Yes I have one and it's very relaxing to do while watching tv. I enjoy selecting colors. I use colored pencils as it allows me to do shading as well as a lot of control. I think they'd make a nice gift.

ETA: I got Color Me Calm

I used to love coloring when I was a kid and with my kids when they wee young, but haven't bought any for myself... but i have picked up a couple for different people and recently picked up a couple for one of my kids to be used with colored pencils... an architectural one and a wonders of the world book- will put under the tree.

I kind of think this is weird. Is the point to just relax by coloring? do you keep the pictures you make (those of you who do them?) Why are adult coloring books different than kids coloring books?

I had a coworker who used to do paint by numbers just for relaxation.

Im not that interested in coloring, but I did see a paisley coloring book somewhere that piqued my interest.....love paisley,...especially the psychedelic 60's designs.

I won't go so far as to say it's "weird".. but as I said, I am not interested in coloring. I do know multiple people who claim it is very relaxing! The adult books are (for the most part) much more intricate-- though there is a fair amount of variation across them.

This is really a "thing".. the number of books to choose from is mind boggling! Here are the books recommended to me.. but this is just a starting point. There are coloring books for just about any topic you can think of!

Enchanted Forest, Secret Garden, Dream Catcher, Holiday.. there are many in this line.

Maybe weird wasn't the right word :)

I guess I just find it interesting that this is all of a sudden a thing. I don't remember adult coloring books existing before a few months ago and now they are everywhere and I am puzzled as to why this has become such a trend...

I read something somewhere that said it started as a hipster thing... I have no idea if that's true. My middle sister told me she's been doing it for years (but she is most definitely not a hipster LOL!). When we were kids, she also liked the large posters you would color... I didnt get into them then either.

Beagles, I laughed about your question as to what to do with your finished pictures. I just gave one of my finished pictures to my mother to hang on her refrigerator LOL! We had a good laugh as she removed the pictures that my 3 year old nephew colored so that she could proudly display my picture :) I also gave one of my "masterpieces" to my daughter's first grade friend. I had a good laugh thinking about her telling people that Mrs. R colored it for her.

I don't know that coloring is something I would just do on my own in my spare time. I color with my girls. We have enjoyed having fancy gel pens and markers and the more intricate patterns. Both my 5 and 7 year old love the "adult" coloring books. We all color together--my 5 year old likes for us to color the same page together, although my 7 year old won't let me color on her pages as she is afraid I might wreck them.

Long before husbands and children I used to love doing some of the pattern ones. Guess they have been rediscovered

The books have been around for a long time. I used to teach a Mindfulness class, and always included "Mindfulness coloring" using photocopied pages. Obviously this is not "art" but can be artistic. I always had people use nice quality color pencils, as shading can add another dimension of interest. This activity can be very relaxing, a stress reliever, a way to manage racing/worry thoughts, high anxiety etc. and just using gorgeous colors can help someone who is sad, down, depressed, etc. Can also be a nice activity for someone convalescing. Can be very interesting to use different colorways for the same design and compare how vastly different the same image can look. There are some beautiful geometric designs.

I didn't know adult coloring books had been around for a while. I though they were a recent fad. I have nothing against it, it's just not for me.

They have long been used for therapy. If you visit the kitchen table forum we have multiple threads about this topic and many showing our works. I have been doing it for a few months and absolutely love it. I have serious hand issues including rheumatoid arthritis, doing the coloring has helped me regain use and flexibility. I prefer using gel pens and Bic Markit pens. The pencils take too much pressure and back and forth movement. They make wonderful gifts. I have a set for my sisters for part of their Christmas package. The thing to look for in books is quality thick paper with perforations for easy removal because it's much easier to work with the paper out of the book. I use a clip board. The Creative haven brand are nice quality and lots of subjects. If you have a big Lots store around they have a nice 36 set of gel pens in a closing metal case for $10. Costco has a great 100 piece set of gel pens for $20.

This hobby is very stimulating to the old brain cells and it is very therapeutic. It is used in many of the rehab facilities for those with broken hips and other injuries that keep the patient in a facility. It helps reduce depression and gives them something to focus on other than their condition. It was great for my mom when she broke her hip.

I keep all of mine in document holders in three ring binders. Some I might frame some day who knows, doesn't matter, it's the process. Here's a link to another discussion with lots of pictures we did.

Adult coloring information

A couple of mine.

I like your mandelas or mandela-like designs, Raven-- very nice.

Interesting that it's helping you to regain function and flexibility of your hand. I had surgery a few years ago after nailing my funny bone and damaging a nerve. By the time I had surgery, I had lost close to 75% of the motor function in my left hand. As part of my recover, I picked up a guitar and learned to play chords in order to regain strength and finer motor control of my left hand. It really helped (though I still can't play guitar)! Coloring would have been great (had it been my right hand).

