iiiiReader Book Reviews

Hello Angel Owls Wild & Whimsical Coloring Collection (Hello Angel Coloring Collection)

By: Angelea Van Dam

Rating: 4 of 5

This is a coloring book of imaginative and intricate owl designs which incorporate doodle style elements which I purchased at a local bookstore. I own a number of books by Angelea Van Dam and each of them contains the same information at the front of the book about the artist and some of her coloring hints. Additionally, there some beautiful colored sample pages (a few of which I will include in the photos) and the back of each design page has a quote, journal lines and a cute design which previously was in black and white but in newer books are now in color.

Something else that is new about the most recent books by this publisher (Design Originals), including this one, is that some of the design pages have medium rather than full page designs. In this book, it is ten different designs. The bottom of each of these pages has a thumbnail of the colored sample, a colorful sample of some of the colors used in it and some hints on coloring. That portion of the page is perforated so you can remove it if you wish to do so.

I’m torn about this new format. I really like the information included but I miss having the designs in full page format. As these are the same designs we get to see in full page colored samples, I wish that they had reduced the size of the colored sample page and put that information on that page. That way I get the information but still retain the full size designs for coloring. While the smaller size is still good, in some cases, the elements have become a little small and a little more difficult to color.

This is especially true with this designer as even her full page designs are very detailed and intricate. By reducing the size of the design, it made a challenging project into a difficult one. Because of this, I think it would be a difficult book for someone with visual or fine motor issues.

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

32 Owl Designs in doodle format with 22 large designs and 10 medium ones

10 Medium Designs include colored thumbnails and coloring advice on the page (info can be removed at provided perforations)

Printed on one side of the page.

Paper is medium weight, slightly rough, white and is perforated for easy removal. The paper is noted as archival-grade and acid free for 200 years.

Designs stop well before the perforations

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through the page

Gel pens and India ink pens can spot through to the back of the page with heavy application

Colored pencils work well with the paper. Both oil and wax based pencils provide good color, layer, and blend well. Hard lead pencils can dent through the page.

As I use markers and pencils, I use a blotter page to keep seeping ink and dents from marring the pages below. I recommend this in general or that you remove pages before coloring. I use card stock or several sheets of paper as my blotter page.

By: Compiled by Barbour Staff

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a coloring book of 46 different Scripture designs by a team of designers (Elisa Paganelli, Carol Robinson and Nicky Storr) which focuses on Biblical blessings. The translation used for this coloring book is the King James Version of the Holy Bible and includes quotes from both Old and New Testament. The Scriptures focus on the promises of God.

Each of the pages has the Scripture and cite emphasized with the design surrounding it. The book is printed 8 x 10 inches with perforated pages so it should be easy to remove pages for framing should you wish to do so.

With a number of challenges in my life recently, both physical and emotional, and I have found myself turning to my Christian-based coloring books for both the words I need to read and think about as well as a way to let my brain step away from the issues that confront me. This is a great book for that purpose and each and every design has a word of truth to speak that is intended to build up a Christian’s place of faith.

While most of the designs are fairly easy to color, some of the fonts used for the words include some fairly tiny spots. I will end up leaving most of those white rather than to try to fill them in with tiny nib pens.

This is what I found as I colored in this book and testing the paper with my various coloring medium. In the comments section below, I will include a list of the coloring medium I use for testing and which I generally use for my coloring projects.

46 Scripture based designs with pretty coloring elements

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is medium weight, white, slightly smooth and perforated.

Glue Binding

A few designs cross over the perforations but nothing essential to the design will be lost if you remove a page from the book.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through on this paper

Water-based markers and India ink pens bleed through in spots with the exception of brush end Tombows which did not bleed through at all.

Gel pens left shadows of color on the back of the page.

Colored pencils work very well with this paper. I tested both oil and wax-based pencils and had good results with both. I was able to layer the same color to a deep pigment, layer multiple colors, and blend easily using a pencil style blending stick.

I used a blotter page below my working page to keep ink from seeping into the the page(s). I use card stock or several sheets of heavy weight paper for this purpose. You can also remove pages from the book before coloring to keep the rest of the book in good shape.

Tangle Magic: A spellbinding colouring book with hidden charms

By: Jessica Palmer

Rating: 5 of 5

Tangle Magic is the third in a series of coloring books by Jessica Palmer. I own the previous two as well as this one. My first observation of this book is that the designs are much more intricate than those of the prior two books. The designs are still quite lovely but they are more difficult to color and most require the use of ultra-fine markers, small nib gel pens or sharp pointed pencils.

The 76 pages of designs (not including the title page) are done in Ms. Palmer’s flowing style. There are also hidden charms on each page some are easy to find and others are a tad more difficult. A key to their location was not provided in this book. There is a page at the front which gives a few examples of what charms may look like. While the book is printed on both sides of the page, most designs are contained to a single page. I counted 11 designs that spread across two pages.

