Coloring books for adults

[Ki's]

Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts, ideas or information on the coloring books for adults that are currently flooding the market.

[Kez]

Personally I think they are quite therapeutic; as a child I could sit hours on end with a pencil in my hand and a colouring book; however due to time constraints at the moment it isn't something I could sit hours on end doing anymore (unfortunately). If you are interested in perhaps purchasing a 'more grown up' style colouring book, may I suggest looking at the first 5 products in this link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Richard+Merritt&search-alias=books-uk&field-author=Richard+Merritt&sort=relevancerank In my opinion I like the animal portraits book or even any book that features architecture. :-D

[janette]

Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts, ideas or information on the coloring books for adults that are currently flooding the market.

Hi,I have two of the joanna Bradford colouring books. The designs are beautiful with intricate drawings straight from the illustrators imagination. I also have one with mandelas in to colour,the more detailed the better I think. It takes me back to my childhood which is never a bad thing. I also find them wonderfully calming,am usually colouring while listening to project camelot videos 😉 hope you enjoy them too 😊 x

[dianna]

Just wondered if anyone had any thoughts, ideas or information on the coloring books for adults that are currently flooding the market.

I was just discussing this with a friend today as I noticed over the weekend that they are everywhere ... personally, it creeps me out ... infantilization ... busy work for adults that may find some time to kill and may, god forbid, have a critical thought ... do some research ... question ... no no, we can't have that ... don't read or research guys ... colour ... its mindless ... and actually not even creative ...

[Innocent Warrior]

It's a very effective stress reducing tool. My son's friend's Mum is a nurse and prints off pages from the internet, she has a folder of them, in clear plastic pockets.

100 free geometry colouring in images here (http://www.geometrycoloringpages.com/downloads/).

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/546eee81e4b00628ff79ade5/5571dd7ce4b0d102b4f86ea7/5571df6de4b0806c0b88fbef/1433526130585/Elegance+II.jpg?format=750w

Colouring pages for adults here (http://www.coloring-pages-adults.com/myths-legends/?image=myths-legends__coloring-adult-dragon__1). You might want to lighten those ones before printing, they have shading and are heavy on the ink.

http://www.coloring-pages-adults.com/wp-content/gallery/myths-legends/coloring-adult-dragon.jpg

[Lancelot]

Well colouring has to be better than watching TV!

[Ki's]

Well, I guess I've noticed a disturbing trend...and these seem to be a part of it. I think we're all aware of the sexualization (is that a word?) of children, but more recently I've noticed an infantilization of adults. It seems they are pushing adult diapers on a younger population, gummy vitamins are everywhere and now coloring books. It seems to be a trend and that makes me want to look at it a little more closely. Are marketers simply trying to cash in on a population that wants to be 'young at heart' or are there subliminal implications?

[DeDukshyn]

Well, I guess I've noticed a disturbing trend...and these seem to be a part of it. I think we're all aware of the sexualization (is that a word?) of children, but more recently I've noticed an infantilization of adults. It seems they are pushing adult diapers on a younger population, gummy vitamins are everywhere and now coloring books. It seems to be a trend and that makes me want to look at it a little more closely. Are marketers simply trying to cash in on a population that wants to be 'young at heart' or are there subliminal implications?

Here's children playing: Laughing, running, rolling, creating, imagining, loving.
Here's children playing like Adults: Grump faced, "Do as I say!", controlling, going to work, watching TV, fighting, winning, making more money.

Something tells me that our perception of what an "Adult" should be is messed up, and should not be used to determine what is perceived "right" and "wrong". When your baseline is off, all judgements are inherently flawed.

Bring on the colouring books!!!! :) :)

[Ellisa]

There is something very calming about these colouring books. I bought one for my granddaughters, but so far it hasn't reached them, and I am getting lots of -probably non-adult- fun from it!

[Heartsong]

They serve the same purpose as knitting, embroidery, golf or reading internet forums. Not terribly purposeful except to rest the mind.

[DeDukshyn]

They serve the same purpose as knitting, embroidery, golf or reading internet forums. Not terribly purposeful except to rest the mind.

Well, I like to think the forum is more useful than golf. It might allow people to meet in some way and have a further positive effect because of that meeting, or the fact that our discussions often lead to a broader / more accurate picture than the sum of the parts could provide; and all this on often critical topics; etc. :)

[RunningDeer]

Zentangles is relaxing. The top one is an a money envelop I made for my nephew. The rest I picked up from Ellen Wolters YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/DIWEllenWolters/videos). At the bottom of the page ‘click on more’.


http://avalonlibrary.net/paula/Photoshop/zen-tangles_zpspfbdozen.JPG

[Franny]

My friends mother told me that when her kids came home from school she would have a snack for them and then have them sit down for a little R&R. This would usually be in the form of coloring books or large puzzles. She noted that they were relaxed and would speak much more freely to her about what was going on in their lives, with their friends and at school. They were less self censoring at this time.

The mind slows down while coloring or drawing, perhaps even a meditative state. Not all of us are gifted enough to draw well so these coloring books can fill that gap for non artistic people.

Grab a few and hang out with friends and talk while coloring...or drawing if that's your forte. You may be a little surprised to observe that it does relax people and conversation can flow in interesting ways.

My father used to do those funky paint by the number oil paintings for relaxation, he didn't frame them and hang them on the wall, lol.

I have a few adult coloring books and do it while listening to music or interviews etc. I don't feel like it's infantilizing me. I don't think I'm doing art, just relaxing. My little neighbor kids think it's cool too :). There are 4 little ones and their mom uses the same technique mentioned above to get them relaxed and opened up.

Maybe I could better use the time doing more study, research or knitting sweaters. Or maybe I just need some downtime when forced indoors by the night or the weather.