Here's one of the questions I get asked most often recently by my clients:
"What do you think of adult coloring books? Do they work?"
"Which one do you recommend?"
First, we have to understand what it is that we are trying to achieve through Coloring books. Is it for the purpose of:
1. Enjoying the process of coloring, and creating a beautiful piece of art?
2. Engaging in a mindful activity that helps to calm your mind and reduce stress?
If you enjoy coloring and it's one of your hobbies, then your decision for the type of coloring book would be entirely based on your own aesthetic preference.
On the other hand, if you are looking for ways to help you relax, stay focused, and reduce distracting thoughts, then Coloring Books may (or may not) work for you.
There are many articles you can find online (such as this one) that discuss the health and therapeutic benefits of adult coloring books. The process of coloring is similar to meditation, which can help you take a break from your thoughts and redirect your focus.
Whether or not everyone is able to enjoy, or experience the benefit of the coloring process from coloring books, however, would differ from person to person.
It's simply a matter of personal preference, and the only way for you to find out would be to try it out, and experience it for yourself.
When it comes to my personal preference, I tend to gravitate toward another drawing method over using the coloring books (linked here- "Drawing Exercise to Calm Busy Minds"). When it comes to coloring books, I find the overall process to be quite overwhelming, and even frustrating at times, especially when working on those with smaller and more complicated designs. I find myself constantly worrying about which colors to use, whether they'd go with one another, and feeling obligated to complete my work.
The only difference between coloring books for children and adults, is that the latter consist of more intricate themes and designs. If you've decided that coloring books are right for you, I would suggest you start with the ones with basic and simpler designs (in most cases, I'd prefer children's coloring books over the adult ones).
If your goal is to experience a mindful state of mind through the act of coloring, especially for beginners, then it'd be best to find coloring pages with simple patterns and neutral themes. Images that consist of a specific/suggestive theme or subject such as characters, identifiable objects, words or phrases may trigger personal thoughts or memories, which in turn, may defeat the purpose of what you're trying to achieve through the activity.
Here are some examples of the type of coloring books/pages I'd recommend for you to try:
"What do you think of adult coloring books? Do they work?"
"Which one do you recommend?"
First, we have to understand what it is that we are trying to achieve through Coloring books. Is it for the purpose of:
1. Enjoying the process of coloring, and creating a beautiful piece of art?
2. Engaging in a mindful activity that helps to calm your mind and reduce stress?
If you enjoy coloring and it's one of your hobbies, then your decision for the type of coloring book would be entirely based on your own aesthetic preference.
On the other hand, if you are looking for ways to help you relax, stay focused, and reduce distracting thoughts, then Coloring Books may (or may not) work for you.
Do They Work for You?
There are many articles you can find online (such as this one) that discuss the health and therapeutic benefits of adult coloring books. The process of coloring is similar to meditation, which can help you take a break from your thoughts and redirect your focus.
Whether or not everyone is able to enjoy, or experience the benefit of the coloring process from coloring books, however, would differ from person to person.
It's simply a matter of personal preference, and the only way for you to find out would be to try it out, and experience it for yourself.
When it comes to my personal preference, I tend to gravitate toward another drawing method over using the coloring books (linked here- "Drawing Exercise to Calm Busy Minds"). When it comes to coloring books, I find the overall process to be quite overwhelming, and even frustrating at times, especially when working on those with smaller and more complicated designs. I find myself constantly worrying about which colors to use, whether they'd go with one another, and feeling obligated to complete my work.
Which One to Choose?
The only difference between coloring books for children and adults, is that the latter consist of more intricate themes and designs. If you've decided that coloring books are right for you, I would suggest you start with the ones with basic and simpler designs (in most cases, I'd prefer children's coloring books over the adult ones).
If your goal is to experience a mindful state of mind through the act of coloring, especially for beginners, then it'd be best to find coloring pages with simple patterns and neutral themes. Images that consist of a specific/suggestive theme or subject such as characters, identifiable objects, words or phrases may trigger personal thoughts or memories, which in turn, may defeat the purpose of what you're trying to achieve through the activity.
Here are some examples of the type of coloring books/pages I'd recommend for you to try:
- Simple Designs: A Laid Back Coloring Book by Kimberly Garvey
- Simple mandala coloring images that consist of basic shapes and patterns.
- If you prefer finer details and smaller drawing areas, Just Add Color: Geometric Patterns by Lisa Congdon is a great option. The designs consist of repetitive, predictable patterns, which makes the process simple and effortless.
This post first appeared on The Art Therapy Journey Of An Art Therapist, please read the originial post: here
