Colouring books and colouring pages for adults

Colouring books and colouring pages

Adult colouring is a trend that developed around 2013, when its potential as a method for relaxation and reducing everyday stress was recognised. Colouring books for adults can help develop concentration, unleash creativity without pressure, and require no prior knowledge or particularly expensive materials to get started. Even art supplies that have been forgotten in a drawer since school days but still work can be a good starting point. The most important thing is to have the courage to experiment and to keep going even if the results don't meet your expectations.

There are colouring books for adults and colouring pages to suit every taste and budget, and there are thousands of interpretations of the same motif using different colour palettes or materials.

The motifs range from classic landscapes to food, portraits, scary books (especially around Halloween) to Christmas themes, mandalas and much more.

The price can vary depending on the type of paper it is printed on (there are books printed on plain paper, watercolour paper, drawing paper, etc.), the type of cover (hard or flexible), the type of format (book or PDF) and the size.

Types of colouring books and colouring pages for adults

In general, colouring books and colouring pages for adults differ from those for children in many ways.

While children's books are usually simpler in terms of both motifs and level of detail and serve only to teach children how to use coloured pencils or felt-tip pens, books for adults feature the same motifs but are much more detailed and often encourage the colourist to try out more advanced techniques in order to achieve almost realistic results through the use of light and shadow.

Another difference lies in the format in which they are created. Classic books and colouring pages for adults are essentially available in two versions: line art and greyscale.

1. Line art: The term ‘line art’ refers to classic drawings in which only the contours are visible. All shading must be determined during colouring.

2. Greyscale: The term ‘greyscale’ refers to a drawing in which the light and shadow areas are ‘pre-printed’ and the colourist must colour the motif in the selected colours, taking these areas into account. In other words, greyscale provides a kind of guideline for colouring: darker colours must be used in the dark areas and lighter colours in the lighter areas, with highlights added where necessary. There are dark or light versions of greyscale, as well as variants in which the motif is reproduced in sepia or blue rather than greyscale.

Another type of book that has developed recently is the so-called ‘colour by number’ book: each number corresponds to a colour, and the areas of the motif with that number must be filled in with that colour.

Art supplies for adult colouring

Classic painting supplies such as coloured pencils, felt-tip pens (water-based, alcohol-based or acrylic-based), watercolours, gel pens, acrylic pens, etc. are used for this type of book.

In addition, PDF or digital versions (e.g. colouring pages) can be coloured using apps such as Procreate (iPad only) or similar programmes.

Benefits of colouring in colouring books and colouring pages for adults

Colouring for adults offers numerous advantages in many respects.

1. Relaxation method: In a fast-paced world, colouring for adults allows you to take time for yourself without the pressure of having to finish a design within a set time frame. It is also a way to focus on yourself, and for some, this process almost becomes a form of meditation.

2. It can be done anywhere. It is not necessary to have a studio or a special room. You can even paint outdoors on spring days.

3. There are no rules. Each motif can be coloured as desired, both in terms of technique and choice of colour palette.

Artificial intelligence and colouring books for adults: AI vs. artists

In recent years, thanks to the development and spread of artificial intelligence-based programmes such as ChatGPT and similar tools, the production of books and colouring pages for adults has become much easier and more accessible, even for people without an artistic background. In other words, anyone with minimal knowledge of these programmes can create and sell their own colouring book.

Although these books are sometimes cheaper than colouring books designed by real artists, they appear to be of inferior quality (e.g. the contours of the motifs are not clearly defined or the motifs themselves are incomplete).

I hope this post has inspired you to begin your own personal journey into the world of creativity.

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this post, please leave a “like”, a comment, and don't forget to follow me on social media.

Laura