Beautiful artwork (61 designs) but with thin paper typical of CreateSpace self-published coloring books

Fantasia: Adult Coloring Book

By: Phoenix Amulet

Rating: 5 of 5

I did not know that there was a version of this coloring book published in Asia. I most assuredly would have purchased it had I known. I have now started looking and can’t find it so hopefully someone will post a link in the comments to where it can be purchased.

However, for those of us living outside of Asia, this is a beautiful book of designs but it is printed on the typical thin (and frankly bad quality) paper which is the only paper that CreateSpace makes available for self-published artists.
I wish that the company (which is owned by Amazon, by the way), would provide artists with a choice of better paper. They don’t and I accept the quality knowing that it is the only way currently to get access to so many wonderful independent artists. I know that many individuals end up scanning the designs in these books and printing them on better quality paper. Irritating but at least it is an option for some.
Having said all of that, I just noticed that this book is no longer available on Amazon. I hope that it returns, either in the CreateSpace quality paper or something better. This is an artist whose work needs to be seen.
The designs are a wonderful range of fantasy from fairies to terrifying creatures and even a flying elephant. The designs are detailed and some have intricate and small spaces to color. The only problem I have with the designs in the book is deciding which order to color them in. I want to color them all right away!
This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium.
61 Imaginative and Beautifully hand-drawn Fantasy designs
Printed one side of the page
Paper is thin, rough, white and non-perforated the same paper that all CreateSpace books are printed on
Glue Binding
Designs merge into the binding area
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 paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book with all forms of coloring medium. 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.