Daily Archives: June 1, 2017

Psalms to Color and Soothe the Soul

By: Felicity French

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a lovely coloring book of 47 designs inspired by the book of Psalms. The designs are very pretty but do not generally reflect the verse. The words themselves are part of the design and are meant to be colored. In some cases, the words are, in fact, the design. The verses are all cited but the translation used has not been given an attribution. The designs are quite detailed and in some spots, intricate and small to color.

This is one of the nicest coloring books of Psalms that I own. The verses are given the prominent position on the page and the designs are very pretty to color. I think about the verse and how it applies to my life as I color the design. It takes a restful activity and adds an element of worship for a more meaningful experience.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
47 Designs inspired by the book of Psalms
Designs printed on one side of the page with the verse cite printed on the design page.
Paper is heavyweight, white, slightly smooth and non-perforated
Sewn Binding you can remove several pages in whole at a time by snipping the threads. The pages are also slightly glued in, so it may be a little more difficult than with other sewn binding books.
Some designs merge past the perforations into the binding area. Nothing essential to the design will be lost if you remove a page from the book.
Opens fairly flat for ease of coloring.
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.
Water-based markers, India ink pens and gel pens do not bleed through the page. Some do leave light, colorful shadows on the back of the page.
Colored pencils worked well with this paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils and found that I was able to apply 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.

Inkspirations The Power of Positive Inking: Coloring for Success

By: Jack Canfield

Rating: 5 of 5

This is both a coloring book and a book of positive messages and suggested affirmation actions. There are coloring elements on the message page which tie in with the coloring design on opposite page. The author of the messages is Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul and The Success Principles). The artist is Judy Clement Wall who is also the artist on several other Inkspirations coloring books.

The designs appear to be hand-drawn, which is something I really enjoy in a coloring book. It gives my finished project an artistic quality that I don’t find in computer generated designs. The designs are detailed but not what I consider intricate.
The quotes, positive messages and affirmation guidance are interesting and make a lot of sense. It is something to think about as you color the coordinating page.
This is what I found while coloring in the book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
30 Positive and Inspirational designs with quotes and positive message on facing page
The designs are printed one side of the page quotes and positive message on the back of the preceding page
Paper white, medium weight, slightly rough and has perforated pages.
Glue Binding but with perforated pages so removing a page is fairly simple.
The designs stop well before the perforations and have a framing line at the outer edges.
Book has a stay flat binding which allows the book to easily open to a flat position for coloring.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper
Water-based markers bleed through in spots and show colorful shadows on the back of the page
Gel pens and India ink pens leave slight shadows of color on the back of the page. India ink pens can bleed through when I apply more than one layer of ink.
Using markers and/or pens will probably mar, to some degree, the messages printed on the back of the page.
Coloring pencils work well with this paper. I was able to get good color lay down, layer the same color and multiple colors and to blend easily using a pencil style blender. I tested both oil and wax-based pencils with similar results.
I suggest either removing pages from the book to color or using a blotter page under your working page. I like card stock as it keeps ink from seeping through and damaging the pages below.