Sweet & Simple Whimsy Girls: Mermaids and More to Color
By: Hannah Lynn
Rating: 5 of 5
This is my second full size coloring book by Hannah Lynn. I somehow missed her smaller pocket size book but plan to pick that up in the near future.
The designs in this book are as cute as those I have been enjoying in her first book. The girls all have big eyes and lush hair. I find the designs to be somewhat detailed but not with intricate or small spots to color. At the front of the book, the artist has included thumbnails of each of designs. I appreciate this table of contents as it helps me find my designs and make my coloring decisions. She has also included a few tips and hints as to ways to color with the book.
There are fantasy girls such as fairies and mermaids and there are also some fun themed designs which include Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz. I have been having so much fun coloring these designs. I have been using alcohol-based markers or various brands of colored pencils and, in some cases, a combination of both markers and pencils to color my first projects.
This is what I found in coloring and testing this coloring book:
50 Cute Fantasy and Theme Big Eye Girls
Printed on one side of the page
Paper is typical CreateSpace, thin, white, slightly rough and non-perforated.
Glue Binding
Designs do not merge into the binding area
All designs have framing lines around the outer edge which provides a good stopping point and finishes off all elements. I find this makes it easier for me to color and have a more finished looking project.
Alcohol and water based markers bleed through this paper to some degree. Alcohol-based bleed through rapidly while water-based are more spotty on the back of the page.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. If I have to apply a lot of color, sometimes the ink can spot through on the page.
Coloring pencils work well: both wax and oil-based pencils lay down color (both with a soft and a firm hand), layer, and blend well; hard lead (like Verithins) dent the back of the page.
Because of the seeping ink and potential for dents, I used and recommend using a blotter page behind the page you are working on. The artist also recommends this. While she suggests 4-5 pages of regular paper, I have found that a page of thick card stock also works well.