Introduction

This post is the first in a series on how to color in. It’s one of those things that can be very simple, or very complex. It all depends on the type of pictures you enjoy coloring, and whether you want to challenge yourself with more difficult and intricate coloring projects.

Maybe coloring in comes naturally to you, and maybe it doesn’t. Maybe you worry about choosing the wrong colors, or not being precise enough and staying in the lines. Maybe you just wish you were better at choosing color schemes that look really striking, or calming, or psychedelic, or beautiful.

As you’d already know, there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to color in. Anyone can pick up a coloring in pencil or marker or inked up brush and color in a picture. But people color for different reasons, and have different goals when they sit down to color.

Maybe you just want to relax and de-stress.

Maybe you don’t care too much about what the final product looks like, and just embrace the process of play and experimentation.

Maybe you’re totally meticulous about your work, and can take HOURS on a single image!

Maybe you keep your work in a portfolio. Or stick it up on your fridge and pin up boards.

Maybe you frame your artworks for wall display.

So who will this series of posts help? Well, whatever your level of skill or confidence, this series of posts will help you to create pictures that are more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

The sort that people will look at and say, ‘Wow. That’s really cool.’

Or, ‘Tell me how you got that effect!’.

Or, ‘I really wish I could color like that.’

So let’s get started.

Basic Materials

One of the great things about taking up coloring in is that the start up costs are lower than most hobbies. You need only two things – a drawing to color in, and something to color with.

Where can I find something to color?

Due to the popularity of coloring at the moment, you can find things to color almost anywhere. You can easily locate coloring in books to purchase online, or at your local newsagents, book stores, art supply stores, and even supermarkets. Alternatively, you may wish to download individual coloring in pages, either for a fee or for free (each week we create new free printable coloring pages for adults right here on this site).

When choosing a coloring book, note that there are various levels of difficulty when it comes to coloring in. It’s usually best to start with simple designs that have larger areas to color. And don’t attempt anything too intricate unless you have the right tools (such as sharp pencils or fine-tipped markers).

What should I color in with?

There are many different media that colorists use, the most common ones being:

• colored pencils
• crayons
• markers (also called textas)
• pastels and oil pastels
• inks
• paints (i.e. acrylic, gouache, watercolors)

We’re going to explore each of these in much more detail, so read on for Part 2 – What to Color In With.

As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please write to us in the comments section. We’d love to hear from you!