tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56075961101467348712024-03-17T20:02:41.144-07:00Gypsy MysteryExplore the artwork of Cristina McAllister. Her art combines decorative design, sacred art and symbols from diverse cultures around the globe into harmonious designs intended to inspire mindfulness, reverence and celebration. This blog features in-depth explorations of her work and the symbolism that inspires it.Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-80184282576102830082017-10-13T12:01:00.002-07:002017-10-13T12:01:17.477-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IbJG3CE0Zoo/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IbJG3CE0Zoo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
Visit:<br />
https://www.patreon.com/CristinaMcAllisterCristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-39223608109980749682017-10-13T12:00:00.001-07:002017-10-13T12:00:44.497-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d8mvwcJmjSU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d8mvwcJmjSU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Purchase the printed book on Amazon:<br />
<b>https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Beauties-Coloring-Book/dp/1977669719/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
or download the .pdf Digital Edition:<br />
http://www.gypsymystery.com/copy-of-magical-beauties-print-packCristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-46612692540707558782017-10-13T11:59:00.001-07:002017-10-13T11:59:12.226-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1BxY9vNosV4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1BxY9vNosV4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Visit:<br />
https://www.patreon.com/CristinaMcAllisterCristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-6791728582482919532017-10-13T11:58:00.001-07:002017-10-13T11:58:37.494-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QpSeshz-l2I/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QpSeshz-l2I?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
Visit:<br />
https://www.patreon.com/CristinaMcAllisterCristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-87553356018851434422017-10-13T11:57:00.001-07:002017-10-13T11:57:49.004-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i9.ytimg.com/vi/6LQ5gVmBkVY/default.jpg?sqp=CISYhM8F&rs=AOn4CLCPjR_E4nqGnDIteKe2u0erc0xJTg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6LQ5gVmBkVY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
Visit:<br />
https://www.patreon.com/CristinaMcAllisterCristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-9564277869990126082016-12-21T13:23:00.001-08:002016-12-21T13:24:46.064-08:00Lost Lumina #11 Time-lapse speed art video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_kljcEpDtq0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_kljcEpDtq0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br /><br />Watch as digital artist Cristina McAllister turns a rough sketch into an intricate coloring book page with Adobe Illustrator in this time-lapse video.<br /><br /><br />The original "Lumina Chronicles" Coloring StoryBook is NOW available on Amazon:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1523739460/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YJB40M8SFF6TJKKNHC0X">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/152...</a><br /><br /><br />or download the Print Pack and print out your own pages:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gypsymystery.com/lumina-print-pack-download">http://www.gypsymystery.com/lumina-pr...</a><br /><br /><br />"Lost Lumina #11" is for the upcoming sequel coloring book: "The Lost Lumina". Subscribe to follow along with the creative process!<br /><br /><br />Visit www.Gypsymystery.com for more info!Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-88911156866483683472016-09-18T18:13:00.000-07:002016-09-18T18:13:39.866-07:00Magical Beauties Tutorial: How to Use the Grayscale Areas to Create Dimension<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7IAzULtPtQXSt52fc8yfc7OrCk6NFkB-6rIkLmyISqdkYrnt714nJ6eutcYn7caIma6rcHeA5KIP8r5l5fwRUav6u7pdPFff1l_YoZyTezTSpARFC8GRk10FJnnEOqEVWfhO5C7kPx1p/s1600/MagicalBeautiesGrayscaleTutorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7IAzULtPtQXSt52fc8yfc7OrCk6NFkB-6rIkLmyISqdkYrnt714nJ6eutcYn7caIma6rcHeA5KIP8r5l5fwRUav6u7pdPFff1l_YoZyTezTSpARFC8GRk10FJnnEOqEVWfhO5C7kPx1p/s640/MagicalBeautiesGrayscaleTutorial.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<br />Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-72669456140210304762016-09-09T14:50:00.002-07:002016-09-09T14:53:26.952-07:00Magical Beauties Speed Art Video: "Fab Faun" Timelapse Coloring Page Creation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1Arr9UAx7Hc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Arr9UAx7Hc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<h3 style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
Click the "YouTube" logo in the video window to view at full size.</h3>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
I've been busily working to finish up my "Magical Beauties" book, and have been recording my desktop as I create each drawing. Most of them start with a hand-drawn sketch - sometimes it's just a very rough thumbnail to jot down some basic ideas - other times I'll refine the sketch with more details.</div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
The sketch is then scanned into my computer. I also often gather reference images of things I want to incorporate into the design. These are placed in an Adobe Illustrator file and I begin building my finished art by using Illustrator's Pen tool to draw lines and shapes. </div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
Each image is composed of many of these lines and shapes that are carefully tweaked and placed to create the final design.</div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
I use some simple grayscale shading to clarify the image, indicate depth and overlapping elements and offer colorists some guidance for tonal shading.</div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
Each image for "Magical Beauties" features naturally pleasing symmetry, plenty of opportunities for creative color play and striking characters that spark your imagination and result in gorgeous finished pages.</div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
