Monthly Archives: December 2016

Christmas Coloring Books: Christmas Coloring Books for Adults Relaxation

By: Adult Coloring Books

Rating: 4 of 5

This is a cute Christmas coloring book. It has traditional holiday designs with Santa, Christmas trees, ornaments, gingerbread houses, ornamented animals and more. Some of the designs have repeating patterns and look to have computer generated parts of the design though most of the designs have a more unique look to them. My two favorite styles in the book and the ornaments and the animals. While all of the designs are cute, I just think these are especially so.

The designs are detailed and fun to color. Some of the designs have intricate and small areas to color. These may require small nib pens/markers and thin, sharp pencil points for coloring. Because of this, I don’t recommend this coloring book to any one who has fine motor or vision issues.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
30 Traditional Christmas Designs
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

The Magic of Christmas (50 Adult Coloring Book Designs, Doubled on the Back of Each Sheet): Cubs, Bears, Dogs, Cats, Christmas Trees, Toys, Santa’s … Holiday Spirit Experience) (Volume 1)

By: Leo Art Gibson

Rating: 4 of 5

This is a coloring book of traditional and detailed Christmas designs. There is a focus on certain types of designs. I found a lot of design with ornaments, wooden soldiers, and Christmas elves that looked a lot more like gnomes.

The interesting difference with this book is that the same design is printed on both front and page of the page. That way you can color the same designs twice or you can treat the page like a single page design and ignore the back of the page. It works well for both right and left hand colorists as you don’t have to work over the hump of the binding. Just choose which page works best for your writing hand and color that one.
For me, I will use the book as a one-sided design book. My coloring medium of choice will either bleed through or leave dents on the back of the page. Because of that, the back of the page won’t be in good enough shape (due to the them CreateSpace paper) to be useful.
The designs are detailed with lots of elements to color. Some of the designs have intricate and small areas to color. These may require small nib pens/markers and thin, sharp pencil points for coloring. Because of this, I don’t recommend this coloring book to any one who has fine motor or vision issues.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
51 Traditional Christmas Designs
The same design is printed on both front and back of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs merge into the binding area. If you cut your pages out, you will lose part of the design.
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

Magic Christmas: Coloring Book for Adults

By: Happy Coloring

Rating: 5 of 5

I own a couple of coloring books by artist Juliana Emerson but I believe that this is the first one that I have that focuses on people. The scenes are all traditional Christmas and include: Santas, angels, baby Jesus and a nativity scene, outdoor scenes, trees, candles, packages, and more. The designs are done with a vintage style from a by-gone era. The book is filled with designs that evoke the holiday season and give a lot of joy to my time spent coloring.

The designs are detailed but not what I would call intricate (calling for special small nib pens/markers and fine point pencils.) I am able to use both fine and ultra fine points with no problem. The designs are beautiful background scenes for a fun coloring project.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
30 Vintage style Traditional Christmas Designs
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding and have an unusual double line frame at the outer edges of the design
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

The Curious Carnival: Coloring Book for Grown-ups

By: M.R. Umlas

Rating: 5 of 5

We have recently started taking our grandchildren to the circus when it comes to town. We have all been thrilled by the spectacle of the acts under the big top. This coloring book captures that feeling and gives me the opportunity to both color the designs and to discuss the circus with my grandson.

There are trapeze artists, clowns, animals, fortune-tellers, magicians, jugglers and more. The designs have a lovely hand-drawn quality and represent the images with an old-time vintage (almost steampunk) feel. I’m really pleased with the quality of artwork in this book. The paper is the same thin quality I have come to expect from CreateSpace printed books. While I wish it were better, it is the only choice for self-published artists, so I accept it to get the wide choice of designs.
The designs are quite detailed and include intricate elements with lots of tiny spots to color. I would not recommend this coloring book to anyone with fine motor or vision issues. I would also suggest that, for the intricate areas, use of ultra-fine point markers/pens or really sharp pencils would be best.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
25 Hand-drawn Designs inspired by Carnivals and Circus images
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding and have a framing line around the outer edges.
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

Adult Coloring Book: Island Dreams: Vacation, Summer and Beach: Dream and Relax with Gorgeous Illustrations

By: Julia Rivers

Rating: 4 of 5

The designs in this book are inspired by islands and the ocean. There are many island scenes, fish, waves, palm trees, etc. Each page has a lot of detail by way of lots of wavy lines. The publishing company (Okami Coloring) has not provided the artists name(s) for the designs. The designs have the appearance of hand-drawn and seem to be the style of one artist.

The designs are quite detailed and include intricate elements with lots of tiny spots to color. I would not recommend this coloring book to anyone with fine motor or vision issues. I would also suggest that, for the intricate areas, use of ultra-fine point markers/pens or really sharp pencils would be best.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
40 Island/Ocean inspired designs with lots of details and wavy lines
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding and have a framing line around the outer edges.
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

Animals Flowers: Adult Coloring Book Stress Relieving Patterns (animals coloring books for adults relaxation)

By: Sophia Payne

Rating: 4 of 5

This is a slightly smaller than average format coloring book. The designs in it are reduced somewhat on the page as well. This makes for a very detailed and intricate set of illustrations inspired by animals and flowers. Both the range of the animals and the flowers are extensive with the animals ranging from birds to mammals, reptiles and even insects. Each design features an animal set among greenery and flowers. While I wish the designs were done full page, I like the illustrations themselves.

