Daily Archives: February 7, 2017

Fairies and Dragons

By: Deborah Muller

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the first fantasy style coloring book I have by Deborah Muller. I have a number of her religious coloring books and one which features cats and really enjoyed coloring in those books. I took a chance with this book and am really glad I did. While it is the typical thin and cheap paper from CreateSpace, the designs are quite detailed and fun to color.

Most of the designs feature both a fairy and a dragon (one which creatively shows the dragon as a tattoo on the fairy’s arm.) A few of the designs are only of a fairy or a dragon. The designs are cute and whimsical and definitely detailed. Only a few of the designs have intricate and small areas to color which may need ultra-fine nibs and points.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
25 Designs with Fairies and Dragons by Deborah Muller
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality used by CreateSpace: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not extend into the binding area. The designs have a variety of framing style lines or designs at 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.

The Velveteen Rabbit Coloring Book: A Classic Editions Coloring Book

By: Charles Santore

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the second in a series of Classic Coloring books featuring the artwork of Charles Santore. The story is Margery Williams Bianco and the illustrations are by Charles Santore. Along with the story and the designs, there are thumbnail color pictures from the storybook on the inside front and back covers. That way, you can use similar colors if you so choose.

The book is a larger than standard format. The designs are mostly done in grayscale with a small amount of line drawings in most of the designs.
It is set up in true storybook style, with the text on the left hand side (back of page) and the illustration to the right. Some mediums will bleed through the page (see below), which will interfere with the text but if that doesn’t bother you, you can treat the book as if the designs were one sided.
This is what I found while coloring in the book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
23 Velveteen Rabbit inspired designs by Charles Santore
Designs printed on one side of the page with storybook text on the back.
Paper is white, every so slightly rough to touch, medium weight and non-perforated
Glue Bound
Designs stop short of the binding and have a framing line at the outer edges
Book opens easily to flat position for ease of coloring.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page
Water-based markers and India ink markers leave a slight colorful shadow on the back of the page.
Gel pens do not bleed through an left an indistinct shadow on the back of the page.
Colored pencils did well with this paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I was easily able to get good pigment with multiple layers of the same color. I also was able to layer multiple colors and blend well using a blender stick.