I was happy to find fairy tale characters interspersed through the book. There are other magic related designs that I understood quite easily but there are others that I may have to spend some time thinking about.

Here is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the pages with my coloring medium. I will list, in the comments section below, the coloring medium I used for testing and for most of my coloring projects.

76 pages of Magical and Fairy Tale style intricately drawn designs

Designs are printed on both sides of the page.

Paper is heavyweight, white, somewhat smooth and non-perforated

Sewn Binding (You can remove pages a few at a time by snipping a couple of threads though it is difficult to realign designs printed across two pages once they are out of the book.)

Some designs merge into the binding area

Eleven designs spread across two pages

Book can be made to lay fairly flat due to its special style of book cover/binding.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper. If you use this style of marker, you will mar the design on the backside of your working page.

Water-based markers, gel pens, and India ink pens do not bleed through the paper. Gel pens can require additional drying time.

Colored pencils work well with the paper. Even though it is somewhat smooth, I was still able to layer the same color, multiple colors, an blend easily using a pencil style blending stick. This was true of both oil an wax based pencils.

Home Harvest

By: Patrick Sullivan

Rating: 4 of 5

I love autumn with all of its beautiful colors. I lived most of my life in Southern California and autumn there is just an extension of summer. There are no changing colors, so I have always looked to my crafting and art to bring those tones into my life.

Home Harvest is a nice addition to my coloring books and I am always on the look out for autumn related coloring books (as they are simply few and far between.) This is also my first coloring book by Patrick Sullivan.

The 32 designs (not including title pages) are very much on the simplistic side. I was hoping for more detail but was happy with the book on the whole. The lines are clear, crisp, and broad without any form of intricate coloring. Because of the simplicity of the designs, the projects can be done fairly quickly. You can also spend a lot of time with shading and blending with these designs if you choose to do so.

I’ve finished two designs so far using Prismacolor Premier Soft Core: one with traditional fall colors and the second, as an homage to my years in LA, in the colors that Southern Californians are more likely to associate with the fall months.

As an aside, I have purchased other coloring books by this publisher in the past and all of those were printed double-sided. I’m really happy to see that this book has been printed only on one side of the page. I hope that means that future books from this publisher will follow this format.

This is what I experienced while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. I will list, in the comments section below, the coloring medium I used for testing this book and which I generally use for coloring my projects.

32 Autumn and Harvest related designs

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is heavyweight, white, somewhat smooth, and perforated

Glue Binding

Some designs cross over the perforations but nothing essential is lost if you remove pages from the book

Book can lay fairly flat if you break the spine by creasing it hard

Alcohol based markers bleed through this paper readily

Water-based markers can bleed through in very tiny spots if multiple coats are used

Gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through the page

Colored pencils worked well with this paper. I tested both wax and oil based pencils. I found that I could get good color, layer the same color and multiple colors, and finally, I could blend easily using a pencil style blending stick. Hard lead pencils did not dent through to the back of the page.

If I use markers of any type with this book, I will either remove the page from the book or put a blotter page under the page I am working on. I generally use card stock but have used several sheets of heavy weight paper as well.

Autumn Fantasy Coloring Book – Halloween Witches, Vampires and Autumn Fairies: Coloring Book for Grownups and All Ages!

By: Molly Harrison

Rating: 5 of 5

The first coloring book I purchased by Molly Harrison was her first one with Halloween designs. That was one year ago and since then I have bought many of her books. She has a beautiful delicacy of design that is very appealing to me. In Autumn Fantasy, the focus is on adult witches, vampires, and fairies. There are lots of cats, bats, owls and pumpkins as well.

I recently purchased Ms. Harrison’s Halloween grayscale coloring book and have noticed that the designs in this book are the line drawing versions of those. I’m thrilled with that concept as it allows me to color her designs in two completely separate ways. In her line drawing designs, I generally use both alcohol-based markers and soft lead coloring pencils to finish my projects.

I did note that my book has only 24 different designs rather than 25. I don’t know if that is a problem generally or if only my book has the issue. What I received was four copies of one design (a witch with a cat fairy in her hat.) While I could wish that I had 25 different designs x 2 each, I’m still pleased with my purchase. I’ll happily share my extra couple of designs with others in my family so that they, too, can come to appreciate Ms. Harrison’s beautiful art.

This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. I will list, in the comments section below, the coloring medium I used for testing and for most of my coloring projects.

