For Valentine, with Love
By: Tanya Bogema (Stolova)
Rating: 5 of 5
This is a coloring book of heart designs. The designs range from patterns to hearts which contain entire little scenes. There are a couple that make me think of this artist’s Nice Little Town series.
While many of the designs have simple to complicated abstract patterns and florals, there are some really cute ones that are more complicated. I especially like the steampunk heart and the fairy castle heart, too.
There are a variety of hearts, some with more detail than others. While a few have smaller and more intricate areas to color, I would categorize as medium as far as how difficult it is to color. Since the hearts are generally centered on the page (think of mandalas) with lots of white space around, there is plenty of room to add your own special touches if you wish.
This is what I found in this coloring book:
39 cute heart designs great for Valentine’s Day – plus bonus designs on title and presentation pages as well as from other coloring books by the artist
Printed one side of the page and a smaller than usual format at 8.5 x 8.5 inches
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: thin, slightly rough and non-perforated. In this book, the pages are white on the front and black with white edging on the back.
The designs do not merge into the binding. The designs do not have a frame but the elements of the designs are finished and do not run off the page.
Glue Binding
Create Space Paper/Media Quality
While you cannot see the bleed-through because of the back of the page is black, the ink does still bleed-through (as noted below. I test the medium on the black backed pages as well as the front pages which are white on both sides.
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 fairly well with this publisher’s paper provided you don’t press extremely hard while coloring. I find that I can layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. This is true of both oil and wax based pencils. I have also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in this type of 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.
Here are some sample designs from the book:
This is a coloring book of heart designs. The designs range from patterns to hearts which contain entire little scenes. There are a couple that make me think of this artist’s Nice Little Town series. 
