Adult Coloring Book with Color by Number or Not – Mandalas Vol. 1 (Volume 2)
By: C. R. Gilbert
Rating: 5 of 5
This my second book in this series of coloring books which are designed to teach you to color. The concept of the book is quite different. As with my first book in this series, there are two versions of each of the 20 designs. The first is a regular line drawing and the second has color numbers placed in each of the segments of the design. These two pages are followed by an additional page which provides the key to the color by number page as well as two additional spots where you can use your own colors to replace the colors for each number. On this page, you are provided two segments of the design in which you can test out your color choices.
While I generally do not do color-by-number books, I really like the way this book is put together. As I don’t like to have numbers showing through, I can follow the key for colors but do it on the version of the design that doesn’t have the numbers printed. For those who can cover those numbers or for those who simply don’t mind, the pre-numbered designs work well, too.
There are 20 different mandala designs in this book. They range from fairly simple to very detailed. For my first two projects, I chose a a designs that had fewer intricate spots but involved many round shapes. I used different coloring medium for each (pencils on the free-style version and water-based markers on the pre-numbered one.) I did my version of the design first so I would not be influenced by the color by number design and used a wide variety of colors. I then colored the same designs using the pre-printed number page and following the color key which essentially used three shades of blue.
This is what I found in coloring, testing and looking through this coloring book:
20 Designs printed in two formats along with 20 test pages as well for a total of 40 coloring opportunities
Printed on one side of the page
Paper is thin, white, slightly rough, non-perforated paper typical of CreateSpace published books
Book is Glue Bound
Designs do not merge into the binding area
Coloring book can open fairly flat for coloring purposes
Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through this paper.
Gel pens and India ink can spot through or leave shadows of color depending on how much I put on the page.
Coloring pencils work well: wax and oil based soft lead 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 but lay down good color
I received a free sample copy of this coloring book for test and review purposes.