The first half of this book in now available as a printable download at the following link:</div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="background-color: #331133; color: #26c1b8; font-family: "Droid Serif"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1em; position: relative;">
<a href="http://www.gypsymystery.com/magical-beauties-print-pack-1" style="color: #dd99bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Magical Beauties Print Pack #1</span></a></h2>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
When the second half is finished, I'll release Print Pack #2, and combine all of the images into a single print book that will be available on Amazon.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-38292742505589549072016-09-09T14:50:00.001-07:002016-09-09T14:51:19.620-07:00Magical Beauties Speed Art Video: "Warrior Chieftess" Timelapse Coloring Page Creation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BuW4oamCMsg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BuW4oamCMsg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<h3 style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
</h3>
<h3 style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
</h3>
<h3 style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
Click the "YouTube" logo in the video window to view at full size.</h3>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
I've been busily working to finish up my "Magical Beauties" book, and have been recording my desktop as I create each drawing. Most of them start with a hand-drawn sketch - sometimes it's just a very rough thumbnail to jot down some basic ideas - other times I'll refine the sketch with more details.</div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
The sketch is then scanned into my computer. I also often gather reference images of things I want to incorporate into the design. These are placed in an Adobe Illustrator file and I begin building my finished art by using Illustrator's Pen tool to draw lines and shapes. </div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
Each image is composed of many of these lines and shapes that are carefully tweaked and placed to create the final design.</div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
I use some simple grayscale shading to clarify the image, indicate depth and overlapping elements and offer colorists some guidance for tonal shading.</div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
Each image for "Magical Beauties" features naturally pleasing symmetry, plenty of opportunities for creative color play and striking characters that spark your imagination and result in gorgeous finished pages.</div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
The first half of this book in now available as a printable download at the following link:</div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="background-color: #331133; color: #26c1b8; font-family: "Droid Serif"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1em; position: relative;">
<a href="http://www.gypsymystery.com/magical-beauties-print-pack-1" style="color: #dd99bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Magical Beauties Print Pack #1</span></a></h2>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: #331133; color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
When the second half is finished, I'll release Print Pack #2, and combine all of the images into a single print book that will be available on Amazon.</div>
Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-86604981216007703052016-09-09T14:10:00.002-07:002016-09-09T14:41:56.979-07:00Magical Beauties Speed Art Video: "Fey Enchantress" Timelapse Coloring Page Creation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KYY7AxQyyY8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KYY7AxQyyY8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<h3>
<br />Click the "YouTube" logo in the video window to view at full size.</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've been busily working to finish up my "Magical Beauties" book, and have been recording my desktop as I create each drawing. Most of them start with a hand-drawn sketch - sometimes it's just a very rough thumbnail to jot down some basic ideas - other times I'll refine the sketch with more details.</div>
<div>
The sketch is then scanned into my computer. I also often gather reference images of things I want to incorporate into the design. These are placed in an Adobe Illustrator file and I begin building my finished art by using Illustrator's Pen tool to draw lines and shapes. </div>
<div>
Each image is composed of many of these lines and shapes that are carefully tweaked and placed to create the final design.</div>
<div>
I use some simple grayscale shading to clarify the image, indicate depth and overlapping elements and offer colorists some guidance for tonal shading.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Each image for "Magical Beauties" features naturally pleasing symmetry, plenty of opportunities for creative color play and striking characters that spark your imagination and result in gorgeous finished pages.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The first half of this book in now available as a printable download at the following link:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
<a href="http://www.gypsymystery.com/magical-beauties-print-pack-1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Magical Beauties Print Pack #1</span></a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When the second half is finished, I'll release Print Pack #2, and combine all of the images into a single print book that will be available on Amazon.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-45928028262319799702016-09-09T14:07:00.000-07:002016-09-09T14:33:04.927-07:00Magical Beauties Speed Art Video: "Dragon Shaman" Timelapse Coloring Page Creation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bibp7W3fKTc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bibp7W3fKTc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<h3>
