Third Fantastic Grayscale Coloring book from Bennett Klein printed on one side of page

Colour My SketchBook 3: Greyscale colouring book (Volume 1)

By: Bennett Klein

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the third grayscale coloring book which I have purchased by Bennett Klein. Each of the books so far have fantastic artwork to work with. The designs in the book are based on Mr. Klein’s original artwork rather than photographs as many grayscale books are. I like both styles but the original artwork in the Sketchbook series is really impressive.

I have been coloring in grayscale since early this year and am learning more techniques and I find that Mr. Klein’s designs are ones where I can utilize what I have learned. I’ve more recently begun using markers as well as pencils in coloring my projects and have been very pleased with the results of the new (to me) process.

With this book, the artist provides a table of contents with the title of each of his pieces of art. I really appreciate that extra touch as many of the titles give context to his intent with the design. Many of the designs feature animals in highly stylized concept. There are whimsical designs and designs that are so highly imaginative they border on the bizarre (and I mean that in a good way!)

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper. In the comments section below, I will list the coloring medium I use for testing and which I use for most of my coloring projects.

25 Hand-drawn sketches in grayscale based on the artwork of Bennett Klein

Designs are printed on one side of white, thin, slightly rough non-perforated paper typical of CreateSpace

Glue Binding

Easy to open to flat position for coloring

Designs do not merge into the binding and there is plenty of room to cut pages out if you choose to do so

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through the page to some degree. Water-based bleed through in spots while alcohol-based bleed through freely

Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of page. India ink can bleed through if you use multiple layers.

Coloring pencils work well with this paper. Both oil and wax based provide good color when I use multiple layers of the same color. I am easily able to blend (using a pencil style blender stick) and layer multiple colors as well. Hard lead pencils leave dents through the back of the page.

Because of the bleed through and dents, I suggest (and use) a blotter page below my working page. I prefer card stock but several sheets of heavyweight paper work as well.