A great video on how to start your own comic strip. This presenter has been physically drawing some comic strips for a while and decided to move into online comic strips. The video contains hints on frames, training videos you can watch, some Photoshop tips and thoughts on how to improve the comic strips. Enjoy watching.
As well as coloring, it can be interesting and useful to have a quote included in the coloring page. This particular quote is from Stephen Covey and it has a special meaning for me, in that I often finish off the small things before tackling the big things. I use this to keep me on task. The quote is: “The main thing is keep the main thing the main thing”.
Adult Coloring With Colored Pencils
Here is a great video on how to color your adult coloring books without them looking like your two-year-old got there first!
Try out your new knowledge with a free coloring page.
I am posting my coloring for adults test pages on here, to see which ones are liked best. You are welcome to download any or all of the pages for PERSONAL USE ONLY!
The pages are still copyright MythsofTime.com and you may NOT sell them or include them in any collections. You are however, free to download them for personal use. That means you could color them in as many times and in as many different ways as you want.
If you are a teacher, you can print out a copy for each pupil in your class, if there are pages that you think would benefit them. A parent can download and print out a page to keep each of their children coloring happily in the holidays or as part of a project for school work, if they want.
I printed some out the other day for young children and their babysitter wanted a copy for herself and she completed one too.
I would be very happy if you could comment below and tell me which page(s) you liked best, what worked for you and what didn’t and whether there are any changes you would make or suggestions for alternative pages. Please note that any comments or suggestions you make below will be in the public domain because they will be published and this site will have the right to publish your comment and make free use of any suggestions. If you don’t agree with that, then please do not comment. You are still however, welcome to download the pages for personal use only.
If you don’t know how to print out the pages, here are the instructions for Windows computers:
When adult coloring books first started coming out on the market, there was honestly some snickering going on in society. What prideful adult would possibly waste time sitting somewhere doodling like they were a child? Fortunately, some people were willing to try them, and in fact, many were wanting to do them. Coloring is one of the fondest memories many people have from their childhoods, and as adults get old enough to get nostalgic for their youth, adult coloring books give them the chance to go back in time.
Once you think about it, the concept starts making a lot of sense. The benefits and appeal to children are the same as for adults. Coloring is a chance to make something beautiful and creative happen right in front of you, giving you a sense of accomplishment in making something pretty and beautiful. Like all good art, it’s a chance to enjoy a creative outlet in a relaxing break from being always plugged in and on the go.
If you’re new to this though, whether you bought a book yourself or got one as a gift, you might be wondering what are the best coloring tools for adult coloring? It’s a rather subjective question, so keep reading to learn 4 primary contenders to consider, along with their advantages and disadvantages:
1) Markers
Pros of markers: If you are adult enough to suffer arthritis, carpal tunnel, or similar hand issues, then markers spare you a lot of the pressure needed to fill areas in completely. Markers also fill areas quickly, so coloring goes faster.
Cons of markers: You can count on markers to bleed through your paper. You might need to put barriers between pages in your coloring book to prevent the next page from getting saturated and ruined. Double-sided pages are often a lost cause on the back sides.
2) Watercolor Pencils
Pros of watercolor pencils: If you need to do things like blending, then watercolor pencils are great. You can add elements of realism to any colored picture using these.
Cons of watercolor pencils: These have a serious learning curve. Apply too much, and you get your paper soggy with colors running together. On the other hand, not enough water just winds up looking like any other colored pencil. Your images need to be on thick paper to start with, since thin pages are going to buckle when they are wet.
3) Gel Pens
Pros of gel pens: If you need to handle fine details or want fun options like glitter or metallic finishes, then these are a great way to go. When you are not actually coloring, you can use them to bring flair to shopping lists, honey-do notes, and even office memos.
Cons of gel pens: These kinds of pens often run out of their ink fast, so you’ll be going out and buying replacements pretty frequently. Some users note that gel pens don’t apply color equally under light pressure, even skipping spots.
4) Colored Pencils
Pros of colored pencils: These coloring utensils are among the easiest things in the world to use. You can also sharpen them to a fine point that’s useful in detailing images. Should you get an urge to get really fancy, you can mix these with anything from mineral spirits and paint thinner to baby oil.
Cons of colored pencils: You have to be mindful about not dropping these, since impact might break off their lead from the inside. You’ll also need a pencil extender if they get too short if you want to keep holding them comfortably. Also, if you have to layer colors, you might have to apply some pressure, which can wear down your hands over a long session of coloring.
Now that you know the 4 best coloring tools for adult coloring, sift through the benefits and potential drawbacks of each one, comparing them to your own preferences and budget, in order to figure out which one well serve your relaxation best. Options exist in each category from economical to premium options. If you want to save money, head for the kids section of a big box retailer, but if you’re looking for something nice, head for a dedicated arts and crafts store.
Adult Coloring To Overcome DepressionMany people do not really understand depression. It may be a dreadful problem,but some pals might not be as helpful if sadness is a persistent problem instead of originating from a particular incident.
But, whether or not it’s chronic depression that needs SSRIs along with other treatment or stress-caused depression which will begin to disappear as you cope with whatever incident induced it, there are certain things that can be done to help you feel much better.
This can be the time many articles or blog posts about depression begin discussing benefiting from physical exercise, heading outside, as well as healthy eating. It’s true that these may help you handle depression, that’s very clear. However, if you are depressed these may not help. If you can carry out those ideas, you would not be despondent to begin with!
Should you be depressed, there are a variety of things that can be done to help yourself. Stuff that you may really be ready to do, instead of factors you would have to not be depressed to do. Things such as watching light-hearted movies and television, taking a shower, and feeding yourself. Getting outside and getting some exercise may need more energy than you currently have, but if you can at least pull yourself into the shower, your body will begin creating chemicals that will boost your mood. Even getting out of bed and putting on a pair of shoes can help.
Another thing you can do is color. Adult coloring books have become all the rage these days and for good reason.
“Overcoming” depression may be a bit of a reach, but coloring can certainly help with the worst of the symptoms. Studies have shown that coloring can help reduce anxiety and increase focus.
How? And more importantly, how does this help with depression? There are several reasons coloring can help. First and foremost, it’s an incredibly simple physical act that none the less requires some amount of mental focus. This means it’s easy enough to do, allowing you to manage the act even when your depression is telling you that getting out of bed is the worst idea ever.
Secondly, as you color, your brain will immediately begin to focus more on creating the picture and less on how terrible you and your life are. It’s not that you’re no longer depressed, of course. It’s that the human brain is designed to create and notice patterns. Coloring a picture is nothing more than creating a pattern of colors. This triggers parts of your brain that can allow you to forget about your depression, at least for a bit.
Adult coloring isn’t as good as actual therapy, and should absolutely not be used in place of psychiatric medication. But for those with chronic depression it can provide a small bit of relief, even if only for a time. And for those with stress-induced depression, it really could be a major factor in overcoming the internal upset that causes the depression-like symptoms!
