iiiiReader Book Reviews

Inky Whimsy: Playful, whimsical adult colouring (Inky colouring books) (Volume 9)

By: Helen Elliston

Rating: 5 of 5

I own a couple of Helen Elliston’s earliest coloring books and decided to pick up her most recent based on the cute cover. Her designs are as cute as ever but I was surprised to see that the book was in the smaller format she used for her mandalas coloring books. It works well and makes the book a little easier to carry around.

What I was happy to see was that the designs are included all on one page. In her earliest books, some of the designs spread slightly across two pages and I much prefer the way the book is put together now. I also like that the designs stop well before the binding area in this book as well.

The designs are a really eclectic mix of what seems to be whatever hit the artist’s fancy that day. I think that is great as it lets me see a little into the world that she sees as well. One of my favorites is the people climbing all over various books. I also chose it for my first project in this book.

This is what I found as I colored in this book and tested my various coloring medium on the paper. I will include, in the comments section below, a list of the coloring medium I used to test this book and which I generally use for completing my projects.

30 Whimsical and Fun Designs in a 8.5 x 8.5 inch format

Printed on one side of the page

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

Glue Bound

Designs do not merge into the binding area

Book can be opened flat with a little effort for coloring

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper readily

Water-based markers bleed through in spots

Gel pens and India Ink artist pens create colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink pens can spot through if multiple layers are applied.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. I can use either wax or oil based pencils and get good pigment (with multiple layers of the same color), layer multiple colors well and blend well using a pencils style blender stick. My hard lead pencils, such as Verithins, can cause dents through to the back of the page.

I use a piece of card stock or a couple of pieces of heavy weight paper as a blotter when coloring in this book. It keeps ink from seeping through or dents from marring the pages below my project page.

Endangered Species Coloring Book: of Endangered Species Around the World

By: Casey L Gilmore

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a beautifully hand-drawn set of designs which feature 20 different endangered species. The artist, Casey Gilmore, is both a biologist and an artist and it shows in the high level of detail found in most of these designs. Because of the shading in the designs, I used some of the skills I have learned for grayscale coloring; however, from my point of view this is a coloring book and not a grayscale coloring book.

The designs are all printed on the right hand side of the page. Opposite each design, on the left hand side of the page, is information about the animal, including name, scientific name, habitat, diet, coloration, uniqueness, and conservation. It makes for very interesting reading. Also, for those who want to color their designs to be more life-like, it is nice to understand the coloration.

I really appreciate that each design has its own color palette page following the design page which can be used to test colors before committing to them in the design. It can also be used as a blotter page but if you are using alcohol-based markers, I suggest adding additional paper to keep ink from seeping through.

In addition to being a very well done set of designs, the book is endorsed by the Wildlife Act Focused Conservation Act. While I did not find reference to this in the book, the product blurb mentions that 1% of all proceeds from the book go to Wildlife Act a conservation organization in South Africa.

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

20 Hand-Drawn Endangered Animal Designs

Designs are printed on one side of the page while information about animals are printed on the other side of page.

Color Palette pages are provided for each design and can be used as a blotter page as well. I prefer to add my own blotter page of heavier weight paper or card stock.

Paper is thin, white, slightly rough (with good tooth), and non-perforated.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper.

Water-based markers, except for Tombow brush end, can spot through on this paper.

Gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through though India ink can bleed through if you apply multiple coats of ink.

Colored pencils work well with this paper. I was able to get good pigment with repeated layers of the same color and to layer multiple colors and blend well (using a pencil style blending stick.) I had good results with both oil and wax based pencils. Hard lead pencils can dent through to the back of the page.

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

2017 Coloring Calendar: A Cup of Blessings For Every Day – Psalm 16:5

By: Christian Art Gifts (Corporate Author)

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a really lovely Christian-based monthly calendar. The artwork is licensed from Shutterstock and each of the designs (except December) incorporates a Bible verse and cite from either the Old or New Testament. December quotes the words of a beautiful Christmas hymn Oh come let us adore him! rather than a verse. The calendar does not cite which translation(s) it uses.

The monthly calendar pages are bound by a top spiral and the purple base unfolds to stand the calendar in an upright position. It is easy to fold it back up to flat for coloring purposes. The cover and the base are glossy. The cover is card stock as are the monthly designs. The base is a heavier weight cardboard.

My first project in the calendar, January 2017, I finished using wax-based colored pencils. The design takes up the majority of the page with a smaller calendar section as part of the page. I really appreciated that the design matched to the verse but in a cute way. That I could focus on the Scripture as I colored made the project a special time for me.

