Before my daughter was born a good friend gave her a fantastic Charley Harper coloring book. I took one look at it and told her, “You know I’m keeping this for me.” She laughed and said, “I knew you would.”
Growing up I loved to color. Even now I find that when I’m stuck in a creative rut, grabbing a few colored pencils or crayons and a blank page helps me to work through whatever design problem I’ve encountered.
Coloring is an inherently tongue-in-cheek activity: after all, it’s premised on the genteel fiction that an untalented amateur filling in the colors actually completes an artwork. But, when you need to clear your mind, one of the best things to do is color. All your senses conspire to rinse troubling thoughts away. We should color at least as often as we drink coffee. Whether or not you call yourself a “creative” try coloring next time you find yourself mentally “stuck.”
Here are a few ways to have fun with coloring that won’t make you feel like you’re back in Kindergarten.
City Folk Art – Adult Coloring Book $10
Etsy Mamazshanna’s Shop
AMMO Books – Charley Harper Deluxe Coloring Book $6.95
Amazon.com
LEGO Blocks and Lego Man minifigure crayons 12 piece set $6.00
Etsy MaxandMeena’s Shop
Cupcake crayons $10.95
Etsy Lilbooandco’s Shop

