Adult coloring has become a popular hobby and form of relaxation in recent years. Many adults have found that spending time coloring intricate patterns and images helps reduce stress and anxiety. Coloring requires focus and attention to detail, which allows you to switch off your thoughts and enter a meditative state. There are countless health benefits associated with adult coloring, making it an activity worth considering if you want to give your mental health a boost. This article provides tips on getting started with adult coloring and making the most of it.
Choosing Your Coloring Tools
The first step is selecting the right coloring supplies. There are several options when it comes to coloring tools for adults:
- Colored Pencils – These are a popular choice for their vivid pigments and easy blendability. Look for high-quality pencils with a soft core, which deposit more pigment.
- Markers – Markers allow you to create bright, solid blocks of color. Double-tipped markers have a brush tip on one end for larger areas and a fine tip on the other for details.
- Gel Pens – With their ultra-pigmented gel ink, these pens are great for making colors pop. Just be aware that they bleed through thinner paper.
- Watercolor Pencils – Using these pencils dry or wet opens up different techniques. Add water to make the colors blend and diffuse.
Any of these options will work well for adult coloring books. It’s about choosing the medium you’re most comfortable using. Many people enjoy the control of colored pencils along with the ability to layer and blend colors. Start out with a basic 12 or 24-pack of colored pencils or a set that offers a wide range of hues and values. You can always add more art supplies later as you explore new techniques.
Choosing an Adult Coloring Book
After selecting your materials, it’s time to pick an adult coloring book featuring designs you’ll enjoy coloring. Here are some popular types of adult coloring books:
- Mandala Coloring Books – Mandalas are ornate circular patterns. These books offer repetitive designs that are calming to color.
- Botanical and Nature Coloring Books – These books feature lush gardens, flowers, animals, and natural scenes.
- Animal Coloring Books – For animal lovers, you can find books with animals like cats, dogs, woodland creatures, sea life, and more.
- Geometric Coloring Books – The structured patterns in these books appeal to logical minds.
- Art and Portrait Coloring Books – Color famous works of art or stylized portraits and characters.
Consider themes and subjects you find relaxing. The intricacy of the designs also matters. Very simple designs can get boring quickly. Finely detailed designs offer a challenge but can cause frustration if they’re too complex. Look for books with a variety of medium and detailed designs to start out.
Choosing Your Color Palette
Before you start coloring a page, take a few moments to plan your color scheme. Adult coloring books give you the freedom to choose any colors you like. A color palette helps ensure all the shades you use complement each other. Here are some tips for selecting a cohesive color palette:
- Pick one color to dominate as your anchor. Then choose 4-5 coordinating colors.
- Refer to a color wheel to identify complementary hues and triad or tetradic schemes.
- Limit your palette to a specific color family, like warm earth tones or cool blues.
- Observe the image and let the shapes guide your color choices.
- Start with light values and increase the intensity for greater contrast.
Don’t be afraid to try out new color combinations. There are no mistakes in adult coloring! Test colors in small areas first to see if you like the effect before committing to larger regions.
Basic Adult Coloring Techniques
Now let’s get into basic coloring techniques to help you master your adult coloring book pages:
Shading
Shading adds visual interest and dimension to coloring book designs. On curved surfaces, the lightest area is where light hits most directly. Shadows get darker as surfaces curve away. Use your color palette to fill in shaded areas. Start light then deepen the shade for depth.
Blending
Create soft blends by overlapping colors and gently going back and forth between them. For the smoothest blends, choose pencils, markers, or crayons. Pencil tip blender tools also help soften edges between colors.
Switching Colors
Don’t feel compelled to color every patch of an area in one color. Switch colors with the flow of a design to make it more dynamic. Like shading, adjust pressure for darker and lighter versions of a color.
Adding Patterns and Details
Take designs up a notch by adding patterns within colored shapes, like polka dots, stripes, florals, etc. Outline areas with a dark color first before filling in to help shapes stand out.