24 x 2 and with one having two additional copies Halloween inspired witches, vampires, and autumn fairies

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is typical of CreateSpace publications, thin, white, slight rough, and non-perforated

Glue Bound

Designs do not merge into the binding area. Designs have a double framing line around the outer edge

Book opens fairly flat for coloring if you break or crease the spine hard

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper easily

Water-based markers bleed through in spots

Gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through. If you use multiple coats of India ink, it may bleed through in spots on the back of the page.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. It has a nice slightly rough texture with lots of tooth for catching pigment. I could layer using the same color for deeper pigment, layer multiple colors and blend well using a pencil style blending stick. This was true for both wax and oil based pencils. Hard lead pencils, like Verithins, can dent through the page.

I use a blotter page to protect the pages below from both ink and marring dents. I generally use card stock but have also used several sheets of heavyweight paper for this purpose.

The Curiosity Shoppe Coloring Book: A Magical and Mad Exploration of a Most Amusing and Unexpected Assemblage of Novelties and Oddities

By: Chris Price

Rating: 5 of 5

The Curiosity Shoppe is my first coloring book by Chris Price and my first book published by Adams Media as well. I am very happy with the wide variety and style of the designs. I am also pleased, for the most part, with how the book was published. What is especially nice about the book is that the binding is at the top so you don’t have to color over the lump of binding regardless if you are right or left handed.

The designs cover a wide segment of the types of items one might find at a curiosity or collectibles type store. The designs, like others that I have recently come across, are heavy on black and with lots of shading. I have been treating them somewhat like grayscale designs by utilizing the heavy shading as part of my project. For my first project in this book, I used colored pencils to complete the collection of bottles and paintbrushes.

The collectibles are quite fun and include: old-fashioned light bulbs and clamps, Chinese vases, fountain pens, stamps, globes, shells, eggs, teacups, geodes and much much more. I found many items that I either have as small collections or have thought about collecting in the past. Quite a wonderful assortment of designs.

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 include a list of the coloring medium I used in testing and which I generally use for coloring my projects.

40 Unusual Collectibles Designs with heavy shading in black

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is cream color, heavyweight, smooth, and non-perforated

Book has its binding at the top of the page rather than at the side

Sewn binding. You can remove a few pages at a time without loss of any of the design by snipping a few threads.

Designs do not merge into the binding area

I was easily able to get the design page to lay flat for coloring.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page. I will use a blotter page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper when I use alcohol-based markers to keep the ink from seeping through to the pages below.

Water-based markers, gel pens, and India ink pens did not bleed through the page. Larger nib gel pens required additional drying time.

Colored pencils worked well with the paper. While it is somewhat smooth to the touch, the paper had enough tooth to allow for good pigment, whether I used wax or oil based pencils. I was able to layer the same color, different colors and to blend easily using a pencil style blender stick.

Color Me Blessed Inspirational Adult Coloring Book (31 stress-relieving designs) (Artist’s Coloring Books)

By: Peter Pauper Press

Rating: 5 of 5

This is my second coloring book illustrated by Flora Waycott. The first one was Follow Your Dreams, which I enjoyed so much, I pre-ordered this book as soon as it was available. In Color Me Blessed, Ms. Waycott explores spiritual blessing through scriptural references and inspirational religious sayings. The words take the forefront in the designs but the designs are also quite lovely as well. If a design is based on a Biblical cite, the cite is noted on the back of the page. The designs are detailed but not overly intricate.

I cannot say which translation was utilized as it is not noted in the book. I chose to do one based on Exodus 3:14 I am who I am for my first project in colored pencils and alcohol-based markers.

This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper for use with my coloring medium. In the comments section below, I will include a list of the medium that I used for testing and which I generally use for most of my coloring books.

31 Inspirational and Scripture-based Designs by Flora Waycott

Printed on one side of the page (with Biblical cites, as applicable, on the back of the page.)

Paper is bright white, acid-free (good for archival purposes), heavyweight, smooth, and micro-perforated.

Glue Binding

Designs do not merge into the binding area but many extend slightly past the perforation line.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper. I either remove the page from the book or use a blotter page of card stock under my working page to keep the rest of the book safe from leaking ink.

Water-based markers, gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through the paper.

Colored pencils work well with this coloring book. I was able to use both wax and oil based pencils equally well for good color, layering and blending (with a pencil style blending stick).

Animals Stories

By: Jhih Ling Whang

Rating: 5 of 5

I am really enjoying coloring books released by the Dream State Studio. Animal Stories is the most recent release and is illustrated by Jhih Ling Whang (also known as Aoi.) The designs are of adorable animals in fun and fantasy situations. I chose to do a space bear for my first project. I love that he is floating outside the space rocket looking in rather than out. The designs are detailed, as I expect from this company’s books.

I have noticed that the last two books released by this company been released in a standard coloring book size, which is larger than the earlier books. I have found it much easier to color in this size book as the very detailed parts of the design are big enough to color with regular coloring medium.