On pinterest just search for adult coloring book or pages there are thousands of them that are available for printing. I use a heavy weight bright white paper but card stock paper works too. On the Angie Grace website she has several of her pages available for download to print. Many artists provide works for free download.

Very nice, ravencajun. How do you make them glitter?

I just bought this one:

http://www.modcloth.com/shop/books/the-art-of-nature-coloring-book?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=B.PLA.US_NB.X_Home-Décor

I don't plan on coloring any of the pages, just thought the pictures were pretty and might be nice for framing...

Most of the gel pens sets have multiple types including the glitter gels, metallic gels, neon gels, etc. In person the glitter and metallic are very pretty, it doesn't seem to show up as well in pictures.

The Angie Grace collection is a good way to start out or give as gifts. She has a Facebook group where they discuss the various types of colors and show lots of their work. I am not on Facebook but you can see the pictures she has a link to the community on her website.

Also if you are considering a specific book go find it on amazon, they are all there, and in the comments and reviews you can find a lot of information about the book and several pictures done by the people doing reviews. That has helped me make decisions on certain books.

I ordered some off of Amazon, along with pencils, based on an earlier thread on this site about this. i'm recovering from a broken leg, and so this just adds something extra to the 1) sleeping, 2) surfing the net, 3) cooking (I have a chair with wheels), 4) seeing the occasional friend who can drop by, 5) taking sponge bath routine of my immediate life. I suspect I'll stop once I can run my car again....

It is relaxing..

My sister and I loved coloring books that were similar to these back when we were kids, ao they are far from new -- just enjoyig a resurgance.

I loved coloring with my grandkids. Miss it now that they are older. I don't have time and haven't been inclined to do any adult coloring but I can certainly see it as therapeutic in many ways. So many beautiful and intricate designs.

Well, hang around long enough and one will always end up surprised: for once I find myself agreeing with something beaglesdoitbetters says, much to my amazement LOL!!

I'll go a bit further and say I find adult coloring books silly and faddish and, well , utterly pointless. Then again much of my time is spent on FB or self soothing with a laptop so I'm not one to judge ;).

At least 15 years ago, my niece had one of those fill in the color black fuzzy posters. They're so tacky they're great. The whole family was together at Xmas time and we kept the poster and markers on a spare table. Different members would go over and color it in and chat for a little while. This went on for days. It was relaxing and a casual way to interact without the kids feeling like they were being interrogated. It was like the chatting in the car thing, you're not looking directly at them so conversation isn't as threatening to sensitive souls.

I think i would enjoy coloring with a child, as i enjoyed it the few times mine would actually color. Not one of my children has any artistic talent or interest so we dont even have any good memories of coloring in books.

Interestingly, my DD took a painting class after she graduated from college and her efforts from that experiment were, in a word, awful. Really. She brought a canvas home snd said, so what do you think? And we stared at it until we both burst out laughing. She has a beautiful voice and can dance like an angel but art....... I wont be getting her any adult coloring books for Christmas! DSs 1 and 2.....ditto.

Coloring does take focus and I can see how that would be useful for some people who dont like or cannot do sudoku or crossword puzzles. Or people who just like color! Mostly though i think it is marketing for Christmas stocking stuffers.

interesting that you mention sudoku and crosswords-- the same sister who colors does those as well. In fact, she even said coloring does for her what sudoku does without the brain effort. I get it.. when I have high stress, i need things that help me focus and block out all else. That's when I turn to scrabble, alphabetty and watching movies. It's all a means to an end.

No time for coloring books! I've got a mural to finish!

So funny, the other day at the grocery store, they had some adult coloring books in the check-out! Which of course made me think of GW.

I have a dirty mind.

I think it's extremely rude and condescending to call someone's hobby silly, faddish, and utterly pointless.

If someone enjoys it, gets their brain stimulated, exercises their hands and wrists, benefits from reduced stress, aids in focusing away from serious illness, and uses it as therapy, just why would that be called any of those things! This is not new it's been used as therapy in many different situations. How is it different from a person using gardening for the same purpose? Or any other safe hobby? Just because children enjoy it too, why did we do it as children? Because we enjoyed it and we learned a lot from it, and it focused our attention on something positive. I don't see anything wrong with any of that.

Don't try it, but why throw those kinds of comments on those that do enjoy this nice safe therapeutic hobby even if you think it's new, it's not.

Stick with Facebook that's a great idea.

Hey, I just want to say thanks for this great gift idea! This is perfect for a friend who has everything. I'm going to put a bunch of coloring books and supplies into a nice basket or decorative box that will match her living room. My friend is having all her adult children and spouses over Christmas in her smaller downsize home. Maybe the box of goodies will be fun. Last night I went into Ross to find a container and found instead a bunch of adult coloring books. Love the first one, it's a nice hard cover.

