Monthly Archives: April 2017

Fairy Tales Coloring Book: Published in Sweden as “Sagolikt”

By: Emelie Oberg

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my first coloring book by Emelie Lidehall Oberg. The designs cover a wide range of subjects. While there may be some fairy tales designs included, for the most part, the designs appear to be a range of both fantasy and still life (flowers, dresses, etc.) The artist has a unique design style with her creatures all having cute round eyes. Her people have round cheeks and predominate eyelids. They are quite different from other designers and make for a fun coloring experience.

The designs are detailed but are not too intricate and do not have tiny little spots to try to color. Because the book is printed two-sided, I’m being very careful with what I use to color in it. I am avoiding using my alcohol-based markers as those bleed through the page (you can see what my test results were with various medium below.)
The cover is card stock rather than the hardcover I associate with this publisher. The cover is light ivory/antique white with green and pink elements as well as gold metallic accents. The front and back attached covers have a flap and there are designs on the interior which can be colored.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing it with my coloring medium.
90+ pages stylized designs
Printed on both sides of the page; no two-page spread designs
Paper is heavyweight, ivory color, somewhat smooth, and non-perforated.
Sewn binding which can easily be snipped to remove a number of pages at a time.
Most designs merge into the binding area. I can open the book fairly flat for coloring by breaking the spine.
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.

Vampires: A Vampire Coloring Book with Mythical Fantasy Women, Sexy Gothic Fashion, and Victorian Romance Scenes (Coloring Books for Adults)

By: Jade Summer

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a coloring book of mostly female vampires. There are a few males but the focus is generally on the women. The vampires range from elegant to rather scantily clad pin-up style vampires and the designs range from romantic to battles scenes. Some of the designs have a hint of manga style but I would not characterize the book as that.

The designs are extremely detailed and have many intricate and small areas to color. The designs have a beautiful and flowing style with areas to provide shading and blending if you wish to do so. There are 20 designs in this book which is less than most others but as the publishing company (Jade Summer) has provided two copies of each design, it is still a good value.
While you can have access to .PDFs when you purchase this book, my review is based on the book as it is received from Amazon. That way you will know what the pages look like and how they accept color. I like that the publisher provides the digital version as well so you can choose the paper you wish to use and/or to color the pictures as many times as you choose.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium:
20 x 2 each Vampire inspired designs for a total of 40 coloring pages
Designs are printed on one side of the page
Paper is typical of CreateSpace: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated. The back of the page is printed black.
The designs do not merge into the binding. There is a heavy framing line at the outer edges of the design to give the project a more finished look, especially for framing.
Glue Binding (there is room to cut the pages out if you choose to do so.)
Though you cannot see the bleed-through easily due to the back of the page being printed in black, I recommend the use of a blotter page when working in this 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.
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.

Twilight Garden Coloring Book: Published in Sweden as “Blomstermandala” (Gsp- Trade)

By: Maria Trolle

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my first coloring book by Maria Trolle. It is by the same publishers who publish Hanna Karlzon’s books. It is the same beautiful quality publishing with a hardcover and thick cream pages. Ms. Trolle’s designs focus on the garden with lots of flowers and animals.

While most of the designs are done with black lines on cream background, there are a few designs which are cream elements on a black background. It makes for a lovely change of pace right in the same coloring book. While the designs in the book are detailed, I would not categorize them as intricate or having areas with extremely small spots to color.
Because the book is printed two-sided, I’m being very careful with what I use to color in it. I am avoiding using my alcohol-based markers as those bleed through the page (you can see what my test results were with various medium below.)
I’ve also found that it is a tad difficult to color into the binding area on designs which either cross over (two-page designs) or have elements that merge into the binding. Eighteen of the designs spread across two pages and a couple of the single page designs merge into the border so I don’t have issues with the majority of the designs in the book.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing it with my coloring medium.
90+ pages of lovely garden designs by Maria Trolle
Printed on both sides of the page
Paper is heavyweight, cream color, somewhat smooth, and non-perforated. A few of the designs have black backgrounds printed on cream paper.
Sewn binding which can easily be snipped to remove a number of pages at a time. The binding is the stay-flat style which allows you to open the book somewhat flat without breaking the outer spine. It is still rather difficult to get the book to open flat and takes some effort.
Some designs merge into the binding area, especially those which spread across two pages.
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.

