again, makes them a perfect project for on-the-go. Each of the designs are titled at the bottom of the page, along with a copyright. I like the title but wish the copyright had been less intrusive.

The designs feature the ethereal maidens with large expressive eyes that I have found in all of Ms. Bond’s designs. I love all of the girls with their fun hats in this book. They remind me of my younger daughter who loves to crochet/knit wild hats for herself.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium:

30 Designs of Large, Expressive Eyed Girls in 9 x 6 inch format book

2 Pages set aside for Color Tests

Printed on one side of the page

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

Glue Bound

Designs do not merge into the binding area

Book can be opened flat with a little effort for coloring

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper readily

Water-based markers bleed through in spots

Gel pens and India Ink artist pens create colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink pens can spot through if multiple layers are applied.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. I can use either wax or oil based pencils and get good pigment (with multiple layers of the same color), layer multiple colors well and blend well using a pencils style blender stick. My hard lead pencils, such as Verithins, can cause dents through to the back of the page.

I use a piece of card stock or a couple of pieces of heavy weight paper as a blotter when coloring in this book. It keeps ink from seeping through or dents from marring the pages below my project page.

Wholehearted: A Coloring Book Devotional

By: Paige Tate & Co.

Rating: 5 of 5

My review is of the standard paperback version of this book. As I have purchased and reviewed the Premium version of other of this publishers books, I’m certain that the paper in the spiral-bound version of the book is an improvement over what the paperback.

This is an excellent devotional guide which can be accomplished in 30 days (as the writer suggests) or at your own speed if you prefer to save out the time you spend in devotional study.

The format of the book alternates between one day of suggested tasks and prayers to the next day of coloring. That amounts to fifteen days each of both formats. Each day is prefaced with cited verse of Scripture and the task/coloring relates back to that verse.

Each day has a page of verse and then the author shares her personal thoughts and experiences which relate to the verse. Then, you either follow the tasks or color the design depending on which day it is.

I found the course of study to be of immense personal use for me. It seemed as if the entire book had been geared towards the issues I have been facing. The stories that the author tells are heartfelt and the suggested tasks are ones that, while I found a bit emotionally challenging, were ultimate rewarding for me.

The coloring was just a small part of this book and the designs are geared to and highlight the Bible verse. Each of the drawings can be accomplished in a day.

For coloring purposes, the paper in this book is white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated. Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through. Gel pens and India ink leave shadows of color on the back of the back. Colored pencils work well (both oil and wax based) but hard lead pencils can leave dents. I use a blotter page under the page I am working on (both coloring and using a pen for writing) to keep ink and dents from marring the pages below.

Autumn Magic: Gorgeous Autumn Patterns to Color (Color Magic)

By: Barron’s Educational Series

Rating: 4 of 5

As Autumn inspired coloring books are few and far between, I am always looking for new ones. Autumn Magic is the latest entry in the magic series by Barron’s. As I have a couple of books in this series, I was not surprised by either the fact that the pictures were printed on both sides of the page and that all of the artwork is licensed from Shutterstock/iStock rather than created specifically for this book.

With these types of licensed designs, if you own other books of this nature, you are apt to find designs that you have already. That was certainly the case for me with this book. However, there is enough designs in the book that I haven’t had before to make it a fun coloring experience for me. Because of the repetitive artwork, I detracted a star from my rating. I think a company of this size should be able to obtain original artwork and/or license artwork that has not been licensed over and over again.

The designs are well printed on a good quality paper. Some designs are detailed and some are quite intricate and may require special small nib pens or markers or really sharp pencils to color. While most of the designs are related to Autumn and/or Halloween, a few of them seemed less applicable and more general in nature.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium:

78 pages of Licensed Autumn/Halloween inspired designs are printed on both sides of the page

Paper is heavyweight, white, smooth and non-perforated

Sewn Binding (you can remove several pages at a time by snipping threads if you choose to do so.)

Designs are single page and do not merge into the binding area

All Designs have framed around the outer edge

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper rapidly. If you use these, you will bleed through to the design on the back side of the page.

Ultra-fine and brush end water-based markers do not bleed through the page. Fine point water-based markers do bleed through in spots.

Gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through the page. However, gel pens require additional drying time.

Colored pencils work well with the paper. I used wax and oil based pencils equally well for good pigment, layering and blending. Hard lead pencils did not dent through this paper.