Posted on 11/18/2015 5:28:48 AM PST by equaviator
I've always been that adult who squeezes in with the kids at their mini coloring table and delves into the arts and crafts right along with them. I may have even snagged a page or two out of their coloring books and created my own masterpiece- and then proudly displayed it to all of the 4-year-olds in the room. But now the doodling dreams of grown-ups worldwide have come true with coloring books for adults. We can unwind with our very own coloring books tailored for an older crowd, containing countless pages of intricate designs. Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book by Johanna Basford is topping the Amazon bestselling charts and has sold 1.4 million copies to date, followed closely by her other book, Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest.
"It's been crazy. The last few weeks since Enchanted Forest came out have been utter madness, but fantastic madness," Eleanor Blatherwick, head of sales and marketing at the books' publisher, told the Guardian. "We knew the books would be beautiful but we didn't realize it would be such a phenomenal success." The books are a wonderful way for adults to relax and get in touch with their inner artist. Coloring the flowers, castles, trees, animals, and other designs allows adults to get creative, and filling them out is like a form of meditation. The books yield gorgeous results that anyone- even those of us who aren't necessarily professionals- can be proud of. Take a peek inside one of the books, and admire some of the beautiful finished products that fans have posted on Instagram.
I enjoy going to the range, and entering my VW in car shows. But right now, now that the weather’s getting colder, I work on my HO scale model train layout. Recently I’ve been painting people. One inch tall, HO scale people. This meticulous work relaxes me.
Could be worse.
Paint by numbers could make a comeback. Ugh!
How many stressed out or otherwise disturbed people (given recent events) are gonna trade their valuable prescription medication(s) for coloring books? However, if it saves lives then who am I to tell anyone that they shouldn’t?
The family that BLASTS together... LASTS together.
Good to hear it.
My girlfriend does this too. The finished products are amazing.
“...This meticulous work relaxes me...”
I hear you, and lord knows stress is debilitating.
My comment was more towards the fact that we’re seeing things degenerate all around us, and basic skillsets that Americans were always noted for - the old “rifle behind every blade of grass” mentality - are being lost.
Yep.
I know lots of very healthy (mentally and physically) people who use coloring books.
Personally I think it is a better way to relax than drinking too much, playing golf, reading trashy books, blankly staring at television
Yeah and if 60 really is the new 40, let’s hope that the new 35 isn’t 15.
I agree. Why is coloring “immature,” while getting drunk, watching ball games, or getting drunk while watching ball games - not to mention porn - “adult”?
I like to color. It’s more convenient than doing embroidery, and it helps me to avoid stress-eating.
My mom, an artist (and right wing conspirator), loves these.
She’s older so they’re great for maintaining hand/eye coordination.
They’re also cheap when compared to other artisty supplies and are portable for doctors offices and car trips.
She’s bought a bunch for my kiddos for Christmas this year.
They’re harmless.
I hear ya. My mom did embroidery until her arthritis got bad. Coloring has taken the place of that in the evenings after supper.
The Dot Barlowe nature coloring books are beautiful, and people are using lots of different media for this now:
A couple in our church goes every week to the local senior center to do coloring activities. I think it’s great. They love it. Good time to socialize with other seniors, easy activity that most seniors can do, low cost, not a lot of materials required.
Imdeed
A 27 year-old in WWII would probably be a Company commander, be called “old man” by his 18-20 y.o. soldiers, or be responsible for a bomber and crew.
I tell people that is why I cross-stitch and crochet. Your mind stays so focused on the craft, that you can’t “stress” or worry. And when you get a good night’s sleep, the issues causing you stress come into focus.
I think this is incredibly cool, haven’t heard of it before. I always enjoyed coloring and did counted cross-stitch for years until we got a new puppy a year or so ago and so didn’t feel I could leave my needlework out on the coffee table etc. Don’t remotely think this is a sign of society regressing to childlike levels. I agree that drinking oneself to oblivion, an ADULT pursuit, is far more childlike!
I suspect we actually go into different ‘brain-wave’ patterns doing things like this. It can help a lot to cope with physical pain, too.
-JT
“”Why is coloring “immature,” while getting drunk, watching ball games, or getting drunk while watching ball games - not to mention porn - “adult”?”
Well, have you ever been to a stadium, arena, sports bar or nightclub that serves adult beverages to children? Have you ever encountered an adult website or magazine that caters to kids?...And when was the last time you heard about abortions and contraceptives being available to children without parental or legal guardian’s consent? Not that coloring books are all that “immature” but I think the lines between adulthood and childhood are being blurred, but for what purpose, I have no idea!
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