Monthly Archives: March 2017

Magical Dawn Coloring Book: Published in Sweden as “Magisk Gryning” (Gsp- Trade)

By: Hanna Karlzon

Rating: 5 of 5

I own a few coloring books by Hanna Karlzon and I was looking forward to receiving Magical Dawn which I purchased sight unseen on pre-order. The book is filled with designs in Ms. Karlzon’s unique style. I think that the designs in this book are even more elaborate than her previous ones. There are many more jewels, animals, and lovely ladies.

Because the book is printed two-sided, I’m being very careful with what I use to color in it. I’ve discovered that I prefer using my Faber-Castell Polychromos because 1) I like the way they work with the paper and 2) I like the color mix available for these designs. I also like to use metallic and glitter gel pens to add a hint of pizzazz to my projects. This has been true with my other copies of regular hardbound coloring books by Ms. Karlzon. I like her artist edition and postcard versions for use with my markers as those editions are printed only on one side of the page.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing it with my coloring medium. I will list the coloring medium I use for tests and coloring in the comments section below.
90+ pages of beautiful and elaborate designs by Hanna Karlzon
Printed on both sides of the page
Paper is heavyweight, cream color, somewhat smooth, and non-perforated
Sewn binding with some glue as well. You can still snips the threads to remove the pages from the book but may have to contend with a tiny bit of glue on a few pages. I’ve not tried this as I want to keep my book together.
Some designs merge into the binding area, especially those which spread across two pages. Because of the sewn/glued binding and the hardcover of the book, it is difficult to color into those bits. It makes it more of a challenge to tilt the book to get the right angle for coloring
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page. If you use these, you will have ink seep through and mar the design on the back of the page.
Water-based markers, gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through the page.
Colored pencils work well with the paper. I was able to blend, layer the same and multiple colors using both oil and wax-based pencils with ease.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses: Grayscale Adult Coloring Book (Beautiful Fairy Tales) (Volume 1)

By: Ruth Sanderson

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a really lovely grayscale coloring book which is based on the illustrations in Ruth Sanderson’s version of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Having seen how beautiful the designs are, I plan on purchasing the story book as well. I will probably use my own color schemes for the coloring book but it will be nice to see the illustrations in their original form. I’m hoping that Ms. Sanderson will be coming out with coloring books (line drawings and grayscale) based on the other story books she has illustrated.

Please note, there is a slight moire pattern in the silent, full book flip-through and the photo samples I will upload. It is not present on the actual designs but rather a by-product of filming and how the images were converted to grayscale.
The designs are extremely detailed and have small and intricate spots to color. Prefacing the coloring book, Ms. Sanderson has given some excellent suggestions for colors and types of pencils to use while coloring in this book.
There are 24 designs in this book and, what is very interesting, is that there are 12 bonus designs (similar to the others.) These were the designs the artist used to test out grayscale techniques. I think it is wonderful she provided those to us to test and try rather than to discard them from the final book.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
24 Grayscale designs plus 12 bonus (experimental) designs based on the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses
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 framing line 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; however, some of the darker areas of the designs had a tendency to smear using this type of blender. I found that liquid forms (Gamsol or mineral spirits) did a better job. This doesn’t bother me as I generally do not use a blender on grayscale designs. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils (like Verithins) 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.

Darth Vader and Family Coloring Book

By: Jeffrey Brown

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a great coloring book filled with cute designs featuring Darth Vader and his kids. Leia and Luke are shown as children and even teens in humorous depictions with their Dad. I love the hand-drawn look and feel to all of the illustrations.