This is what I discovered as I colored in this calendar and tested my coloring medium on the paper. I will include, in the comments section below, a list of the coloring medium I use for testing and for most of my coloring projects as well.

12 Designs (one per month) with a Christian theme

Printed one side of the page

Paper is card stock, white, slightly smooth and non-perforated

Spiral bound at top of the designs

Calendar can be stood up or collapses to flat for coloring

Alcohol-based markers bleed through slightly

Water-based markers, gel pens, and India ink pens do not bleed through though gel pens take a slightly longer time to dry

Colored pencils work well. I got a good color, layering, and blending with both oil and wax-based pencils.

Adult Coloring Book Treasury 2: 130 Illustrations from 70 Artists

By: Treasury Artists Group

Rating: 5 of 5

Attached to this review will be a silent flip-through video so you can see all of the designs in the book. I apologize for the length (at over 8 minutes) but, as it turns out, it takes a long time to flip through 130 designs.

I have been enjoying the first book in this series and wondered how they could improve on it. Well, they did it by adding an additional 20 designs for about the same value. This is an outstanding coloring book filled with 130 designs by a variety of independent coloring book artists. Some of the artists are familiar to me and some are new. It makes for a great compilation of designs for any colorist.

It is once again fantastic to have the opportunity to try so many different artists in one book. As I finish my coloring projects, I will add them to the photo samples I will include.

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

130 Designs by 70 different artists

Designs are printed on one side of page

Paper is thin, white, slightly rough and non-perforated

Glue Binding

Designs do not merge into the binding and there is plenty of room to cut pages out if you choose to do so.

Alcohol-based markers bleed through this paper freely

Water-based markers and India ink pens spot through this paper

Gel pens leave shadows of color on back of page

Coloring pencils work well with the paper but also leave shadows on the back of the page. I was able to get great results from both oil and wax based pencils. I was able to layer the same color for deep pigment, layer multiple colors, and blend extremely well using a pencil style blending stick.

I can get the book to lay fairly flat by breaking the spine of the book; however, as with the first book in this series, it is so thick that even laying flat may be too high for me to color comfortably. I will, most likely, be cutting pages out before I color them.

If you don’t plan to cut pages out, I suggest that you use a blotter page below the project you are working on. I use card stock but a couple of sheets of heavyweight paper works well, too.

Beautiful Nature: A Grayscale Adult Coloring Book of Flowers, Plants & Landscapes

By: Nicole Stocker

Rating: 5 of 5

Nicole Stocker’s first grayscale coloring book Beautiful Creatures was my first coloring book in this genre. It was so beautiful and beautifully printed, it set a high standard for grayscale coloring books. I have purchased a number of other grayscale books but none have approach the high quality of Ms. Stocker’s book until now. Of course, this is the second book in her series and it is as gorgeous as the first book.

Where her first book focused on animals, in Beautiful Nature, Ms. Stocker has turned her attention to flowers, plants, and landscapes. I was so very happy to see succulents included as well as some of my favorite flowers (roses, peonies, hydrangea, orchids, and the list simply goes on and on.) The landscapes and plant studies are equally beautiful and will be lovely to color.

Since my first venture into coloring grayscale, I have expanded my skills to include markers as well as colored pencils. I find that both work well with this book. I like to use markers to put a color foundation down and then to add shading and blending with my colored pencils.

Essentially, coloring with soft pencils in this book is simple light colors for light areas, medium for medium, and dark for dark areas. You color the light areas first, then the dark areas. Finally, you come through with the medium colors and blend the picture together. I suggest that you have a blending medium (such as a pencil) at hand when working with this coloring book.

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

48 Beautiful Nature grayscale designs with plants, flowers and landscapes

Printed on one side of page

Paper is heavyweight, acid-free, slightly rough, white and perforated

Pages are water-marked on the back with an area for you to sign your projects

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the paper readily

Water-based markers bleed through in tiny spots with the exception of my Tombows brush end markers which did not bleed through in my tests.

Gel pens and India ink pens do not bleed through.

Colored pencils work remarkably well with this paper. I could lay down great color, layer, and blend equally well with both wax and oil based pencils. I did find that soft lead pencils were somewhat easier to work with as they blend more readily.

If you use markers, I suggest that you either remove the pages from the book to color or use a blotter page below your working page to keep ink from seeping through to the page below. I use card stock but a couple of sheets of heavyweight paper work just as well.

Colour My SketchBook 3: Greyscale colouring book (Volume 1)

By: Bennett Klein

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the third grayscale coloring book which I have purchased by Bennett Klein. Each of the books so far have fantastic artwork to work with. The designs in the book are based on Mr. Klein’s original artwork rather than photographs as many grayscale books are. I like both styles but the original artwork in the Sketchbook series is really impressive.

