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MOVE OVER MINDFULNESS (well, sort of) – there’s a new mode of relaxation in town.
Adults are reaching for their pencils and crayons as a new craze sweeps the bookshelves: adult colouring books.
No, seriously.
Stress-busters
The last memories you may have of colouring in are probably from your schooldays. But colouring books specifically aimed at adults have become hugely popular in 2015, with fans saying they help them stay focused, reduce their anxiety, and bring a new sort of mindfulness to their lives.
One of the leaders on the scene is Johanna Basford, the Scottish illustrator behind Enchanted Forest (which bills itself as an ‘inky quest colouring book’) and Lost Ocean (an ‘inky adventure and colouring book’).
Johanna Basford / Vimeo
Her book Secret Garden is the number one best seller in Amazon’s Colouring Books for Grown-Ups section (somehow, the word ‘grown-ups’ looks more childish than ‘adult’, but the latter also has 18+ connotations).
Her intricate pen drawings, inspired by the flora and fauna from the area where she grew up, make for captivating images, but even more so when strangers colour in between the lines.
Basford shares images of her fans’ colouring in results, which show that there are multiple approaches to colouring in the same designs:
Alongside Basford’s books on Amazon (she doesn’t just occupy the first spot, but the number two spot in the adult colouring books section), are a range of books that show how the genre is being aimed at people trying to seek balance in their lives.
Given the huge growth of mindfulness over the past few years, this isn’t surprising. There are stress relieving colouring books, Colour Me Calm, Splendid Cities: Colour Your Way to Calm, Colour me Happy, the Mindfulness Colouring Book, Colour Me Stress Free, Creative Therapy, and Joyful Designs.
For those who aren’t so into the mindfulness aspect, there are books about eclectic owls, the Day of the Dead, and one aimed at artists that features the work of other artists.
Susan Walsh, marketing manager at Dubray Books, said publishers have been “jumping” on the trend. “I think it’s appealing a bit to the people who liked the mindfulness books,” she said.
“If they want to create something nice but without any artistic skills, it’s perfect. You can make something really lovely by putting in your own colours.”
She spies a similar trend in the making – join-the-dots books are the next to hit the market. Bookstores like Dubray spot trends through the media, said Walsh. “The first one we noticed was the Enchanted Garden. We noticed it was selling as soon as it came in. That usually gives us an alert that we are not keeping enough in stock. Then one publisher after another produced their own.”
To deal with the growing demand for good colouring pencils, Dubray has even begun to stock them too. They report that most of the people buying the books are female, and some seem to have bought them to take on holidays.
“It occupies my mind and takes me away from generalised anxiety”
Jen Ronan is a writer and musician from Limerick who was bitten by the colouring book bug this year. She says it helps her manage her anxiety, while also giving a creative boost.
Initially, she “bought a kids book to colour in for a laugh”. “I was very anxious at the time,” she told TheJournal.ie.
“I tried knitting and didn’t stick with it. Someone mentioned it to me: ‘People are doing colouring books for grown-ups’. I thought ‘oh my God’. Amazon had a few of them - since then it’s just gone massive.”
She loves the intricate patterns of the likes of Johanna Basford, and being a stationery fan she embraced using different pens and pencils for the colouring in. Her favourite books are those with cartoon-style drawings, which is perhaps not a surprise for a bubbly young woman with a brightly-coloured Jem tattoo.
She’s a big fan of Thaneeya McArdle - whose colouring books include ones about ‘groovy animals’, mandalas and folk art birds – and even found herself chatting with McArdle after tagging her on Instagram.
Ronan appreciates how McArdle gives tips on shading and also includes blank drawings to allow readers to bring even more creativity to the fore.
On a recent trip abroad, a colouring book even helped to take the edge off flying for Ronan. “I brought a colouring book and markers on the plane as sometimes I get claustrophobic,” she explained.
“I’m quite fidgety – I tend to pick my skin when I’m stressed or anxious without knowing. When you’re drawing you’re not thinking of anything else. It’s a nicer thing than tearing your hair out. It helps me think as well.
