Monthly Archives: August 2016

Chalk-Style Holiday Coloring Book: Color with All Types of Markers, Gel Pens & Colored Pencils

By: Valerie McKeehan

Rating: 5 of 5

I really enjoy the designs in this coloring book but there are some issues with the formatting that I really do not like. I love the designs but some of them have needlessly been made difficult to color.

The designs are primarily Christmas in nature but some are a little more generic. I finished one of cups of hot cocoa to be generic while the sample showed it in Christmas colors.

The designs are in chalk-style and the backgrounds of these designs are not a pure black as others have been. They have a kind of used chalky look to them which makes them a little more gray in tone than black. It gives it a very realistic look.

In my recent coloring books from this publisher, they have altered their format and the designs which are shown as colored samples in the book are no longer provided in full page format. They are included as medium designs with a thumbnail of the color sample, a few samples of the colors used and a quick sentence or two about the how the colors work with the design.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this change but now that I have worked with a couple of these books, I must say I really do not like the change. I want the pages in full size for both ease of coloring and for consistency with the other pages in the book. The shrinking of the designs has made some of the details small and intricate and difficult to color.

Simply put, I wish they would go back to the old format and perhaps include the information on the sample color pages. While I didn’t detract stars in my rating because of the format as I do color in books that have intricate details, the new format makes me less inclined to want to purchase their coloring books in the future.

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

32 Holiday (primarily Christmas)Designs in Chalk-board style (white images on dark gray to black backgrounds) with 24 large designs and 8 medium ones

The 8 Medium Designs include colored thumbnails and coloring advice on the page (info can be removed at provided perforations)

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is medium weight, slightly rough, dark gray/black printed on white paper and is perforated for easy removal. The paper is noted as archival-grade and acid free for 200 years.

Designs stop well before the perforations

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through the page

Gel pens and India ink pens can spot through to the back of the page

Colored pencils work well with the paper. Both oil and wax based pencils provide good color, layer, and blend well. Hard lead pencils can dent through the page.

I use a blotter page to keep seeping ink and dents from marring the pages below. I recommend this in general or that you remove pages before coloring. I use card stock or several sheets of paper as my blotter page.

Kawaii Girl Fashion Coloring Book: Clothes, dresses, costumes and lots of cute kawaii fashions (Kawaii, Manga and Anime Coloring Books for Adults, Teens and Tweens) (Volume 3)

By: Mindful Coloring Books

Rating: 4 of 5

Kawaii is the Japanese word for cute. The movement in their art is to have simplified artwork that is very cute and feminine. While I found some of this coloring book to be almost manga in its detail, there is still a cute factor and simplistic facial features that moves it into the kawaii category. There are 20 designs that feature young women dressed in a variety of fashions. The girls are set in a background setting as well which adds a lot of detail to the coloring experience.

Along with the 20 full size pages, there are 6 sample pages from several other Mindful Coloring books as well.

This is what I experienced when coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper. In the comments section below, I will include a list the coloring medium I used for testing and which I also use for coloring.

20 Kawaii Girl Designs with emphasis on fashions plus 6 bonus pages

Printed one side of the page

Paper is thin, slight rough, white and non-perforated

Glue bound

Designs do not merge into the binding area. There is plenty of room to cut out pages if you choose to do so.

Designs all have framing lines around the outer edge to give the colorist a natural stopping point.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper rapidly.

Water-based markers bleed through in spots.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on the back of the page. India ink pens can bleed through in spots if you apply the ink heavily or in multiple layers.

Colored pencils work well. I tested both oil and wax-based and had good results with both. I was able to lay down good color, layer the same and multiple colors, and blend easily using a pencil style blender. Hard lead pencils can leave dents through the paper.

I use a blotter page of card stock to keep seeping ink and dents from damaging the pages below my working page. A couple of pages of heavyweight paper works well, too.

Carousel Dreams: A Coloring Book by YamPuff

By: Yasmeen H Eldahan

Rating: 5 of 5

Carousel Dreams is a Manga style coloring book with 24 cute designs. The designs are either of carousel animals or of the Rose Princess that YamPuff (the artist) has dreamed of having inhabit her world. In addition to the designs, the title page can be colored as well.

The designs are especially cute and fun to color. The designs have a bit of detail but are not intricate and don’t have tiny spaces which required unusually small nib pens. A few of the pages have a couple of intricate spots (such as on the carousel mandala or some of the smaller detailed designs on the Rose Princess dress.

Each of the design pages has a short blurb on the back which explains the thoughts behind each particular design. It was interesting reading what the artist had in mind been creating the design.

This is what I found 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 use for testing and for coloring.

24 Carousel inspired Designs done in Manga style plus title page that can be colored as well-acted

Printed on one side of the page

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

Glue Binding

Three designs merge into the the binding area but nothing essential to the design would be lost if you cut those pages out.