I have been coloring in grayscale since early this year and am learning more techniques and I find that Mr. Klein’s designs are ones where I can utilize what I have learned. I’ve more recently begun using markers as well as pencils in coloring my projects and have been very pleased with the results of the new (to me) process.

With this book, the artist provides a table of contents with the title of each of his pieces of art. I really appreciate that extra touch as many of the titles give context to his intent with the design. Many of the designs feature animals in highly stylized concept. There are whimsical designs and designs that are so highly imaginative they border on the bizarre (and I mean that in a good way!)

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 list the coloring medium I use for testing and which I use for most of my coloring projects.

25 Hand-drawn sketches in grayscale based on the artwork of Bennett Klein

Designs are printed on one side of white, thin, slightly rough non-perforated paper typical of CreateSpace

Glue Binding

Easy to open to flat position for coloring

Designs do not merge into the binding and there is plenty of room to cut pages out if you choose to do so

Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through the page to some degree. Water-based bleed through in spots while alcohol-based bleed through freely

Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of page. India ink can bleed through if you use multiple layers.

Coloring pencils work well with this paper. Both oil and wax based provide good color when I use multiple layers of the same color. I am easily able to blend (using a pencil style blender stick) and layer multiple colors as well. Hard lead pencils leave dents through the back of the page.

Because of the bleed through and dents, I suggest (and use) a blotter page below my working page. I prefer card stock but several sheets of heavyweight paper work as well.

Creative Haven Insanely Intricate Entangled Landscapes Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

By: Dr. Angela Porter

Rating: 5 of 5

I always have a lot of fun coloring books by Dr. Angela Porter. They are usually a single subject or a mandala and are somewhat easy to color. Entangled Landscapes is a really different kind of coloring book and one that I am having a blast with. The landscapes in this book are wildly imaginative and abstract.

There are all sorts of small and intricate elements to these designs. I didn’t have any problems figuring out what was what. Simply that there is so much in each designs that it is fun to color in bits and pieces. These are not what I would call fast and easy projects, in fact, the reverse. There are many details and some of the coloring is pretty much insanely intricate which makes sense as the book is part of that line from Creative Haven.

For my first project, I chose to transition the sky at the top of the page first. I then moved to the ocean scene towards the bottom. Then to the cloud city and then back to the stalagmite and stalactite cavern underground. Then on to all of the other fun parts of the design.

This is what I found when coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper. In the comments section below, I will list the coloring medium I use for testing and which I use generally for coloring my projects.

31 Highly Detailed and Intricate Landscape Designs

Printed on one side of the page

Paper medium weight, white, lightly rough and perforated. If you have colored in a Creative Haven book in the last couple of years, this is the standard paper they are now using.

Glue bound; however, pages can be removed easily at perforations

Designs stop before the perforations

Alcohol and water based markers bleed through to some degree (alcohol based bleeds through freely and water based leave spots of color on the back of the page.)

Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows of color on the back of the page. India ink can bleed through in spots with repeated layers.

Coloring pencils work well with this paper. I was able to use both wax and oil based pencils equally well. They lay down good color, layer and blend well. Hard lead pencils leave dents on the back of the page.

Art of Coloring: Disney Animals: 100 Images to Inspire Creativity and Relaxation

By: Disney Book Group

Rating: 4 of 5

I am a huge Disney fan. I lived near Disneyland for most of my life and, as an adult with children, I purchased annual season passes for many years so we could visit the Park throughout the year. Looking through this book reminded me of my childhood and of my children’s childhood as well. It showed me how pervasive Disney has been in my life. My grandson loves to watch Disney movies during his TV time at our house and I get to revisit all of these characters for a third time in my life.

The book is filled with many Disney Animal characters. The book is divided into three segements: Animal Heroes, Animal Villains, and Side-kicks. Because of the side-kick portion of the book, many of the major Disney characters make an appearance in this book. The designs are based on a wide variety of movies, including 101 Dalmations, Brave, The Aristocats, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Dumbo, The Lion King and much more.

Oddly, the lead-in on the intro page as a reference (by implication) to Steamboat Willie; however, there weren’t any Mickey Mouse designs in this book. Hopefully, Disney will come out with a book the family of characters, such as Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck and Pluto, that we know from their older cartoons.

What isn’t mentioned in the product blurb is that these designs are done in a doodle style. Because of that, the designs are not only detailed but also have many intricate and tiny elements to color that will probably require special small nib pens, markers, and/or pencils. This coloring book could be a serious challenge for anyone with vision and or fine motor issues.