I find it really nice – it just occupies my mind and takes me away from the generalised anxiety.
She also appreciates how indulging in a past-time associated with an earlier stage of life brings a jolt of joy with it. “It’s nice to get in touch with being a kid again and enjoy something for the sake of it, and look at the bright colours,” said Ronan.
As someone who “can’t really draw”, she still gets to illustrate.
Meditating isn’t for her – “I find it quite hard – the mind goes 90″ – but colouring works when Ronan wants to settle or calm herself. It’s also “an exercise in finishing things”.
About four or five of Ronan’s friends are also into colouring in, and she shares her creations on Instagram and Twitter. Conversations around pencils and markers abound.
Mindful colouring?
“I’m not really into the mindfulness stuff but I am into being self aware and knowing your triggers and weak points,” said Ronan.
“It’s just being aware of how you’re handling things: are you doing OK, and checking in with yourself now and then. As you’re colouring, you can use your time if you’re conscious of it. You are sorting stuff out. Mindfulness is minding yourself really, that’s how I see it. It can be a bit hippy dippy… I just like it ’cause it’s fun.”
“You do get a rush or physiological effect when you see colours coming together. It does actually work – your brain gets a boost from something, You can challenge yourself as well.”
Want to get started?
There is a plethora of colouring books for grown-ups on Amazon if you like to purchase online, but almost every bookshop in Ireland has also cottoned onto the trend. So heading to your local bookseller’s will give you a chance to peruse the options, or order a book in.
If people can’t afford the bigger colouring books for grown-ups, Ronan adds that you can get books in pound shops, the children’s section of bookstores, or in Tiger.
As for what tools to use when colouring in, it’s not just about Crayola crayons. Basford advises:
Everyone will have their own favourite pens and pencils it all depends whether you want bold vibrant colour (go for pens) or a softer, more tactile approach that allows you to blend and gradiate your tones (go for pencils!)
Have you tried colouring books for adults? What do you think of them? Tell us in the comments.
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Was a coloring in lunatic when I was younger, I’d honestly buy one of these.. The intricate detail in them is amazing, be nice to escape from modern technology and go back to some old fashioned relaxing, they’re pretty cheap to considering you’d spend hours on one picture, and there’s tons of coloring inside each book
I agree super the details is beautiful. When I read the headline I thought it was ridiculous but after reading the article it does sound therapeutic. If it helps relieve stress and anxiety sure why not?
It’s really enjoyable! I’d highly recommend :)
Yeah does seem like a nice way to unwind and relax. And if it does relive stress and anxiety all the better. The art therapy (anti stress book) looks like the ideal one to buy, the detail is doubleof what books are mentioned in the article. Only a few quid on amazon as well, I think I’m gonna invest in one haha
Colouring heaven magazine is €6.45 in easons, latest issue has a strangely large volume of bizarre cat pics hahaha
I don’t think I’d have the patience for it myself. I always hated when the kids had coloring to do for homework cause they’d get fed up and I’d have to help them finish it.
Hipsters be cream in’ themselves over the colouring books.
ISIS would sort em out!!
I definitely want one. Would colour for hours with my daughter when she was younger….
Can’t wait to show this to the gang at the cereal restaurant.
They’re probably over colouring books already. I’ve heard marbles is making a comeback so they’ll all be playing and looking down at you because you’re so far behind.
My thumb twiddling class is taking off, learnt it from my Grandad.
Would definitely recommend them,small bit expensive.But no money can put a price on trying to escape your mind during stressful time
There is also apps on iPhone and android one I would recommend is colorfy, handy if travelling
Also you can access loads for free online, so printing out one or two would be fairly cheap.
Am I officially “hip” now that I’m coloring again?
supernova , you are now officially “hip” , welcome !
You’re not hip, spell colouring correctly and you will be.
I spell ‘coloring” the American way chum.. It’s no biggie anyway, relax and do some coloring, it’s therapeutic
Bungay the Tiger shops have very good cheap ones
Bingy!
