Product Review For 'Coloring Notebook'

Hello All,

Recently I received an email from a company called 'Coloring Notebook' asking if I would mind reviewing their product. A week or so later I received my notebook. Up until now I haven't really gone in for the adult coloring craze, preferring a blank notebook to doodle and sketch in myself, however this differs from a normal adult colouring book because it also contains blank pages. You can choose from plain, lined or dot grid. I was sent a lined notebook. For what I would use it for I would probably choose plain but I like that you have the choice.

The notebook is A5, hard bound and the paper quality is nice, printed on 100g/m. It has 176 pages and a pocket at the back.

In amongst the blank pages are about 50 quite intricate designs for you to colour in. I think the designs are some of the nicest I have come across and are really varied. Here are a few of my favorite ones;

I couldn't wait to have a go and decided to try out a few different mediums. See the image below, from left to right the mediums used to colour in the trees are metallic pencil crayons, water colour crayons, fineliner pens, gel pens, and standard pencil crayons.

 I like both types of pencil crayons though there is very little difference between them, they went on smoothly. The water colour crayons is a good way to make the piece look painted however with the addition of water they did bobble the paper slightly. The fine liner pens went on nicely but did come through slightly. The gel pens went on like a dream and were really vivid. I did try a fibre tip felt tip on another page but that soaked straight through and hid a lot of the lovely details so I wouldn't recommend using them. I would stick to pencil crayons or gel pens both of which were lovely to use.

Here is an example of a page I completed with gel pens:

Next I really wanted to test the notebook out with a spot of art journaling. this is most likely what I would use it for so I wanted to see how it would cope with the addition of paint and ink etc.

  I coloured the feathers  in with pencil crayons then prepped the blank page opposite with gesso so the colours didn't soak through. Once dried I added acrylics and ink as well as a few stamps and some text. I was really pleased how this turned out and like how the journaling sat nicely in juxtaposition with the colouring.   Here is another example:

This was least favorite design as I have a fear of buttons but I decided to use that as part of the journal page. I only coloured in a portion of the buttons using pencil crayon (note the purple button which was the attempt with felt tip!) Again I prepped the opposite page with gesso and then added mixed media and a poem I wrote about my phobia. I really like how by art journaling with this notebook the designs act as prompts for the page. This is definitely how I will continue to use this product. I did enjoy the 'colouring in' aspect a lot more than I thought I would and found it very therapeutic. I think it helped that I really liked the designs. I think the combination of designs with the blank pages makes the product really versatile and I can see that it this would appeal to many people. I certainly would recommend this to anyone. 

If you would like your own here is the company's website ; https://coloringnotebook.com/

I hope you enjoyed this review and found it useful.

Bye for now xxx

Finished Painting - You are only as old as you feel.

Hello All,

I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed getting by teeth stuck into a portrait these last few weeks! It has been a challenge but I have loved it and it is always exciting to see them appearing in front of you as they take shape. Here is the final piece:

I wanted to keep the background quite simple but fun. When I came across the photograph I loved how despite initial appearances she is clearly young at heart, wearing her boppers. I hope I have managed to express this. I do believe it's true what they say... that you are only as old as you feel!

Bye for now xxx

Portrait Progress

Hello All,

Over the last few weeks I have been working on my new portrait and really enjoying it. It's been great getting back into painting a portrait and although its challenging I love seeing it take shape. I have taken some shots as I have been going along so you can see the progression. Here it is so far!

I am now on to the background which I am going to keep quite simple with a little texture and coloured with pigment powders. I hope you like her so far, I will post a final picture when it is finished.

Bye for now!

 xxx