Colouring books are something we first come to know when we are kids, carefulling choosing the colors and filling in the outlines with a great deal of concentration. But these are not just for children anymore! Recently, a lovely variety of “colouring books for adults” caught our eye! They are not what you might think they are. Simply, the practice and games found in these books have gradually evolved from kids’ stuff to things more suited to adults: drawing anatomy, colouring your favourite manga, folding coloured origami or even filling in the colours on a Nintendo DS! Time for PingMag to grab its colouring pencils and fill you in with some playful examples. How fun!
Written by Ryoko
Translated by Kevin Mcgue
Japanese release of “World Mandalas: 100 New Designs for Coloring and Meditation” by Madonna Gauding is supposed to have healing effects.
Healing Energy
Colouring books for adults have become popular in the last few years for their purported mental effects, helping people to reduce stress and relax. If you are up for giving it a try, we recommend the World Mandalas: 100 New Designs for Coloring and Meditation. The book includes designs based on religious and tribal mandala. Filling in these designs with colours has a strange calming effect, and it seems that once you’ve finished, you could probably analyse your mental state by the colour combinations that you have chosen. Let’s dive into this colourful world!
For the Elderly
Graphic designer, Mimiko Akiyama, has created a Song Colouring Book especially for the elderly (and we are can’t wait for the English release.) The book features illustrations based on old nursery rhymes and popular songs. Filling in the colours, thus moving your hands, and singing the illustrated songs are ways for the elderly to stimulate their minds. And we all have songs that we will hold in our hearts no matter how many years pass… We hope that when you retire, you will enjoy colouring these illustrations while singing songs that you hold dear.
Learn Anatomy!
Have you ever wanted to explore how the inside of your own body looks? An answer can be found in Coloring Guide to Human Anatomy by Alan Twietmeyer and Thomas McCracken. Originally, its illustrations were made for folks studying anatomy, and they make complex anatomical structures, such as the position of internal organs and the composition of muscles, easy to understand. Very detailed — and truly a must see!
The “Coloring Guide to Human Anatomy,” Japanese edition…
… with an illustration of arteries, veins, and organs in the chest. Intriguing!
For Techy Enthusiasts
Japanese model kit maker, Tamiya, offers popular kits for the boys. In collaboration with Nintendo DS, they have now produced an awesome electronic colouring book, Men’s Coloring Book that Awakens the Heart (we’re not sure about an English version yet.) This game features very realistic pictures of tanks and other military vehicles — for you to colour! Meaning the player begins by selecting various elements to create a picture, and then fills in the colours. Since everything is done with a touch pen, you can feel you are doing something a bit different than colouring with a real pen. And of course there is a sense of accomplishment when you finish the game!
Creative Class!
The London-based graphic designer, Roz Streeten, enlightens us with her series of Rosie Flo Coloring Books, which are pretty popular around the globe. However in this book, you are encouraged not only to fill in colours for the illustrations of the dresses, but also draw in their heads, feet, and arms to complete the picture. Use your imagination! This is really a great project for parents and kids to work on together.
At first, only the clothing and objects are included in the picture…
… and you have to complete the faces and bodies yourself.
The personality of the person colouring shows in the tone selection….
… and you can even make a story through the pictures.
From Eroica with Love
The manga From Eroica with Love was a big hit back in 1976. So, the author Yasuko_Aoike has responded to fan’s requests by making the Eroica Colouring Book (again, we only found the Japanese version — but this wouldn’t stop you, for sure.) This year, all of the illustrations of the main characters from the series, along with their gorgeous costumes, were newly created by Aoike. On the last page, there are additional costumes that are to be coloured in and cut out, to give Klaus and Dorian a change of clothes. Ah, 70’s flair, here we come! As you can see, Aoike was somewhat influenced by rock band Led Zeppelin…
70s hairdos: the “Eroica Colouring Book” by Yasuko Aoike.
Some gorgeous illustration!
These two main characters are waiting for you to dress them. By the way, Aoike was a big fan of Led Zeppelin who were inspirations for the looks of her characters.
Fill them in with any color you like!
Art!
Next, illustrator Kiyoshi Kuroda (we showed you a while ago) came up with the stunning Uncoloured.1. His illustrations feature plants and insects, and were done with illustrated reference books in mind — but in a grotesque style with Kuroda’s trademark use of lines. With a colouring book, the lines are already provided and you make this picture more pleasing to the eye by colouring these delicate lines. Even with the most simple line drawings, it becomes a collaboration with the artists who made them in the first place, and you, free to fill them in any way you like.
Kiyoshi Kuroda’ “Uncolored.1.”
Beautiful illustrations of girls, insects and plants…
…and some mushrooms…
Softly colouring the leaves gives it a slightly different mood.
Colour or Fold?
Finally, we have a delicacy for you, Colouring-Origami (we also showed you before) by Japanese design group “Onchu!” is compiling various creators: The marvellous book features unique illustrations of butterflies, insects, and more. Actually, the pages are origami paper, so after colouring in, they can be removed from the book and folded into 3D shapes for further decorating. The traditional origami art can be a lot of fun!
Oh, you surely must have found something appealing today for your next creative excursion! There are so many more out there and we didn’t have space to introduce them all. So, please look out for your favourite one!
23 Comments
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As of December 31, 2008, PingMag and sister site PingMag MAKE are both on extended hiatus, and will not be updated for the foreseeable future. We are eternally grateful for your fantastic support over the years.