White Spaces
Don’t overlook the power of white space! Leaving some areas blank creates contrast and helps anchor the design.
Coloring Techniques for New Effects
Once you’ve honed the basics, try out these techniques for new artistic effects:
Burnishing
Burnishing involves layering colored pencils to increase intensity. Apply each new layer in a circular motion while pressing firmly. The heat from friction blends and mixes the waxes for vibrant results.
Cross-Hatching
Cross-hatching involves drawing multiple intersecting lines to add texture. Work the cross-hatches in the direction of the form. Great for creating realistic effects like animal fur.
Stippling
Stippling uses dots of color rather than lines. Apply dots close together where you want deep colors and farther apart for lighter areas. A great way to blend colors.
Resist Techniques
Draw designs using crayon or oil pastel, then color over it with watercolors. The waxy medium resists the paint. Reveal beautiful flower patterns this way.
Salt Effects
For interesting textures, sprinkle table salt on wet paint areas. The salt crystals absorb the pigment. Brush the salt away when dry for a mottled effect.
Alcohol Ink Blending
With alcohol inks, you can create vibrant, dreamy backgrounds. Drop inks onto wet paper and tilt to make the colors swirl and blend.
Don’t limit yourself to these techniques either. Get creative with layering mediums or adding embellishments to make your coloring style unique!
Organizing Your Coloring Supplies
Maintaining organized coloring supplies will make your hobby so much easier. Here are handy items to keep your ongoing projects neat:
- Pencil pouches or cases to store colored pencils, markers, or pens.
- Pencil sharpeners and/or marker storage caps.
- Portable craft caddies to neatly hold all your tools.
- Ring-bound coloring books or clipboard easels to work on open pages.
- Wet wipes for quick clean-up while working.
Set up a designated workspace just for coloring. Having all your materials in one place makes it simple to pick up a project and get in the zone.
Get Inspired with Coloring Groups
Coloring with others provides motivation and new ideas. Seek out like-minded coloring enthusiasts in these ways:
Local Coloring Groups
Libraries, bookstores, craft shops, and community centers in your area may host coloring clubs. These in-person groups allow you to color and chat in a relaxing environment.
Online Coloring Communities
Join coloring communities through social media groups on Facebook or apps like Color Space. Share your finished pages and find inspiration in other members’ works.
Coloring Events and Conventions
Look for coloring events happening nationwide for opportunities to learn, socialize, and color. The COLOR14 Convention and the Color Your World events are popular options.
Coloring Challenges
Monthly coloring challenges give you a theme or technique to focus your efforts. Join the challenge online or do it yourself to expand your skills.
However you connect, coloring with a community provides accountability, Learning from others will boost your creativity too!
Relaxing Music for Coloring
The right music sets the mood for a relaxing coloring session. Here are some great musical choices:
- Classical music – Try Vivaldi’s Four Seasons or piano works by Chopin or Debussy.
- Spa music – Soothing new age instrumental mixes help you unwind.
- Nature sounds – Listen to calming ocean waves, rainfall, or forest sounds.
- Ambient music – Go for atmospheric, down-tempo electronic mixes.
- Meditation music – Often using Tibetan bowls and chimes to enhance meditation.
Avoid music with lyrics, as this can be distracting when coloring. Seek instrumental tunes and natural sounds selected specifically for relaxation. Play them at lower volumes to support concentration. Soon these sounds will trigger a relaxed coloring headspace.
Schedule Time for Coloring
To make adult coloring a consistent activity, dedicate time for it in your schedule. Even 15 minutes of coloring a day can provide benefits. Here are tips for planning coloring time:
- Schedule a coloring session like you would a regular meeting. Put it in your work calendar!
- Carve out time on evenings and weekends when you can focus.
- Keep supplies easily accessible so you’re always ready to color.
- Color while chatting on the phone or watching TV.
- Take your coloring kit along on trips for coloring breaks.
By giving yourself permission to color, you can build it into your routine. Soon it will become a natural stress-relieving habit.