<br />Click the "YouTube" logo in the video window to view at full size.</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've been busily working to finish up my "Magical Beauties" book, and have been recording my desktop as I create each drawing. Most of them start with a hand-drawn sketch - sometimes it's just a very rough thumbnail to jot down some basic ideas - other times I'll refine the sketch with more details.</div>
<div>
The sketch is then scanned into my computer. I also often gather reference images of things I want to incorporate into the design. These are placed in an Adobe Illustrator file and I begin building my finished art by using Illustrator's Pen tool to draw lines and shapes. </div>
<div>
Each image is composed of many of these lines and shapes that are carefully tweaked and placed to create the final design.</div>
<div>
I use some simple grayscale shading to clarify the image, indicate depth and overlapping elements and offer colorists some guidance for tonal shading.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Each image for "Magical Beauties" features naturally pleasing symmetry, plenty of opportunities for creative color play and striking characters that spark your imagination and result in gorgeous finished pages.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The first half of this book in now available as a printable download at the following link:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
<a href="http://www.gypsymystery.com/magical-beauties-print-pack-1" target="_blank">Magical Beauties Print Pack #1</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When the second half is finished, I'll release Print Pack #2, and combine all of the images into a single print book that will be available on Amazon.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-3972693964100724282016-07-19T11:37:00.001-07:002016-07-19T11:39:06.579-07:00New Release: Adult Coloring Book Treasury 2!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYvqmK_rGaIPXRw_YkBogliiclSirpplCWJ0nDWCfTaLQGzbrj7SBRFZOIVEn1A0bTWPH281ObfR2NYgaGXOzYTGhyphenhyphenDORbL5SLOSO7AP-kJlgXftETDgI8Z4DwB_PZkOjwD16O10JTxZG/s1600/13692746_10154155674165831_8016615378136906175_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYvqmK_rGaIPXRw_YkBogliiclSirpplCWJ0nDWCfTaLQGzbrj7SBRFZOIVEn1A0bTWPH281ObfR2NYgaGXOzYTGhyphenhyphenDORbL5SLOSO7AP-kJlgXftETDgI8Z4DwB_PZkOjwD16O10JTxZG/s320/13692746_10154155674165831_8016615378136906175_n.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm very excited to announce that the new Adult Coloring Book Treasury 2 is now available!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This book is a great way to discover new artists, and at only $6.89 for 130 images - it's an unbeatable value! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFYgLOVb5HZkUOEEzL_X2PLC7-RegnNDeBFDdeT1oBUDlu1AqE4Yk9RW_fV7E6fb1MpWY5ElD46B597gompFdfbOVPI_17iaSKnpdskR7wOjEUnSEiT4WpME-dGJ_l97dQP__9FfosIa9/s1600/13592265_1066298410115250_4252776582742604046_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFYgLOVb5HZkUOEEzL_X2PLC7-RegnNDeBFDdeT1oBUDlu1AqE4Yk9RW_fV7E6fb1MpWY5ElD46B597gompFdfbOVPI_17iaSKnpdskR7wOjEUnSEiT4WpME-dGJ_l97dQP__9FfosIa9/s320/13592265_1066298410115250_4252776582742604046_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've got two images in the book - one form my "The Lumina Chronicles" coloring book, and another from my new "Magical Beauties" print pack. </div>
<br />
Buy it now on Amazon:<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Adult-Coloring-Book-Treasury-Illustrations/dp/0997595922">https://www.amazon.com/Adult-Coloring-Book-Treasury-Illustrations/dp/0997595922</a>Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-31721556697059092002016-05-21T17:11:00.001-07:002016-05-27T20:58:55.432-07:00Adults Coloring – Why is This a Thing?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><i>An Actual, In-Depth Look at Why Thousands of People Are Coo-Coo
for Coloring</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">By Cristina McAllister </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><i>5/2016</i></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Adult” coloring books. It’s just a goofy fad, right? <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Just infantile escapism! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s just a way for people who don’t
have a creative bone in their bodies to feel good about themselves without
having to actually do anything creative…right???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ve been immersed in the Adult Coloring Book Phenomenon for about
a year now, and I’ve been paying attention. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve been thoughtfully observing both
my own experiences, and the expressed experiences of other colorists (a term
we’ve adopted to describe enthusiasts of artful coloring books). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most of the articles I’ve seen about this trend have been from the
outside – and they tend to not really get it at all. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Few of them even bother to actually
ask colorists about their experiences, instead opting to make assumptions and
then criticize based on those assumptions. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>How is that exploring anything?</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gypsymystery.com/#!coloring-books/uyow4" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRQHgzFQNwdCYxlPDrH9POscFJajAtFA192Z_OOOSoVUJ3O86vyAN1mQktrpeREmuNSSLV7-bqWcs8j5Eg7R2skpEkvpYHsWt4ZHfCWHUV1dZwZwk0Gzy8OVWlGVG2cUxdcW91YNGF7up/s640/ColoringBooks4.jpg" width="283" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The reality is that coloring is bringing a lot of joy to a lot of
people. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s allowing
people to explore their own creativity in legitimately beneficial ways. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s helping people cope with stress
in a healthy fashion – something most of us need in this overwhelming modern
world. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It is spawning
communities that provide social interaction, emotional support and an outlet to
share their ideas and creativity with others. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It is providing a fun, relaxing
