Forget about the idea that colouring books are for kids. In a busy world, increasingly dominated by time spent in front of screens, grownups are turning to the soothing art of colouring in. But the books we’re talking are not the simple big black outlined pictures that we remember from our childhoods. These are intricately designed books, some created specifically to help you de-stress and focus the mind.
The craze has made adult colouring in books shoot to the top of the bestsellers lists for Amazon as well as other book shops and it has proved therapeutic for all types of people, not just the stressed.
These books cover a variety of subjects from the complicated patterns that require delicate precision in keeping between the lines, to fact filled information guides telling you about the animals, birds or flowers that you are filling in.
Some books have a theme such as nature, city-scapes or particular stylised patterns on an ethnic theme. I have even see ones that are based on a particular celebrity or television programme. There are designs based on classic cars, butterflies and spiritual mandalas. One I have noted is a book of images of actor Jamie Dornan, but I am guessing your colouring box would need 50 shades of grey.
Some combine a puzzle or quest where you work your way through the book collecting clues and hidden objects while colouring in the pictures. So something for everyone.
Of course the quality of the paper is important as you don’t want your colours leaking through onto other pages so ensure that the thickness is appropriate for the colours that you use. Obviously felt tip pens or brushes work differently from pencil crayons.
Which is the next important consideration – what colours do you use? There are plenty on the market from basic colouring pencils to polychromos and prismacolors which is all very technical and can get very expensive.
But don’t get too stressed about your choice of medium as these books are supposed to relax and calm you.
