Birds of Color

Medium: Colored Pencil

These would be more dramatic and interesting if I were actually drawing them, instead of simply coloring them in, but I am finding the coloring therapeutic. I'm also surprising myself with how well I can actually color, as I have never considered myself artistic in the drawing sense. In writing, yes, and perhaps occasionally I'd manage a lucky shot with the camera, but not "art."

I'm not sure if coloring is an art - it probably isn't - but I do find it a quick way to step out of whatever is troubling me for a few minutes.

My coloring books are kept on an old computer stand, that I have set at standing height. So I have to get out of my chair and off my behind to color, which is a good thing. I sit way too much.

So far I've used colored pencils, markers, and crayons. I like the dark and smoothness of the markers, but I can't make details with the markers as well as I can with crayons or colored pencils. After all, wit the latter two, all one must do is bear down a bit harder and it is as if there is an entirely different color, depending on pressure.

This is from a Dover coloring book called "A Walk in the Woods." I was hoping it would be similar to the Dover coloring books I have of wizards and goddesses, which have large spaces and less detail, but this coloring book is fairly detailed. I like to have a few wide spaces wherein I can simply concentrate on evening out the color and not worrying about detail. I worry too much about detail as it is.

In fact, there was an article in today's paper about how coloring is not just a "fad," that it can help one work through grief, or help people enjoy their passions because there are coloring books about everything, apparently. A visit to doverpublications.com reveals coloring books that are classic works, remakes of old movie posters, Gaugin paintings, fairy tales, flowers, patriotic colorings, dogs, nautical scenes, etc.

They do not, however, have a Lord of the Rings coloring book. Never fear, though, my dears - for you know how much I love Tolkien. There is a Lord of the Rings coloring book coming out, based on the movies, as of May 31. I have it on order, so expect to see colorings of Gollum, Frodo, Sam, and Gandolf over the summer months. I have not looked for one based on The Hobbit; I must remedy that.

I actually pulled up each bird and looked at it on the computer as I colored, turning around many times (for I color with my back to this thunderous machine) to see how the coloring was. Of course, real birds have much more detail and the colors blend, and I couldn't really do that, but I did my best. I think I am learning, and maybe this kind of creative effort is good for me. It is change, like playing music, something different for my brains to ponder.