Has it been a rough day? Traffic got you late, boss getting you down, a ton of paperwork to wade through, and let’s not even start with the list of chores that need doing when you get home. If you want a time out from all the chaos, sit down, take a deep breath, and grab your crayons. It’s coloring time.
Nope, you’re not lost in preschool class. Adult coloring books are flying off the shelves and turning into the new chic way to destress and unwind. The idea might seem childish or juvenile at first glance, but it’s lauded as one of the quickest routes to pocket-friendly art therapy.
“I think it probably speaks to people’s enjoyment in doing this kind of relaxing hobby or distraction from everyday life,” says Sarah Deaver, president of the American Art Therapy Association. “It creates an object of focus, and it creates something that’s beautiful and that’s satisfying.”
The illustrations often seen in grown-up coloring books range from the immensely intricate and ornate to the wild high-energy-charged and lush. First-timers may rely on their faithful crayon box of 8’s or 24’s and go to town on the pieces; other avid artsy folk can up their color game with markers, color pencils, watercolors, or even watercolor pencils. Some coloring books even come with perforations so you can rip them away from the binding carefully and frame your masterpiece for your cubicle block to enjoy. Themes can range from plants, landscapes, animals, and abstract illustrations to characters from your favorite media or fandom. (“Game of Thrones” coloring book, anyone?) and when you’re all tuckered out coloring in your page, take some time to go hunting for quirky details throughout the piece.
You may enjoy “hours and hours of stress relief, mindful calm, and fun, creative expression” with the delicate patterns of the “Adult Coloring Book”. Or why not unleash your wild side with the hyper-detailed doodle art of Kerby Rosanes’ “Animorphia“, if you’re so inclined?
Peek at more sample pages from Kerby Rosanes’ “Animorphia” here:
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