Coloring book can be opened fairly flat for easy of coloring

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper readily. Water-based markers bleed through in spots but can still damage the page below.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave discernible shadows of color on the back of the page. India ink can bleed through in spots if you apply heavily or with multiple layers.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils and found that they both work well with providing good color pigment, can layer same or multiple colors well and blend easily using a blending stick. Hard lead pencils dent through the page.

I use card stock as a blotter under y working page with all CreateSpace publications. It keeps ink and dents from damaging the pages below. A couple of sheets of heavyweight paper work as well, too.

Enchanted Halloween: A Whimsy Girls Fantasy Coloring Book

By: Hannah Lynn

Rating: 5 of 5

I own two other coloring books by Hannah Lynn and have found her designs to be both fun and easy to color. She creates beautiful girls with lovely big eyes. In this book, the emphasis is on Halloween and other fall related themes.

Over the last weekend, I found myself coloring in this book so much, I decided I had to pace myself a bit or I would finish the whole book in a week! I really enjoy Ms. Lynn’s designs!

There are two each of each of the designs. I like that, too, as I can try different colorways or perhaps give one to a friend. Who am I kidding? I’m not giving one of these away but I may buy a second book to share with other… or maybe I want to color each design four different ways.

The designs are easy to color. I like to use markers and colored pencils when coloring these designs. I lay down a foundation color with markers and then had details and shading with my pencils. I find that process is the easiest for me and results in designs that look the way I see them in my mind.

Here is what I found while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper. In the comments section below, I will list the coloring mediums I use for testing and for coloring as well.

30 x 2 each Big Eye Girls in Halloween Fun Designs

Printed one side of the page

Paper is thin, white, slightly rough and non-perforated

Glue bound

Designs stop well before the binding area so it is easy to cut pages out if you choose to do so.

Designs have a double framing line around the outer edges for a natural stopping point while coloring.

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through this paper.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink pens can leak through if you apply heavily or use multiple coats.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. I was able to layer the same color for deeper tones, multiple colors, and blend easily using a blending stick with both oil and wax-based pencils. Hard lead pencils dent through the paper.

I suggest and use a blotter page of card stock when coloring in this book. It keeps ink and dents from from damaging the pages below my working page.

Harry Potter Magical Creatures Coloring Kit

By: Running Press

Rating: 4 of 5

This is my second set of Harry Potter coloring card kits. The first was based on the first Harry Potter Coloring book and this new kit is based on the second book and is of Magical Creatures.

The first thing I will note is that this kit is very small. I knew what to expect having purchased the first kit. The dimensions listed seem to be that of the box holder when it is closed. The set of cards takes up very little space within the box, as it also holds the pencils and the magnetic frames.

I’ll provide details on the components below. The designs are very small with detailed coloring elements. I suggest only small nib coloring medium with this kit. I used both the pencils that came with the kit and my own pencils as well.

I consider it a fun kit for any Harry Potter fan. They remind me of exchangeable cards that have been popular over the years. The pencils that came with the kit are very inexpensive and do not provide much by way of color. The other problem with the pencils had to do with the colors. The colors are standard but are not the ones that I would necessarily want to use for Magical Creatures. There wasn’t even a black pencil in the set at all. I detracted a star from my review because of this issue.

Here are the colors which are provided: dark green, medium green, yellow, orange, red, purple, brown, pink, light blue and dark blue. Even the dark colors still go on fairly light. These are the exact same colors I had in my previous kit from this company. I used the included colors to finish Fang (dog) and I used my own oil-based colored pencils color Fawkes (phoenix). You can see the huge difference in how the pencils colored.

There are two folding magnet frames. Cute but inexpensive. They do nicely for holding a picture on the front of the refrigerator or on a locker anything that a magnet will stick to.

This is what I found while coloring the cards in this kit and testing them with my various coloring medium.

30 Harry Potter designs in playing card size

Printed on one side with high glossy back

Cardboard box holds entire set folds open and closes with magnet

Two folding magnetic frames for holding finished artwork

Alcohol and water based markers and India ink pen did not bleed through

Gel pens did not bleed through but some required extra drying time

Coloring pencils did well but no room for blending in minute details

Steampunk Animals Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

By: Jeremy Elder

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my second coloring book by Jeremy Elder. My previous one was also a steampunk inspired book, Steampunk Devices. There are many animals in the book including: snail, rabbit, owl, turtle, monkey, walrus and many more.

The designs in the book and imaginative and are lots of fun to color. The animals are set in backgrounds rather than simply an animals on a page. Each of the animals has machinery built-in which is a must for a steampunk fan.

The designs are detailed but are not intricate and hard to color. There is plenty of room for blending or adding your own details to make the coloring project a more personalized one.