activity that can be done alone, or with friends and family. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It is inspiring people to reach out to
others and share the joys they have discovered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A friend of mine spends her Sundays coloring with her
family. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>They turn off the
TV and phones, put on some music, pull out the coloring supplies and hang out
together, visit and color. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Mom,
dad, boys and girls, all unplugged and engaged in the present moment, enjoying
each other’s company, coloring pictures that they find beautiful or
interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coloring spans generations. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>There are mothers, daughters and
grandmothers coloring together. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And
it’s not just the ladies. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>At
this point, women do outnumber men – but that’s shifting. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Husbands are giving their wives’ hobby
a try and discovering that they get enjoyment and satisfaction from it as
well. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>More books catering
to more masculine or more broadly-appealing themes are being published. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>When you think about it, men often
have fewer socially acceptable creative outlets than women do. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>They deserve to pursue activities that
offer them stress relief and the satisfaction of creating something beautiful,
too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the books ARE beautiful. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>There has been an unfortunate glut of
low-quality “let’s jump on that bandwagon – quick!” books, but that doesn’t dim
the glorious, lush imagery of the good ones. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>These books are beautiful and fascinating
to begin with – and when you add the element of color, they become even more
spectacular.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beauty, in and of itself, can have positive psychological
effects. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Color, in and of
itself, can have positive psychological effects. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Art, in and of itself, can have
positive psychological effects. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Just
looking at colorful, beautiful art stimulates that same part of the brain that
processes pleasure, desire and love. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It
can inspire joy and wonder, uplift our spirits, boost mood and distract us from
relentless anxieties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ah-HA! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>So it<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>IS</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>just a distraction, then!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is indeed a distraction – but not JUST a distraction. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> Anxiety is a real thing. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Stress is a serious danger to our
health and it has become an epidemic. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Most
of us are overwhelmed - bombarded with responsibilities, expectations,
distressing media stories, too much work, not enough work, financial worries,
fears about the future. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Many
of us (myself included) suffer from bouts of anxiety and depression. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>These are the kinds of things that you
can’t just opt out of. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We
have to deal with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coloring is one (quite effective) way to cope with these things,
and it doesn’t have the side effects of pharmaceuticals or self-medicating
(although some colorists do indulge in a glass of wine while they color to add
a little flavor).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When you can’t fix the situation, but your brain still uselessly
worries and worries and worries about it – coloring can help distract that
pointlessly upsetting inner voice and get it to shut up, even for just a little
while. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>This is one aspect
of coloring that has been compared to meditation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don’t think coloring offers all of the benefits of a true
practice of mindfulness meditation, but it does offer some of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Quieting that inner voice is one BIG benefit. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Interestingly, it works because
coloring is NOT a mindless activity. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s
an actively engaging activity. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It
requires focus, patience, dexterity and lots and lots of thoughtful
choices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For many of us, having to make lots of choices can be
stressful. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>What makes
coloring different is that it offers a very low-risk opportunity to freely
explore our own ideas and choices. There are no Rules. There are no deadlines
or bosses directing you and making demands. You can do whatever you want! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It offers us a chance to play, to
explore, to try things and see what happens without the fear of terrible
repercussions.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6e9vZOfzVPCtdHaalMEa-9rInD9lnsu3aBCyB3A4qV7bzijgt6X2UUqgnyfRMR4HTxliOsinWyn1-H3wlxp8F-kg9ejiBKJ6X2iyFRXh52gmOEGRW4bjSsl-adNFbUSms8l19DijyYCv/s1600/SacredbeautyColorSamples001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6e9vZOfzVPCtdHaalMEa-9rInD9lnsu3aBCyB3A4qV7bzijgt6X2UUqgnyfRMR4HTxliOsinWyn1-H3wlxp8F-kg9ejiBKJ6X2iyFRXh52gmOEGRW4bjSsl-adNFbUSms8l19DijyYCv/s400/SacredbeautyColorSamples001.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Serenity Mandala" from the Sacred Beauty Coloring Book</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The power of play, exploration and experimentation is a revelation