Carnival Escape: Go Wild in this Colorful Parade

By: Jade Gedeon

Rating: 5 of 5

I own two other coloring books by Jade Gedeon with the Carnival Escape being the third to add to my collection. The quality of the coloring book is the same as the previous two, with high quality cream tone paper with a distinctly rough touch. The carnival that this book celebrates is from Trinidad, which is a northern island off the coast of South America. It is held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and is a fun and wild celebration before Lent begins. The designs contain detailed and very intricate areas for coloring.

In this new book Ms. Gedeon brings Carnival to a coloring book. The majority of the designs are of individuals in wild costumes. Other pages show elements of costumes such as masks and headdresses. It would have been nice to include some landscape scenes which is something I missed since they were so predominate in her first two books.
The paper is a cream tone and is heavyweight watercolor paper. There are five double page fold-out designs. All of the pages are perforated for easy removal from the book. As with the first two books, I found once again that all of my coloring medium worked well with this paper. I did find that if my alcohol-based Copic markers that were extremely full and wet, there was a slight tendency for feathering.
This is what I experienced in coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper. As I don’t use watercolors as a medium, I don’t test them. My understanding is that the paper in Ms. Gedeon’s books work well with various watercolor mediums.
Fun Carnival Celebration designs
Printed on one side of the page with five double page fold-out designs
Paper is thick watercolor paper in cream, rough texture and all pages are perforated for easy removal.
Sewn Binding
Designs stop short of perforations
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page and can feather side-to-side if the marker is juicy
Water-based markers, India ink pens, and gel pens do not bleed through the paper.
Colored pencils work well with the page though, due to the texture, it takes several layers to get a deep pigment. Both oil and wax based pencils worked equally well. I was able to get good color, layer different colors easily and blend extremely easily using a pencil style blender stick.

Colour My SketchBook 4: GreyScale Colouring Book

By: Bennett Klein

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the fourth grayscale coloring book in the series by Bennett Klein. The designs in the book are based on Mr. Klein’s original artwork rather than photographs as many grayscale books are. While I like both styles in the genre, I am always impressed by the quality and imagination of Mr. Klein’s work.

With this book, the artist provides a table of contents with the title of each of his pieces of art. The designs are detailed and intricate in nature. Many of them include highly stylized animals and unusual takes on elegant women. They range from whimsical to more than a little bizarre. I always color the designs with tongue firmly in cheek as I think the most unusual of the designs merge comedy and elegance in a wonderful way.
This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper.
25 Hand-drawn sketches in grayscale based on the artwork of Bennett Klein
Designs are printed on one side of white, thin, slightly rough non-perforated paper typical of CreateSpace
Glue Binding
Easy to open to flat position for coloring
Designs do not merge into the binding and there is plenty of room to cut pages out if you choose to do so
Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through the page to some degree. Water-based bleed through in spots while alcohol-based bleed through freely
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of page. India ink can bleed through if you use multiple layers.
Colored pencils work well with this paper. Both oil and wax based provide good color when I use multiple layers of the same color. I am easily able to blend (using a pencil style blender stick) and layer multiple colors as well. I generally prefer wet blenders for grayscale designs as I have found that some designs with smear with a blender pencil. Hard lead pencils leave dents through the back of the page.
Because of the bleed through and dents, I use a blotter page below my working page. I prefer card stock but several sheets of heavyweight paper work as well.

The Wizard of Oz Coloring Book

By: Charles Santore

Rating: 4 of 5

I will include a full and silent flip-through of the coloring book so you can determine if it will work for you. I’ll also upload a couple of sample photos.

