The Hidden Spirits of the Enchanted Forest
By: Forest Diver; Published by Storytroll Studios (Julia Rivers)
Rating: 5 of 5
This is a re-print of a coloring book originally published by Okami books. Okami seems to have morphed into Storytroll Studios publishing under the name Julia Rivers. The artist of this book is Forest Diver. I had not purchased the original book, so this is the only copy I have. I mention it so you don’t buy a second book by mistake.
The book is filled with 40 unique and highly detailed designs based on lovely woodland fantasy creatures. The designs simply flow on the page. I’m hard put to find a straight line among them. The creatures stand next to or seem to become part of the landscape around them.
Mr. Diver is a new artist for me but I am really taken with his style. I’ve bought the second book in this series as well as another one which he created.
The designs are detailed and, in some cases, have more intricate areas to color. I plan to use highly sharped colored pencils on those areas rather than to find a special nib pen et al.
This is what I found in this coloring book:
40 lovely fantasy creature designs
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding. The designs do not have framing lines but the motifs are all finished within the design page.
Glue Binding
Create Space Paper/Media Quality
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 blended easily with a pencil style 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 a few photos of designs in the coloring book:
This is a re-print of a coloring book originally published by Okami books. Okami seems to have morphed into Storytroll Studios publishing under the name Julia Rivers. The artist of this book is Forest Diver. I had not purchased the original book, so this is the only copy I have. I mention it so you don’t buy a second book by mistake.