The designs are quite detailed and include intricate elements with lots of tiny spots to color. I would not recommend this coloring book to anyone with fine motor or vision issues. I would also suggest that, for the intricate areas, use of ultra-fine point markers/pens or really sharp pencils would be best.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
24 Animal/Flower inspired designs which are sized rather small on the page
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding. A few have framing lines at the outer edge but most stop without a line.
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

Silent Night: Adult Coloring Book

By: Phoenix Amulet

Rating: 5 of 5

I am a fan of both Christmas coloring books and coloring books which utilize doodle creatures. This coloring book by Mardel Rubio combines both in a really interesting fusion. The designs are quite traditional, with Santas, snowmen, fireside tree scenes, Christmas trees, angels, and even a nativity or two.

What is interesting to me about the fusion of styles is that I can choose how to emphasize each design. I can choose bring out the doodle creatures by coloring them contrasting colors to the rest of the design. Or I can choose to blend them in by using complimentary colors.
The designs are quite detailed and include intricate elements with lots of tiny spots to color. I would not recommend this coloring book to anyone with fine motor or vision issues. I would also suggest that, for the intricate areas, use of ultra-fine point markers/pens or really sharp pencils would be best.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
23 Traditional Christmas Designs with Doodle creatures
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical of CreateSpace: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs merge into the binding area (and extend to all sides of the page)
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.

Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Colouring-Book Adventure

By: ROALD DAHL

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a fun coloring book based on the works of Roald Dahl. I remember the first time my elementary school teacher read us Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and then followed it up with James and the Giant Peach. I think that my love of reading and books stem not only from this wonderful teacher (Mr. Oldham) but also from his reading of these particular books.

After hearing these stories, I started checking Mr. Dahl’s books out of the library and immersed myself in the fantasy world that he created. From there, I moved on to other books. When my children were born, the first books I bought were Mr. Dahl’s collected stories. The same is true when my grandchildren were born.
To find a wonderful coloring book based on these stories is wonderful I’m so pleased to have the opportunity to color them. The illustrations are not the ones from the original books but are interpretations by Lee Teng and Leo Brown.
The designs are all quite detailed and some have intricate and tiny parts to color. Some of the designs have a heavy use of black as a color as well as thick black lines for the illustrations.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
45 Designs based on a wide variety of works by Roald Dahl (not including illustrated title, presentation and introduction pages)
Designs are printed on one side of the page. On the reverse side, there is a thumbnail image of the design along with the name of the book/story from which the illustration was derived and a quote as well.
Paper is medium weight, white, ever so slightly rough and non-perforated.
Sewn binding (You can remove several sheets in whole by cutting through the threads.)
Most designs reach into the binding.
I could get the book to lay fairly flat by creasing/breaking the spine heavily
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper quickly. I suggest using a blotter page under your working page with this type of medium. I prefer card stock but a few pages of regular paper can work well, too.
Water-based markers leave a colorful shadow on the back of the page.
Gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through or leave shadows on the back of the page. Gel pens take a much longer time than usual to dry.
Colored pencils worked well with this paper. It had enough light texture to allow good pigment lay down. I was able to get deep colors with multiple coats of the same color and layering with two colors worked well, too. Blending was easy with a pencil style blending stick. I tested both wax and oil based pencils with good results.

The World of Fairies: A Coloring Book for Adults

By: Ruth Sanderson

Rating: 5 of 5

I first discovered Ruth Sanderson as an illustrator of a wide variety of children’s books when I found some of her designs in cross stitch patterns. I loved stitching the intricate designs and then, finding her books, and now reading them to my grandchildren.

To now find her designs in coloring book format is wonderful. Her fairies have a delicate look that is instantly recognizable as her work. The designs are detailed and intricate. Many have small areas which will take small nip pens/markers and/or really sharp pencils to color.
They are all scenes rather than just a fairy, so each designs tells a story in itself. The lines are generally quite delicate and there is a heavy use of shading. It is almost a cross between a coloring book of regular line drawing and one of grayscale images. I enjoy coloring in both formats and will use the methods I have learned for both to finish my projects in the book.
In addition to the 24 full size designs, 12 of the images are produced in card size format. Because the designs have been reduced drastically, these smaller format designs are very intricate to color and require a steady hand and good eyesight as well as small pointed medium.
I’m very happy to have found this coloring book of Ms. Sanderson’s designs and hope that it is the first of a series and not a one-off. I will be looking forward to finishing this book and looking for new volumes in the future.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
24 Full size fairy designs plus 12 bonus card size images by Ruth Sanderson. To use the card size images for note cards, you will have to cut the designs out.
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical of CreateSpace: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding. Each design has a framing line at the outer edges for easy of coloring. I also find this gives a more finished look to my final projects
Glue Binding (there is room to cut the pages out if you choose to do so.)
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.