This is another entry in the Classic Coloring books featuring the artwork of Charles Santore. The story is by L. Frank Baum 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. I really appreciate that as I can decide to follow the original colors or go my own way.
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. That means that there is a heavy use of gray in the designs. It is meant to be colored over with lighter shades and provides shading which shows through the coloring medium.
It is set up in storybook style, with the text on the left hand side (back of preceding page) and the illustration to the right. Some mediums will bleed through the page or leave shadows of color (see below), which will interfere with the text.
This is what I found while coloring in the book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
24 Wizard of Oz 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 almost all 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.

Color the Words of Jesus: An Adult Coloring Book for Your Soul (Color the Bible)

By: Marie Michaels

Rating: 5 of 5

I have been looking for a coloring book which highlights the words of Jesus. I was very happy to find this book after a long search. While I appreciate all of my Christian coloring books, rather like seeking a red letter Bible, it is wonderful to pick up a coloring book and know that I am reading words from Christ himself. The artist, Marie Michael, is actually a group of three artists: Nicole Wallace, Chris Dugan and Terry Dugan. I own another coloring book by this group and have enjoyed it tremendously (Color the Names of God.)

The words are front and center on the designs while the designs support them. Coloring in the book adds to both my prayer and worship time as I focus on the verse that I am currently coloring. Some designs are obviously inspired by the verse while others are lovely but serve more as a frame. The designs are detailed and a few have intricate and small areas to color. The designs are elegant and flowing rather than cute or filled with doodle elements.
The translations used in this coloring book are: Holy Bible New International Version (NIV), New King James Version, and the New American Standard Bible.
This is what I found when coloring in this book and testing the paper with my various coloring medium:
37 Designs with Scripture Verses of the words of Jesus
Printed on one side of the page
Paper is medium weight, white, lightly rough and perforated
Glue Binding
Designs do not cross over the perforations, so you can remove them without loss of content.
Most designs have a framing line at the outer edges.
Book opens fairly flat for coloring if you crease or break the spine.
Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through the paper to some degree (water-based is mostly in spots while alcohol flows through rapidly.)
Gel pens and India ink do not bleed through but can leave shadows on the back of the page.
Colored pencils work well with the paper. I get good pigment lay down, layer, and blend easily with a pencil style blending stick with both oil and wax based pencils. Hard lead pencils can leave dents on the back of the page.
I use and recommend the use of a blotter page to keep ink and dents from marring the pages below. I use a piece of card stock or several sheets of heavy weight paper.

Barn Quilts Coloring Book: Miss Mustard Seed (Majestic Expressions)

By: Marian Parsons

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a lovely book of hand-drawn designs which emphasize both quilt patterns and scenes of barns with quilts hanging on them. While the majority of patterns are patchwork, some have the look of applique. On each of the designs, there is a Scripture quote and cite. The words are in a fairly small print and are not the emphasis of the design but rather there to be appreciated and thought about while coloring. It would be very difficult to read the words from any distance. The verses are from a wide variety Bibles translations.

I have been looking for a coloring book of quilts and was really pleased to find this one as it has many quilt patterns and also the beautiful country scenes. The quilt pattern designs are fairly open and easy to color. The country scenes are highly detailed and contain intricate and small areas to color. It’s a really nice mix of designs and color challenges in a single book.
This is what I found when coloring in this book and testing the paper with my various coloring medium:
55 Designs with Quilts, Barns, and Scripture quotes by artist Marian Parsons
Printed on one side of the page
Paper is medium weight, white, lightly rough and non-perforated
Glue Binding
Designs do not merge into the binding area and have a framing line at the outer edges. There is plenty of room to cut pages out if you choose to do so.
Book opens fairly flat for coloring if you crease or break the spine.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper.
Water-based markers, India ink pens and gel pens do not bleed through but do leave a colorful shadow on the back of the page.
Colored pencils work well with this lightly rough paper. I get good pigment lay down, can layer same and multiple colors, and blend easily with a pencil style blending stick with both oil and wax based pencils. Hard lead pencils can leave dents on the back of the page.
I use and recommend the use of a blotter page to keep ink and dents from marring the pages below. I use a piece of card stock or several sheets of heavy weight paper.