Coloring Your Jewish Year 2017 Wall Calendar: A Hebrew Illuminations 16-Month Coloring Calendar
By: Adam Rhine
Rating: 5 of 5
I was recently introduced to Adam Rhine’s artwork and coloring designs in his recently released coloring book Hebrew Illuminations Coloring Book. I was so taken with the designs, that I also purchased this calendar so that I could color some of his work in a larger format. As with his book, the designs are beautifully drawn.
A calendar of 16 months is a Jewish tradition but as I am not Jewish, I was happily surprised to receive 16 instead of 12 designs in the calendar. In the Gregorian calendar (or Western calendar), the dates start with September 2016 and continue through December 2017. These months correlate with the Jewish year 5776-5778. The calendar contains holidays and much more information as well.
The calendar is a standard 12 x 12 inch size. It has a hanging hole at the top of each page. What is really great about the way the calendar is constructed is that it has a spiral binding at the top. That is really unusual for coloring calendars. I usually have to have a large tabletop to hold the calendar open or I have to bend it back on the crease which weakens it over time.
This is what I experienced while coloring in and testing the paper of this calendar with my various coloring medium:
16 large format designs celebrating the Jewish Year
Designs are printed on one side of the page with the calendar printed on the reverse (with the exception of the first design which has the cover at its back.)
Paper is heavy weight, white, slightly smooth and non-perforated.
Spiral binding at the top of the page with plenty of room to cut out a design if you wish to frame it.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper.
Water-based markers are mixed. I had no problems with brush end Tombow or Staedler fineliners; however, my Stabilo 88 has some spotting through to the back of the page.
Gel pens and India ink pens did not bleed through this paper.
Colored pencils worked well. I was able to get good color with repeated applications at a light touch, blend and layer different colors with both wax and oil based pencils. Hard lead pencils did not dent through to the back of the page.
My plan with this calendar, as with others I have colored in the past, is to color the month’s design at the beginning of the applicable month. That way, I can enjoy seeing the finished design and still be able to use the calendar for its intended purpose. If I use alcohol-based markers (and I will) it will seep through and mar the calendar. By doing it as I discuss above, I won’t mar a calendar page until after the month is over.