Facts About Adult Coloring Benefits
The rise of adult coloring isn’t just a passing trend – it’s backed by scientific research showing measurable benefits. Here are interesting facts about how coloring helps adults:
Coloring Reduces Stress
Studies found that just 30 minutes of coloring significantly reduces cortisol, the stress hormone. Coloring induces a meditative state to calm the mind.
Coloring Decreases Anxiety
Anxious individuals saw a reduction in anxiety levels after coloring an intricate mandala design for 20 minutes.
Coloring May Ease Pain
Evidence suggests engaging in a creative activity like coloring lessens perception of pain. It provides positive distraction from physical discomfort.
Coloring Improves Motor Skills
The precise movements used in coloring promote hand-eye coordination and can help maintain dexterity.
Coloring Boosts Focus
The concentration and attention to detail required in coloring improves focus and attention span.
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Reduces Stress | Coloring induces a meditative state that calms the mind and lowers cortisol. |
| Decreases Anxiety | Just 20 minutes of coloring reduces anxiety levels according to studies. |
| Eases Pain | Engaging in coloring provides positive distraction from physical discomfort. |
| Improves Motor Skills | Coloring promotes hand-eye coordination and helps maintain dexterity. |
| Boosts Focus | The concentration required in coloring improves attention span. |
The multitude of benefits explain why so many adults find coloring a valuable stress-reliever.
Choosing Mindful Coloring Books for Adults
More coloring books nowadays promote mindfulness and meditation. Here are things to look for when selecting mindful coloring books:
- Repetitive or geometric patterns like mandalas which induce a meditative state.
- Books that include positive affirmations or mantras to color.
- Designs with calming visual imagery like nature scenes, flowers, and celestial motifs.
- Art therapy type books to color emotions and promote self-reflection.
- Small pocket size or postcard type books for portability and coloring on the go.
Choose mindful coloring books with designs you connect with emotionally. Let the act of coloring convey positive feelings of calm, joy, confidence, or personal growth.
Top Adult Coloring Book Artists
Many prolific artists have helped make adult coloring books popular. Here are some of the top artists to look for when choosing books:
Johanna Basford
Considered by many as the “Queen of Coloring”, her nature-based books like Secret Garden started the adult trend.
Kerby Rosanes
Rosanes creates elaborate, fanciful imagery blending nature, mythology, and steampunk elements.
Lora Irish
Irish focuses on stunning botanical designs, usually with a single type of plant featured per book.
Molly Harrison
Harrison’s coloring books explore mandala, geometric, spiritual, and paisley patterns.
Jenean Morrison
Morrison produces both realistic and whimsical coloring books with richly detailed fantasy imagery.
There are so many talented artists to explore. Finding ones whose visual style resonates with you will enhance the coloring experience.
Tips for Coloring Difficult Sections
Very detailed or intricate designs can prove challenging to color. Here are tips for tackling tricky sections in coloring pages:
- Use sharp colored pencils for maximum control in tight spaces.
- Choose gel pens or ultra fine tipped markers for filling in fiddly areas.
- Take breaks to rest your eyes and hand when feeling frustrated.
- Try a simpler medium like crayons for free-flowing coloring.
- Focus on enjoying the process, not achieving perfection.
Advanced colorists work in small sections, completing a bit at a time. Always color at your own pace. There’s no need to rush through difficult designs.
Common Adult Coloring Mistakes to Avoid
It’s easy to make mistakes when you’re new to coloring. Be aware of these common pitfalls:
- Pressing too hard, damaging the paper or creating waxy buildup.
- Using too few main colors, resulting in a flat, uninteresting palette.
- Skipping planning and jumped randomly picking colors as you go.
- Spending too long on one section, getting bogged down.
- Coloring quickly without appreciation of the process.
The best way to avoid mistakes is to relax. Remind yourself there’s no wrong way as you explore the enjoyment of coloring. Don’t be overly concerned about the end result.