Important Notice
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29 Dec 2008
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beautiful! here is my colouring book of Japanese street art from shibuya and kabukicho…..i do find it relieves stress :)
Posted by: s.kokubo on June 19th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
[...] ← Yo, Yeah! The History of Sampling, via algorythmusic Colouring Books with Adults in Mind & Electronic colouring (Men’s Coloring Book that Awakens the Heart) June 19th, 2008 / 0 [...]
Posted by: now » Colouring Books with Adults in Mind & Electronic colouring (Men’s... on June 19th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
The Mandala Design looks very inviting, I wish I could colour inside the lines…
Posted by: Andrei Sarusi on June 19th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
[...] Colouring Books with Adults in Mind By ryoko Colouring books are something we first come to know when we are kids, carefulling choosing the colors and filling in the outlines with a great deal of concentration. But these are not just for children anymore! … PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine… - http://pingmag.jp [...]
Posted by: Uncategorized | Books — Recycle Email on June 20th, 2008 at 2:41 am
i color all the time with my toddler and found myself wishing for such a thing as coloring books for adults. don’t get me wrong, i like coloring mickey, minnie, donald and goofy as much as the next guy, but once in a while it might be cool to color some tanks or the guys from led zeppelin. good stuff!
Posted by: marc on June 20th, 2008 at 3:58 am
Nice, nice, nice! I’m looking forward to having enough time for them in my last weeks of life! Or imagine one would use them as you did in your childhood… in the car (although I wasn’t allowed to because of the fear of hurting my eyes with the pens) or on the plane. One could also do them together with ones child(ren). Anatomy might be really exciting for them (and you save yourself some time in their puberty)! Nice!
Posted by: David on June 20th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
[...] children anymore! Recently, a lovely variety of “colouring books for adults” caught our eye! read more | digg [...]
Posted by: Colouring Books with Adults in Mind | WhiteSandsDigital.com on June 22nd, 2008 at 8:06 am
[...] PingMag profiles a trend in Japan which many in the West may not be aware of: adult colouring books. [...]
Posted by: Adult Coloring Books « BC ALL DAY….. on June 24th, 2008 at 2:00 am
[...] in het Uiterste Oosten (waar anders ?): kleurboeken … voor volwassenen ! Volgens het Japanse Pingmag grijpen we binnenkort en masse terug naar de kleurpotloden, wasco’s en stiften. Binnen de [...]
Posted by: Kleuren: van 8 tot 88 ? | CandyBlog (by NOCUS) on June 24th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I love this! I got professional colored pencils for Christmas last year as a gift from my fiance, and I thought everyone would laugh, but I think coloring is such a great, creative outlet! I’m glad to see that there are others who agree!
Posted by: Heidi on June 26th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
The anatomy coloring book was very helpful to many of us in nursing school. The great thing is that in involves both sides of the brain, making learning and retention easier.
Posted by: Mike Jack on June 27th, 2008 at 1:50 am
[...] can find a fabulous article here about the whole exciting topic. There are links to the books as well. Who knows….you might [...]
Posted by: Coloring books for adults? « Tales From An Open Book on July 9th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I have designed some coloring pages for adults and older children. What do you think? They can be colored on screen as well as hand colored.
Debbie Neale, Designer
Posted by: Debbie Neale on July 10th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Hi,
Just a comment on the adult coloring site. I’m a Teacher Aide at a High School and also like drawing. I have designed 40 advanced coloring pages for the students at school and have recently made a website http://www.clickncolour.com. Just in case anyone wants something different.
Posted by: Debbie Neale on July 10th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
[...] as an added bonus - article about adult coloring in the Japanese Ping Magazine. Share this: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where [...]
Posted by: doodlage » Friday Fun on July 12th, 2008 at 5:30 am
[...] Lähde: pingmag.jp [...]
Posted by: Japanissa uusi villitys: värityskirjoja aikuisille - Hilavitkutin.com - Uutisia tekniikasta, ilmiöistä ja hilavitkuttimista on July 14th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
[...] 15, 2008 coloring books are totally fun for adults! (via Free People) Posted in Websites [...]
Posted by: Adult Fun « Alicia Pernell on August 4th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
[...] stumbled across this website showing these Asian coloring books for adults which you have to check out. There’s everything [...]
Posted by: Adult Coloring Books | vince's ear on August 16th, 2008 at 3:41 am
[...] stumbled across this website showing these Asian coloring books for adults which you have to check out. There’s everything [...]
Posted by: Adult Coloring Books | vince's ear on August 16th, 2008 at 3:41 am
[...] PingMag profiles a trend in Japan which many in the West may not be aware of: adult colouring books. [...]
Posted by: Coloring Books with Adults in Mind | Selectism.com on November 26th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Very sorry to see that Uncolored1 and the Song Couloring book are not available yet. Not in Europe and not through the US. Waiting for someone to keep up with this trend.
Posted by: Lina on February 9th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
[...] Colouring books are something we first come to know when we are kids, carefulling choosing the colors and filling in the outlines with a great deal of concentration. But these are not just for children anymore! Recently, a lovely variety of “colouring books for adults” caught our eye! They are not what you might think they are. Simply, the practice and games found in these books have gradually evolved from kids’ stuff to things more suited to adults: drawing anatomy, colouring your favourite manga, folding coloured origami or even filling in the colours on a Nintendo DS! Read the full story>>> [...]
Posted by: Kevin Mcgue - Tokyo-Based Journalist & Filmmaker » Colouring Books with Adults in Mind on March 2nd, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Check out the Intermediate and Advanced Coloring Pages on this site as well as the different styles.
Have fun!
Sheri
Posted by: SMac on June 2nd, 2009 at 7:35 am