I think coloring these gorgeous designs looks like a very relaxing way to pass the time. I love to sit and knit in the evenings while I watch TV and consequently I've got a large storage tub full of scarves and hats, and have made items for just about everyone I know. For those who color, do you ever do anything with the finished product? Some of these are definitely frame-and-display worthy.

jtl - I would imagine there are many guys who color! Heck, there are growing numbers who knit and crochet, so why not coloring too.

There are many guys that color just as there are many guys who are artists. It is still using color combinations and using the same part of the brain. There are books that are more geared towards men too. It is not for everyone, my husband has no interest, he has never been interested in art but he is very good at woodworking which to me is artistic. He does like to look at all of my finished pieces. And he is very supportive of my doing it, he has bought books and different pens for me. He has noticed that my hands and wrists are gaining movement and flexibility which is wonderful.

I have all the finished ones in individual clear plastic document holders in 3 ring binders. I can flip through them similar to my photo albums. I personally have not framed any but I can certainly see some of the beautiful work I have seen framed and worthy of wall space.

Terrilynn those are very unique books I have never seen those listed on any of the sites I have looked at. They are great. Especially like the first one.

I had no idea of the adult coloring book cult lol. There are zillions of YouTube vids on technique. This one was good for people who need elementary shading instruction. http://youtu.be/dJElspfupQg . And this one is good for more advanced http://youtu.be/ufgdg8bwexI . Raven, your pictures are lovely! I bought a large collection of fine permanent markers. Think I will also get some good colored pencils and gels for my friends basket. As usual I will end up spending more. I like that first book as well and wish there would have been another. Lots of great pictures. I'm wondering if it would help unblock me so I can get back to my oils on canvas. Maybe it would work as an artistic unblocking therapy. Here are more pictures in that book.

It's funny, the third picture gives me anxiety. I know you don't have to start with one like that but looking at it made me immediately think "oh no! Too complicated!"

I can't help but think that some of these designs would make excellent tattoos.

Said she, who is highly inked already.

You are? Let me see.

LOL!

No.

We used to do this in college, especially during finals. Very relaxing. My daughter mentioned that it's "a thing" now and that she would enjoy it. Everyone over the age of eight who will be here over Christmas is receiving one.

I knit (should be doing some now). I crochet (ditto). I bake. I can. I have done some mosaic work. And I bought a coloring book for my son's GF (she travels a lot and it could be something she could do in airports or hotels) and one for myself. My younger son bought some for a gift after going to buy crayons and colored pencils or a project (even in college - for his music ed course). He loved the huge boxes they had and they brought back fond memories.

You know I have seen several books that were tattoo designs. Some of the pictures were awesome. Some were basic flash. I think that it is just another medium so it might well help an artist get unblocked.

I would enjoy all of those pictures. There's no right or wrong just fun. Figuring out colors that go well together is something every designer needs to know, this can be a tool.

This reminds me of Doodle Art ... I remember my parents and their friends got in on that craze in the 70s. :)

http://doodleartworld.com/history.php

I love doodling, and drawing, I think the coloring books sound fun. Maybe I'll wallpaper my powder room with my art. :D

(And I better stop typing the word doodling, before I make an embarrassing typo.)

MizGG, what a good idea in wallpapering a powder room. On one of the YouTube video's on techniques the gal talked about making copies from the books on designs one liked. I'm not sure what type of copy paper though. It sure would be a cheap way to get hand painted/penciled/marker wallpaper.

My college DD and I did some retail therapy tonight. We bought a coloring book as she thought they all might use it as a stress reliever. She plans on leaving it on the coffee table in her apartment for all to use. They look like fun to me.

Miz GG, I actually have the exact poster on the link you put up! Found it recently as I am on a big purge. Rolled it out and laughed out loud. Thinking that my huge bonus room is going to be a studio room, and believe me, it is goin up on one of those walls,

i was going to comment on the new thread '' thanks'' but I will just say it here, this forum isn't only a solace, but a real hoot.

Beth

When I was a little girl in the late 70's-early 80's, my mom bought me a couple of books like these called Altair Designs. They looked a lot like adult coloring books. I really enjoyed them!

Some of you might like Zentangle.

Selcier, you said upthread: "No time for coloring books! I've got a mural to finish!"

Too right, you do----I've been looking for it!

True story: During a classroom break this week, my college students were talking about the stress of final exams, and one female student said she's been coloring in her adult coloring book to help her stay calm and focused.

Several male students became wide-eyed and turned to look at her. Yeah, they thought she was referring to erotica.

ETA, Kswl2, I feel your pain. My kids hated crafting in school and still shudder at the mention of gluestick and glitter.

Article in yesterday's NY Post:Hottest Trend in Publishing is Adult Coloring Books

I want to explore this. I've bought a Wacom tablet and Corel's Painter Essentials app to try to develop an artistic outlet. But using the tablet well will take months of practice, and the app is better suited to people who can draw & have some art background already.

Maybe plain ol' coloring will help develop fine motor skills for the tablet & spur some art ideas for the app.