Daily Archives: October 13, 2017

The Wonderful World of Horses: Midnight Edition: Images now with a midnight black background

By: Simone Phillips

Rating: 5 of 5

This coloring book is the midnight version of the revised second edition of The Wonderful World of Horses by Simone Phillips. That means that the designs are printed on black backgrounds. The designs are still black line work with white space for coloring, which is how I prefer this style of book. That gives me the blank white areas that I use for shading and blending. It is simply that the backgrounds are already finished in black.

The designs have a lovely hand-drawn quality with little extras such as cross hatch shading on the horses. There is a flowing look to Ms. Phillips designs which conveys a real sense of movement. The designs are detailed but do not contains areas which are too intricate and small to color.
One of the things that I really enjoy about this book is the thumbnail images that serve as the table of contents. They are small in size but can be colored as well.
44 Horse inspired designs (not including title pages and thumbnails.)
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated. The black backgrounds are printed on white paper.
The designs do not merge into the binding. The designs have framing lines at the outer edges though some are not as evident as the background is black.
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. When blending with so much black involved, I prefer to use a liquid blending medium, such as Gamsol or odorless mineral spirits so that the black doesn’t smear. 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.
I was provided an advance copy of this book by the artist.

Mounts 4: Halloween coloring book (Volume 4)

By: Olga Goloveshkina

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the first coloring book by Olga Goloveshkina that I have in my collection though this is the fourth one in her Mounts series. The focus of this coloring book is on Halloween inspired animals that are saddled to be ridden.

While the animals are instantly recognizable, the artist has shown a creative talent by drawing them with a fun flair. The saddles are inventive as are the Halloween style elements each design has incorporated. What is really interesting to me is the shading technique that Ms. Goloveshkina uses. Rather than heavy shading or cross-hatching, she has used a form of pointillism (that is, dots) to convey the areas of shading. It’s a fun and easy to color technique.
The designs are of the animal in saddle with details attached. There are no background designs. The animals are detailed but not intricate or difficult to color.
24 Cute Animals in Saddles Halloween 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.
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 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.

Kawaii Witches Autumn & Halloween Adult Coloring Book: A Halloween Coloring Book for Adults and Kids with Japanese Anime Witches, Cats, Owls, and Autumn Scenes

By: Halloween Coloring Books for Adults

Rating: 4 of 5

The little girls in the designs in this coloring book are more what I would call manga than anime (as the publisher as noted in their description inside the book.) Anime is based on animation and I don’t believe these designs are based on a specific animation series. While manga in nature, they definitely have a Kawaii vibe to them, which means that are cute! The designs include young girls and young women in scenes celebrating either (or both) Autumn and Halloween. While some of the settings are somewhat macabre (such as cemeteries and such), they are all quite cute and will be fun to color.

The designs are detailed and some have small and intricate areas to color. It appears that the designs are the work of more than one artist as there are definite differences in style. While the style is not the same, they do work together well for an overall cohesive coloring book. It’s nice to have both Autumn and Halloween in one book. I’ll have fun through the end of October coloring the Halloween inspired designs and then pick up with the Autumn ones through the end of November. I am also hoping for a Kawaii Girl Christmas/New Year book.
30 Kawaii Autumn and Halloween 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 merge into the binding. If you cut pages out, you will lose portions of the designs. Unfinished elements are left at all four edges of the paper.
Glue Binding
Coloring book can be opened fairly flat by breaking or heavily creasing the spine.
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 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.