The book has a nice heavyweight cardboard cover (front and back) which makes for a great solid surface to color on. The designs are printed on both sides of the page and the paper is not perforated. The binding is sewn rather than glued, so removing it takes only a few snips with a small scissor on a few pages. I won’t be doing this, however, as removing pages will make it nearly impossible to re-align the two-pages design spreads.

There are 23 designs which span across 2 pages. In most cases, there are integral portions of the design that will difficult to color as parts are lost in the binding area. The rest of the designs are one page designs but even those have less essential portions that merge into the binding. There are a number of wallpaper style designs of repeating patterns in the book. I usually don’t like that style of design but these are so cute, I find myself wanting to color those as well.

Rainforest Escape: My Island Animal, Exotic Flower and Tropical Plant Color Book

By: Jade Gedeon

Rating: 5 of 5

I recently purchased Jade Gedeon’s first coloring book primarily to learn how to use water colors. As soon as I received it, I purchased a second copy and then pre-ordered two copies of Rainforest Escape. It is really just that good. I want to be able to color one book with colored pencils and use the second one for my learning purposes.

In this new book Ms. Gedeon explores the plants and animals of her tropical experiences (the previous book focused considerably on architecture.) The designs remind me of my own tropical vacations in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and even Bali. There is a lush feeling to the vegetation that makes me remember how it felt to actually be in a rainforest environment.

The paper is a cream tone and is heavyweight watercolor paper. There are ten double page fold-out designs. All of the pages are perforated for easy removal from the book. While the book is sewn binding, none of the designs cross over the perforations. If you want to remove pages to frame them, you won’t lose any portion of the design in taking the page out via the perforations.

I found, once again, that all of my coloring medium worked well with this paper. The only issue I had was with some of my Copic markers that were extremely full and juicy. With those, there was a slight tendency for feathering.

This is what I experienced in coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper. I didn’t text any form of watercolor medium as I am just learning how to use it. Because of that, I shy away from saying how it worked for me as any issues I come across are sure to be because of my inexperience rather than any issue with the book. I will provide a list of the coloring medium I use for testing and for most of my coloring projects in the comments section below.

Lush and Exotic Rainforest inspired Artwork Designs

Printed on one side of the page with ten double page fold-out designs

Paper is thick watercolor paper in cream, rough texture and all pages are perforated for easy removal.

Sewn Binding

Designs stop short of perforations

Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page and can feather side-to-side if the marker is juicy

Water-based markers, India ink pens, and gel pens do not bleed through the paper. Gel pens dry exceptionally quick with this paper.

Colored pencils work well with the page though, due to the texture, it takes several layers to get a deep pigment. Both oil and wax based pencils worked equally well. I was able to get good color, layer different colors easily and blend extremely easily using a pencil style blender stick.

Creative Haven Untamed Designs Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

By: Arkady Roytman

Rating: 5 of 5

When I ordered this book, I thought it would be merely doodle style animals. I enjoy coloring that style of design provided it is original artwork. I was really surprised to find that Untamed Designs is inspired by Inuit patterns and designs. I’ve enjoyed Inuit art for a number of years after my husband and I took some vacations in the areas where the artwork is more prevalent.

The designs are quite detailed. In some cases, there are intricate and small elements that may require small nib pens, markers, or sharp pencils to color. In the comments section below, I’ll list the coloring medium I used for testing this book and which I use most of the time for coloring.

The designs in this book feature many types of animals and they all have lots of detailed and sometimes intricate doodles in them or in the rest of the design. I sometimes use these as an opportunity to explore with color variations and other times, I simply color the animal, doodle and all, with one big swathe of color essentially ignoring the doodle. I did a little of both in my first two projects in this book: a wolf and a zebra. I liked the way both turned out and will continue through the book having fun coloring in different ways.

This is what I found when coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:

31 Animal designs with an Inuit influence doodle concept

Printed on one side of the page

Paper is standard for Creative Haven: medium weight, white, lightly rough and perforated

Glue bound but pages can be removed easily at perforations

Designs stop before the perforations

Alcohol and water based markers bleed through to some degree.

Gel pens and India ink pens leave colorful shadows on the back of the page. India ink can bleed through in spots if you use several layers of ink.

Coloring pencils work well with this paper. Both wax and oil based pencils lay down good color, layer and blend well. Hard lead pencils leave dents on the back of the page.

I usually remove pages from Creative Haven books for coloring. If you prefer to keep it in the book, you may want to consider using a blotter page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper to keep seeping ink and marring dents from damaging the pages below you working page.