There is a visual thumbnail table of contents at the beginning of the book to assist you in finding which design to color next. The designs are printed on the right on side of the page and on the opposite side, there is a short explanation of the design. It helps give me context to what I am coloring.

There are many cute animals in this coloring book, including: mice, cat, bear, snake, bats, lion, walrus, elephant, fish, rabbit and much more.

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

30 Cute and Fun Fantasy Animals designs

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is typical of CreateSpace publications. It is thin, white, slightly rough and non-perforated.

Glue Bound

Some designs merge into the binding area. You may lose some portion of the design if you remove it from the book. I prefer to leave them in so the explanation of the design stays together with it.

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through this paper. Water-based come through in spots while alcohol based flow through rapidly.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of the page. India ink pens can spot through on the paper if used in multiple coats.

Colored pencils work well with both oil and wax based providing good color. I can layer the same and multiple colors and blend well using a pencil style blending stick. Hard lead pencils can dent through on this paper to the page below.

I use and suggest the use of a blotter page below your working page. I use card stock or a couple of pages of heavyweight paper. This helps keep any ink or dents from marring the designs below.

Exotischer Urwald

By: ?

Rating: 5 of 5

I have all of the Good Wives and Warriors Escape series and enjoy coloring in them so much that when I saw this book, I ordered it from the UK (through Amazon.) The copyright, etc, of the book is written in German; however, the names of the various parts of the world are written in English.

The title translates to Exotic Jungle and that is exactly what the designs show throughout. The designs take you on a trip to various parts of the world to see the flora and fauna that is native to that area. The designs are detailed and in some cases, quite intricate.

The front and back cover of the book fold out with beautiful coloring opportunities on each. The back page includes two postcards which can be cut out on the provided cutting lines.

Most of the book is printed on both sides of the page with many designs spread across two pages. There are a few pages at the end of the book which are printed on card stock and which are perforated for easy removal from the book. There are three such designs in full size and two that are half size (and printed on one page.) The half size ones are especially cute as they are done in almost a totem style.

The pages of this book are heavyweight and are white and slightly rough. The binding is sewn and you can remove several sheets at one time in whole by snipping a few threads.

I wish that the publisher would consider releasing this book I the US as I am sure that many more people would love to purchase it if the title were in English.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper.

Water-based markers, gel pens, and India ink pens did not bleed through for me. If you use multiple coats, you might get some shadows appearing on the back of the page. Gel pens took longer to dry than usual.

Colored pencils worked exceptionally well with this paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils and they both did great. I could layer the same color to get deep pigment, layer multiple colors and blending using a pencil style blending stick.

Color Happy: An Adult Coloring Book of Removable Wall Art Prints

By: Paige Tate Select

Rating: 5 of 5

I own Lindsay Hopkins previous coloring book (Beauty in the Bible, Volume 2) in both the original, thinner paper and in the premium version as well. This new book, Color Happy is now printed in the premium style, which means thicker, higher grade paper and perforated pages. The designs have also been sized for easy framing. The larger designs will fit an 8 x 10 inch frame and the smaller designs will fit a 5 x 7 inch frame.

The designs in this book are more general in nature than are the ones in her first book. The book is filled with inspirational great messages to bolster your day. The designs are by Lindsay Hopkins also know as Pen + Paint. The designs are easy and fun to color. For the larger size designs, any form of coloring medium works well. For the smaller, sized down designs, it might be necessary to use ultra-fine tip markers, pens, and sharp pointed pencils for some of the elements.

I like to do this type of design while I am working on a larger, more intense project. I find stopping and coloring a fun, inspirational, and quick project helps rejuvenate me if I have gotten bogged down in the bigger project. I also like to do this type of design to give away. That these pages can now be easily removed and framed makes it that much easier.

This is what I found while coloring in this book and testing the paper with my coloring medium. In the comments section below, I will include a list of the coloring medium that I used for testing this book and which I usually use for most of my coloring as well.

30 Full Page and 14 smaller inspirational message designs by Lindsay Hopkins. The smaller designs are on a perforated page; however, you will need to cut the two apart for separate use (cutting line is included.)

Printed on one side of medium weight, white, slightly rough perforated paper

Designs do not merge into the binding area

Glue Binding

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper.

Water-based markers left shadows of color on the back of the page

Gel pens and India ink pens left indistinct shadows on the back of the page

Coloring pencils work well with the paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I was able to get good pigment, layer the same color to intensify the color, layer multiple colors and blend easily using using a pencil style blending stick.

If I use alcohol-based markers in this book, I will either remove the page or use a blotter page of card stock or a couple of pages of heavyweight paper below my working page to protect the pages below.

I was provided a free copy of this coloring book for test and review purposes.