Daily Archives: October 7, 2017

The Fantastic World of the Brothers Grimm – Adult Coloring Book: Fairy Tales – Experience the Old Masters on a New Journey

By: Julia Rivers

Rating: 5 of 5

I enjoy both reading and coloring Brothers Grimm Fairy tales. This coloring book, by artist Forest Diver, has 40 different designs from a wide variety of tales. There are beautiful maidens, heroic young heroes and a few unpleasant villains. There is Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel and much more. Most tales have two or more designs dedicated to them.

It appears that Okami Coloring and Storytroll publishing companies are somehow connected as they list both publishers books at the end of this book. I really appreciate the quality of their artists though the CreateSpace paper always leaves something to be desired. I also appreciate that they have included the actual artist’s name though they seem to be developing a specific name (Julia Rivers) to cover the coloring books they deliver. This is similar to what another publisher has done with the name Jade Summer.
The designs are detailed but do not, for the most part, include intricate elements with lots of tiny spots to color.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
40 various Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale 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. While most of the designs do not have a framing line at the outer edges of the designs, the rest have finished elements at the edges for ease of coloring.
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.

Nocturnal Magic – Adult Coloring Book: Step into the World of Night Creatures

By: Julia Rivers

Rating: 4 of 5

This is a coloring book by Ksenia Spirina. The designs all have a sketch-like quality to them. By the title, I was expecting designs which were related to the night or nocturnal creatures. While I found that to be true for many of the designs, it is not applicable to all of them per se. The subtitle on Amazon refers to Halloween. Some of the pictures are Halloween related but again, not all of them.

It appears that Okami Coloring and Storytroll publishing companies are somehow connected as they list both publishers books at the end of this book. I really appreciate the quality of their artists though the CreateSpace paper always leaves something to be desired. I also appreciate that they have included the actual artist’s name though they seem to be developing a specific name (Julia Rivers) to cover the coloring books they deliver. This is similar to what another publisher has done with the name Jade Summer.
The designs are detailed but do not, for the most part, include intricate elements with lots of tiny spots to color.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
40 different designs with most showing nocturnal creatures.
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. While there is only one design with a framing line at the outer edges, the other designs have the elements at the edges finished so it is easier to color.
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.