I was expecting a paint by numbers porno mag lol
There are “adult” ones too. Positions.
I love the art therapy one’s. Great when you feel like a panic attack is coming on. You just lose yourself and colour till your heart is content
Great stuff – anxiety hits everyone in life – small or large. Not getting all religious but when I start feeling a little anxious I always think of Padre Pio’s quote – Pray, Hope, and don’t worry” worrying is good for nothing ” works every time ;-))
They also have an app for that now, colorfy
I’m already coloring susanne thanks haha
So the three year old is busy playing games on the mobile phone and the parent has a colouring book. Yeah that seems to sum it up for me. Bring back the old days
Forget colouring! Spend a night playing kids games like opearation, connect 4, buckaroo and twister and you are guaranteed to have fun!!
Kate , those games are fun alright but colouring relaxes or calms the mind for you .
More bollocks!
believe it not or not it does relax you for the few minutes you’re colouring .
Body art John? lol.
Honestly those paint/colour by numbers pics are quite relaxing. Nice way to pass the time
Whatever happened to knitting?
mindfulness is some load of sh(te
Nah it’s not.. A quick Google search of the benefits of mindfulness will change your mind. And if you were to say the same to a Tibetan monk they’d gladly give you a million and one reasons of how mindfulness can benefit you’re daily life
Have to say Michael , I’ve tried it in the past and I just can’t ” get it” myself . I really don’t think I will ever stop my brain racing but I do know people that swear by it . Each to their own and what works for them I say
This is more like mindlessness!
have one ordered! cant wait to get my hands on it, ideal for a flight down under :D
I’m also a pretty serious stationery fan. I do like drawing but colouring books seem pointless to me. I know anyone can do it and that’s great but it’s just not a valuable skill is it it? Im not a super talented artist or anything but I do draw and create lace patterns for my Limerick lace that I handmake.Making lace is fine work so it’s harder to do these days but I still enjoy drawing and creating patterns which I pass on to other lacemakers. I suppose the whole point of the colouring books is that they are to give you a no stress pleasant activity but to me they seem pointless. I feel guilty being on the journal for the same reason. I feel I should be reading or learning German.
The mind needs time to rest. It’s not good for the mind to always be on alert or study mode. It’s also good to have plan old fashion fun. Not everything needs to be about skill
horse shit
I never liked colouring books. Too controlled.
Agreed!
Colouring in is not for everyone. It is too controlling for some people. When my kid was in junior infants she loved drawing but hated the colouring in. She didn’t give shit really and so would do that so badly that her drawings didn’t look good anymore. “My drawing is ruined” she used to complain. The teacher told me that the ability to ‘stay within the lines’ is an important part of child development and so she had to insist that my daughter did it good. god what a struggle. Instead of letting a child express their ideas the way they wanted in a drawing the teacher had to ‘reign her in’ and make it a chore.
I was exactly the same Missyb, still ended up going to art college and getting a degree.
But so does having fun with friends and remebering what having chikdhood fun was and that heart in your mouth feeling when you put that cowboy hat on buckaroo and was terrified that he would buck. Colouring may calm the mind or whatever but I think we have genuinely lost the ability to chill and have fun with our friends. If I had to sit colouring a picture or playing guess who with the hubbie I know what I would choose.
No need for a book if you want to do some adult colouring…. Lol the wife just wears her favourite colour of cherry red lipstick… Mmmmmm
I’m all over that
I have both Johanna Basfords books and they are the best thing I ever bought. €11 per book and €9 for 36 colouring pencils. I know it’s not for everyone but I find it a great way to switch off and I spend less time looking at Facebook and TV.
What Aster said
The business very good
Playboy by numbers lol.
Looked at some books on Friday. Could have got children’s book for 1 euro but the adult books were 12 and 14 euro each. Can’t see it catching on with those prices.
Go to Tiger shop good cheap ones there
The Nudist Garden be funnier?
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