Most people can recall the days of their childhood where they would thoughtlessly color in pictures, not caring about the lines or the colors. Whether it was an activity at school, or a pastime at home, coloring books are nearly synonymous with children. But, not anymore!
In 2013, Johanna Basford released “Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book”. It’s name is self explanatory. Basford’s book was an intricate coloring book geared towards adults and, while it was not the first of its kind, it was definitely among the first to gain traction. Within around 2 years, Basford’s book sold nearly 7 million copies, proving its success. To put this into perspective, Steve Laube, a proclaimed veteran of bookselling, estimates that the average novel sells 10,000 copies in its lifespan. And, while coloring pages can’t always be equated to the pages of a novel, 7 million is still an impressive and exemplary number.
But, why was this coloring book so successful? As implied by the title, Basford’s book was full of nature scenes and detailed greenery. The close ties to nature combined with the calming act of coloring provided adult audiences with a soothing hobby. In response to Basford’s success, many other artists followed suit, creating their own adult coloring books. This effectively launched what would become a multi-million dollar industry.
As time has progressed, adult coloring books have diversified, featuring all sorts of subject matter. Customers can find books of mandalas, their favorite musician, nature scenery, landmarks, and so much more. And with these changes, new prominent coloring book authors have come to the forefront of the market… and your TikTok feed! Recently, you may have heard of popular coloring book authors like Coco Wyo, which unlike common authors, is a collective group of artists creating coloring books. Coco Wyo books emphasize the bold lines and simplistic style of the art, which makes coloring easy. With the rising popularity of Coco Wyo online, the adult coloring industry seems to only continue growing.
So, what are the benefits of adult coloring? The activity has constantly been praised for its ability to calm, relax, and reduce stress. More specifically, adult coloring has been credited, by psychologists, to lower anxiety due to the repetitive movements. Additionally, coloring is known for its meditative qualities. Coloring can help you stay in the moment, focusing on the slow build to a completed picture instead of the bustle of daily life. Meditative activities come along with all sorts of benefits as well such as lowered blood pressure, improved memory, and better sleep. Overall, coloring has the ability to put your body and mind on pause to promote healthier habits and functions.
Aside from mental and physical health improvements, coloring can help you build artistic discipline. One reason why coloring is so often promoted to children is because it supports fine motor skills. Even adults can still benefit from these applications of coloring! With increased motor skills comes increased precision, a useful tool and simple skill to hone easily through coloring. Also, coloring provides an artistic outlet in a safe, contained space. The stakes are fairly low, meaning there is plenty of room for mistakes! By repeatedly practicing art through coloring, you are bound to improve. Lastly, coloring promotes creativity, an attribute that is easy to lose between school, work, and other burdens in life. By setting aside time to color, you can flex your creative muscles!
With the growing popularity of adult coloring, coloring apps have flooded app stores. These apps follow the same principles as a coloring book, providing many different themes, colors, and techniques. But, do they share the same benefits? While coloring apps often promote mental and physical benefits in their ads, the negative effects of screens can quickly outweigh the positives. Coloring apps are still credited with similar mental benefits as coloring books, but these benefits aren’t as easily attainable or consistent. Coloring is able to work wonders by shutting off your brain. This characteristic of coloring is what promotes a meditative state, increasing benefits. Electronic screens effectively work against this, almost turning your mind back on, in a way. With such conflicting attributes, the positive effects of coloring can be easily overridden when screens are involved. In the end, it is more beneficial to color on paper, but you should do what you find best for yourself!
If you are interested in coloring, I highly recommend the previously mentioned Coco Wyo books! They have a wide selection of different themes and styles, with simplistic pictures to color in. I’ve found simple coloring books to be more satisfying, as I don’t have to worry about small mistakes. Also, if you’d like to take coloring a step further, try out a DIY coloring book! Grab a pen and pencil and draw some pictures to color in yourself. They can be as simple as you’d like and they can feature your interest. DIY coloring books are also a great gift for loved ones, as they are both personal and beneficial!
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