Daily Archives: July 25, 2016

Endangered Species Coloring Book: of Endangered Species Around the World

By: Casey L Gilmore

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a beautifully hand-drawn set of designs which feature 20 different endangered species. The artist, Casey Gilmore, is both a biologist and an artist and it shows in the high level of detail found in most of these designs. Because of the shading in the designs, I used some of the skills I have learned for grayscale coloring; however, from my point of view this is a coloring book and not a grayscale coloring book.

The designs are all printed on the right hand side of the page. Opposite each design, on the left hand side of the page, is information about the animal, including name, scientific name, habitat, diet, coloration, uniqueness, and conservation. It makes for very interesting reading. Also, for those who want to color their designs to be more life-like, it is nice to understand the coloration.

I really appreciate that each design has its own color palette page following the design page which can be used to test colors before committing to them in the design. It can also be used as a blotter page but if you are using alcohol-based markers, I suggest adding additional paper to keep ink from seeping through.

In addition to being a very well done set of designs, the book is endorsed by the Wildlife Act Focused Conservation Act. While I did not find reference to this in the book, the product blurb mentions that 1% of all proceeds from the book go to Wildlife Act a conservation organization in South Africa.

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

20 Hand-Drawn Endangered Animal Designs

Designs are printed on one side of the page while information about animals are printed on the other side of page.

Color Palette pages are provided for each design and can be used as a blotter page as well. I prefer to add my own blotter page of heavier weight paper or card stock.

Paper is thin, white, slightly rough (with good tooth), and non-perforated.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper.

Water-based markers, except for Tombow brush end, can spot through on this paper.

Gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through though India ink can bleed through if you apply multiple coats of ink.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. I was able to get good pigment with repeated layers of the same color and to layer multiple colors and blend well (using a pencil style blending stick.) I had good results with both oil and wax based pencils. Hard lead pencils can dent through to the back of the page.

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

2017 Coloring Calendar: A Cup of Blessings For Every Day – Psalm 16:5

By: Christian Art Gifts (Corporate Author)

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a really lovely Christian-based monthly calendar. The artwork is licensed from Shutterstock and each of the designs (except December) incorporates a Bible verse and cite from either the Old or New Testament. December quotes the words of a beautiful Christmas hymn Oh come let us adore him! rather than a verse. The calendar does not cite which translation(s) it uses.

The monthly calendar pages are bound by a top spiral and the purple base unfolds to stand the calendar in an upright position. It is easy to fold it back up to flat for coloring purposes. The cover and the base are glossy. The cover is card stock as are the monthly designs. The base is a heavier weight cardboard.

My first project in the calendar, January 2017, I finished using wax-based colored pencils. The design takes up the majority of the page with a smaller calendar section as part of the page. I really appreciated that the design matched to the verse but in a cute way. That I could focus on the Scripture as I colored made the project a special time for me.

This is what I discovered as I colored in this calendar and tested my coloring medium on the paper. I will include, in the comments section below, a list of the coloring medium I use for testing and for most of my coloring projects as well.

12 Designs (one per month) with a Christian theme

Printed one side of the page

Paper is card stock, white, slightly smooth and non-perforated

Spiral bound at top of the designs

Calendar can be stood up or collapses to flat for coloring

Alcohol-based markers bleed through slightly

Water-based markers, gel pens, and India ink pens do not bleed through though gel pens take a slightly longer time to dry

Colored pencils work well. I got a good color, layering, and blending with both oil and wax-based pencils.