It appears (for this book series at least) that Darth Vader has turned away from the dark side of the force and is trying his best to be a great dad. One of my favorite illustrations is Darth telling Luke to use the fork while they are eating. I’ve been there and done that, so I could relate one hundred percent.
There are 47 illustrations (including the preface page.) The designs have a really nice level of detail but aren’t overly intricate. The book is in a smaller square format at 8.5 x 8.5 inches. I really appreciate that Mr. Brown included a very short tutorial at the beginning of the book on how to drawn Darth Vader’s head.
This is what I experienced in coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper.
47 line drawing designs based on Darth Vader and Family book series by Jeffrey Brown (includes 9 new illustrations)
Designs are printed on one side of the page with cute wallpaper style design on the back of the page
Paper is medium weight, white, slightly smooth to the touch and non-perforated
Sewn Binding
Designs do not merge into the binding area and (except for the preface page) have framing lines at the outer edges
Book easily opens to a flat position for coloring by creasing/breaking the spine
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper easily. If I use this style of marker, I also make sure to use a blotter under my working page. I like card stock but a couple of sheets of heavyweight paper works well, too.
Water-based markers, India ink pens and gel pens leave indistinct shadows on the back of the page. Some gel pens require slightly more drying time than usual.
Colored pencils work well with the paper. While it is slightly smooth to the touch, it still has just enough tooth to it that I got fairly good pigment coverage from both oil and wax based pencils. I was able to layer the same and multiple colors well and could blend easily using a pencil style blending stick.

The Art of Jane Starr Weils Coloring Book: The Art of Jane Starr Weils Coloring Book (Volume 1)

By: Jane Starr Weils

Rating: 5 of 5

Jane Starr Weils is a new artist for me. I picked up this book based on the beautiful images on the cover and was completely won over by Ms. Weils style and graceful images. The designs include fantasy images but also show people and animals in realistic though romanticized designs.

The designs are detailed and some include intricate areas to color. On a few of the designs, the print is slightly uneven (light to dark) but I’ve found that to be true of coloring book designs which are drawn by hand. The designs stop before the edges of the page (and the binding.) While there are no framing lines at the outer edges, most of the designs have finished elements on most sides of the design.
I’m looking forward to seeing more coloring books released by this talented artist.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
35 x 2 each (total of 70 pages) original designs based on artwork by Jane Starr Weils
Designs are printed one side of the page
Paper is typical of CreateSpace publishing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not extend into the binding area
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 (like Verithins) 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.

Color Me Grateful: Nearly 100 Coloring Templates for Appreciating the Little Things in Life

By: Lacy Mucklow

Rating: 5 of 5

Color Me Grateful is my third full-size coloring book in this series. Of 77 designs I counted in the book, 13 are what I would categorize as mandalas. The designs in this book are detailed and intricate. Some have small areas to color which may require sharp pencils or pens/markers with ultra-fine points.

The book has seven chapters, which include: Friends and Family, The Natural World, Good Health, Creature Comforts, Support, Enrichment, The Little Things. Each chapter has a lead-in which describes the intent of the designs within.
For instance, Friends and Families, designs has friends shopping, a tree house, manicures and perfumes and fun things to eat while out and about. In Creature Comforts, designs include a great looking bubble bath, donuts and other pastries, a stack of books with pets surrounding it and a design with electronics that make life a tad easier.
The designs in the book certainly represent many of the things I have been grateful for throughout my life. I think coloring the book will be fun and will remind me to look at the positive in life rather than focusing on the negative.
This is what I found while looking through and coloring in this book:
77 Designs depicting things that we should be grateful for – Designs by Angela Porter
Designs are printed on one side of the page
Paper is medium weight, white (with color print on the back of the page), slightly rough and non-perforated
Sewn Binding
Designs do not merge into the binding. All designs either have a framing line at the outer edges or have finished edges (such as a mandala.)
The book is thick but could be opened to a fairly flat position without breaking the spine
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page
Water-based markers, India ink pens and gel pens leave shadows on the back of the page
Coloring pencils, both oil and wax-based, worked well with this paper. I was able to layer the same color for deep pigment. I could layer multiple colors and blend easily using a pencil style blending stick.