My earlier book by Mr. Elder was released under the Creative Haven line of Dover books and I wish that this one, Steampunk Animals had also been so released. Unfortunately, it was released as a standard Dover Coloring book. The difference is distinctive as this book is printed on both sides of the page, has a slightly different feel to the paper, and is not perforated.

However, the price is also less than a Creative Haven book, so I can and will buy a second copy of this book as I will want to use markers on the pages. If you use only colored pencils, you may be happy with just the one book as-is.

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

30 Steampunk inspired Animals Designs

Printed on both sides of the page

Paper is medium weight, smooth, white and non-perforated

Staple bound with three heavy duty staples

Designs stop well before the binding area and can be removed in whole from the book by removing the three staples at the binding.

All designs have a framing line around the outer edge to give a natural stopping point for the design and all of the elements within it. I really appreciate this feature in coloring books.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper

Water-based markers spot through and/or leave colorful shadows on the back of the page

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink pens can bleed through in spots if you apply heavily or use multiple coats.

Colored pencils worked well with this paper. Both oil and wax-based pencils provided good pigment, layered well with the same or multiple colors and blended well using a blending stick. Hard lead pencils did not dent through the page.

If you choose to use any medium other than colored pencils, you will probably find bleed through or colorful shadows on the design at the back of your working page. For me, that ruins the design. My choice will be to buy a second book if I want to use markers/gel pens/India ink. I still suggest a blotter page under your working page as it will keep the following pages (other than the one on the back of your working page) from being ruined by seeping ink. I like card stock for this purpose but find that a couple of sheets of heavyweight white paper work well, too.

Marie Catoinette: Kitty Wigs Presents A Cautionary Tale of Excess: An Historically Imaginative Adult Coloring Book

By: Julie Jackson

Rating: 5 of 5

This is an adorable set of designs featuring cats wearing wigs similar in style and theme to those decadent wigs worn by the aristocrats of the 18th century. Of the 29 designs, a full 22 of them are of cats. The remaining designs are also nice but not what really drove me to purchase and want to color in this book.

The designs have a lot of shading in them. They are almost but not quite what I would consider grayscale coloring. I will be using some grayscale techniques in coloring this book. The illustrations are by Paul Labadie whose self-taught skill in art is quite beautiful and detailed.

The designs are detailed and some contain intricate and small areas to color. They are of just the cat in the wig and don’t have background to color. I think that works best for this subject matter as the wigs are so elaborately styled you would not want to detract from them in any way.

This is what I found while I was coloring in this book and testing it with my coloring medium. In the comments section below, I will list the coloring medium I use to test and color with.

29 Detailed and somewhat Intricate Designs with 22 of them being cats in wigs

Printed one side of the page

Paper is typical for CreateSpace publications: thin, white, slightly rough and non-perforated

Glue bound

Designs stop well before the binding area so it is easy to cut pages out if you choose to do so

Book can be opened fairly flat for coloring but you will need to crease or break the spine to do so

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through this paper.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink pens can leak through if you apply heavily or use multiple coats.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. It has enough tooth to grab a good amount of color. I was able to layer the same color, multiple colors, and blend easily using a blending stick with both oil and wax-based pencils. Hard lead pencils dent through the paper.

I use a blotter page of card stock when coloring in any CreateSpace coloring book. I put it under my working page and it keeps ink and dents from marring the pages below.

Creative Haven Dream Birds Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

By: Miryam Adatto

Rating: 5 of 5

I own several coloring books by Miryam Adatto. Each new book is an adventure into her signature abstract view of design. My previous books were landscapes and beautiful abstract faces, so I was very interested to see her take on birds. This is not a book of realistically drawn birds, it is lovely abstract view of birds in various settings, including flowers, plant life and even surrounded by hearts.

The birds in the book are not all familiar to me, but I did recognize owls, a peacock, an egret, a flamingo, ducks, geese, a turkey and an eagle among them. The way the designs are formed invites the colorist to use a multitude of colors and to experiment with unusual concepts in her imaginative world.

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

31 Highly imaginative and abstract designs of birds

Printed one side of the page

Paper is Creative Haven’s typical great quality, it is white, medium weight, slightly smooth and has perforated pages.

Glue Binding but you can remove pages at the perforation easily

The designs stop well before the perforations

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper

Water-based markers can bleed through in spots on the back of the page

Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of the page. India ink pens can bleed through in small spots if you apply heavily with multiple layers.
Coloring pencils work well with this paper. I was able to use both wax and oil based pencils equally well. They lay down good color, layer the same color and multiple colors and blend easily using a pencil style blender. Hard lead pencils, like Verithins, leave dents on the back of the page.

I either use a blotter page under my working page or I remove pages from the book to color. I like card stock for my blotter page but a couple of sheets of heavyweight paper works as well.