Tropical Rainforest
By: Angela Porter
Rating: 5 of 5
I really enjoy Angela Porter’s style of design. I find her illustrations to be detailed and fun to color. Until now, her coloring books that I have purchased have not only been detailed but also extremely intricate with lots of tiny spots to color. I do enjoy those books and designs but was really pleased to see her do a book where the design elements are larger.
The book is being marketed to tweens but I think it is a great book for adults as well. It is also a good way for individuals who may not have been able to color her previous books due to the complexity to buy and color in a book that has her fun style. The designs are still quite detailed but definitely larger and with less elements than her previous books have been.
The designs in this book are focused on the tropical rainforest with lots of plants, flowers, birds and animals. An extra fun part of coloring these designs are the hidden pictures (really more elements) that you can look for on the various pages. There are only four different elements in this book, which are: ladybugs, snails, hearts, and stars. Some are larger and some are smaller. What especially like is that they are not obtrusive and out of place as I have found with a few other hidden picture designs.
At the time I am writing this review, the product description mentions 44 designs in this book. There are only 35 so hopefully the publisher will get this error fixed in the future.
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
35 Tropical Rainforest inspired designs with hidden elements to find while coloring – all in Ms. Porter’s unique and fun to color style. The book also includes answer keys to all of the hidden elements.
Includes a page for color palette testing.
Printed one side of page
Paper is on the thin side (definitely thinner than her Creative Haven books), white, slightly rough and perforated
Glue binding
Designs stop well before the perforation with a framing line at the outer edge. Gives a natural stopping point for coloring and a more finished looking project for framing if you so desire.
The coloring book opens fairly flat for coloring but you must crease or break the spine to do so. You can always simple remove pages before coloring as well.
Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper.
India ink pens spot through in tiny areas and leave colorful shadows on the back of the page
Water-based markers and gel pens leave definite colorful shadows on the back of the page.
Colored pencils work very well with this slightly rough paper. I was able to get good color (pigment) especially when layering the same color for rich tone. I was also able to layer multiple colors and to blend very easily using a pencil style blender pencils. Hard lead pencils left dents through the page.
If I do not remove a page prior to coloring, I use a blotter page of card stock or heavy weight paper to keep ink and dents from damaging the designs below my working page.
Here are some sample designs from the book:
I really enjoy Angela Porter’s style of design. I find her illustrations to be detailed and fun to color. Until now, her coloring books that I have purchased have not only been detailed but also extremely intricate with lots of tiny spots to color. I do enjoy those books and designs but was really pleased to see her do a book where the design elements are larger.