Colortronic Animals: A Kaleidoscopic Coloring Challenge

By: Lark Crafts

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my first Colortronic coloring book so I didn’t really know what to expect. The designs are beautifully drawn and the suggested colors are very vibrant and create a stunning project.

I followed the colors suggested for my first project except that I did not use a background color as yet. It was so much fun that I am considering buying two of the book one to follow the colors by and one with which to do my own color choices.
I used Copic markers and then came back and enhanced the colors and some shading with Polychromos pencils. I found that using both gave a depth of color to the project and allowed me to fine tune my color choices for a more balanced looking project.
Apart from the color choices, the animals are drawn realistically without doodles. The designs are detailed but are not overly intricate. I had no problems using any of my medium in the color areas.
The color numbers do show through unless I used an extremely dark or opaque color. I’d love it if the artist/publisher also published the same pictures in a regular line drawn coloring book but I am sold on their style of color by number.
This is what I found while coloring in the book and testing my coloring medium on the paper.
29 Beautiful Animal Designs in a Color by Number format
Designs printed on one side of the page with color guide on the binding side of the perforations
Paper is heavyweight, white, slightly rough and micro-perforated
Sewn Binding
Designs do not cross over the perforations. Each design has a framing line at the outer edge.
I could get the book to lay fairly flat for coloring with a little effort.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page. If you use this medium, I suggest using a blotter page to keep ink from seeping through. I use card stock but a couple of pages of paper should work as well. It will bleed through to the quote on the back of the page, which doesn’t bother me, but I want to note it if it is an issue for you.
Water-based markers, India ink pens and gel pens do not bleed through the page. Some do leave slight and indistinct shadows on the back of the page. Some gel pens require additional drying time.
Colored pencils worked well with this paper. It has good tooth and allowed for applying layers of the same color to get rich pigment. I could also layer multiple colors well and I could blend both oil and wax based pencils easily with a pencil style blending stick.

Norman Rockwell Coloring Book

By: Pomegranate

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a beautifully rendered coloring book of line drawings based on artwork by Norman Rockwell. The iconic artwork graced the covers of The Saturday Evening Post. In addition to the the designs, there is a listing of the artwork included, with the date of the original cover designs. Also included (on the inside of the front a back covers) and full color thumbnails of all of the original artwork.

The designs are open and easy to color. There is a good level of detail but they have left a lot of open area to allow you to color and add your own shading and details.
These are the designs included in the book: Gramps at the Plate, Boys Playing Leapfrog, No Swimming, Boy Lifting Weights, Boy Making Football Tackle, Spring, Dog Biting Man, Doctor and Doll, Men Racing to Fire, Springtime: Boy with Rabbit, Couple in Rumbleseat, Little Boy Reaching Grandfather’s Overcoat, Road Line Painter’s Problem, Football Hero, Marble Champion, Boy with Melting Ice Cream Cones, Rosie the Riveter, Girl with Black Eye, The Optician, The Runaway and The Connoisseur.
This is what I experienced in coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper.
22 line drawing designs rendered from iconic Norman Rockwell illustrated magazine covers from The Saturday Evening Post
Designs are printed on one side of the page
Paper is heavyweight, white, slightly rough to the touch and non-perforated
The designs are bound by two heavyweight staples which can be removed to release all of the page from the book without any loss of design.
Designs do not merge into the binding area
Pages can be cut out if you wish without losing any design elements.
Book easily opens to a flat position for coloring.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper easily.
Water-based markers leave shadows and slight spots of color bleed through on the back of the page
If I use any style of marker, I also make sure to use a blotter under my working page. I like card stock but a couple of sheets of heavyweight paper works well, too.
Gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through the page. Some gel pens require slightly more drying time than usual.
Colored pencils work well with the paper. It has a slight roughness to it that allows good pigment coverage from both oil and wax based pencils. I was able to layer the same and multiple colors well and could blend easily using a pencil style blending stick.