to many adults. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>As
children, we are natural explorers, experimenters and creators. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>As we get older, we tend to have fewer
and fewer opportunities to engage in these things. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We get to feeling like we know how
things “should” be, and aren’t often encouraged to explore other
possibilities. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Our ideas
about who we are and what we are capable of calcify and stagnate. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s a shame, because all of those
things are fantastic for our brains, and can enrich our very sense of self, at
any age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coloring is an activity that, in its basic form, requires no
special talent and minimal skill. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Anyone
can fill in a shape with color. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>But
that minimal skill can be improved. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s
something you can get better at simply by exploring and trying new things and
practicing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An exchange I’ve seen countless times in Facebook Groups dedicated
to coloring goes something like this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Person A posts beautifully colored page with delicate shading and
color blends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Person B (who is usually a beginner): “You’re so talented! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I could never do shading or blending
like that!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Person A: “Thank you! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I
learned how to do it by watching this video tutorial and practicing.” (Posts
link to tutorial).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Person B: “Thank you! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ll
give it a try!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Later – Person B posts their fledgling attempts at blending and
shading. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>She hasn’t
mastered it yet, but she’s getting the hang of it. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Her fellow colorists admire and
encourage her, offer her tips, etc. Pretty soon Person B has, through her own
effort and the support of others, gotten pretty darn good at blending and
shading and is getting incredible satisfaction from her newly-honed skills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The satisfaction that comes from working at something until you
get it right is incredibly powerful, and empowering. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Purely through our own explorations,
experimentation and practice, we can get to know our colors, understand what
our mediums can and can’t do, and integrate new techniques into our arsenal of
skills. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We can transform
mysterious and intimidating art supplies into tools that we can use to express
ourselves and create beautiful things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is something artists (myself included) already know. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We understand the value and joy of
playing with colors and art tools. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It
is absolutely thrilling for me to see thousands of new people being introduced
to this aspect of creativity and self-empowerment through coloring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another thing artists know is that failure is not something to be
feared and avoided. Failure is something
that can teach you. Failure is something
you move through and learn from, an experience that helps you do it better the
next time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coloring allows just about anyone to experience many of the most
enjoyable aspects of creating art without actually having to devote their
entire lives to it. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It
involves a small set of basic skills that can be easily learned and improved,
if you want to.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKuUPKsTBEo&index=3&list=PLrso5_tHtNpkCUANx1Fq-kkSGbw7RMEYl" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1i1QWcJiXbqaa3d2mR0jhrwuS5vtZ-hvA_PSERvCRhxj-KNOl5Ok7ZdpbvpCBVkg7AvrtMzUdt9RBj7XKcf0y3Ut3VzWS3EQjC0htMh2XR07CWY2rLralegNGhJ9Lexl0RYODWCxH4DIn/s640/MezmandalaVideo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Video Tutorial</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Making color choices is also a skill that can be honed. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Colorists are learning about Color
Theory and how colors relate to each other and interact with one another. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>They are learning how to use contrast
to make things pop and analogous colors to create harmonious blends and
gradients. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They are flooding Facebook feeds with brilliant, beautiful, funny,
mind-boggling, charming, fantastic, uplifting images. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m not exaggerating when I say that
seeing all these colored pages every day not only delights me, but helps calm
and center me. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It helps me
find some balance when coming to terms with some of the other, negative and
distressing stuff that comes across my Facebook feed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another aspect of the coloring phenomenon that has impressed me is
the open sharing of techniques and the innovation of new ones. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>There are now a ton of videos on
YouTube that teach and demonstrate how to use various coloring mediums. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>There are many written tutorials
online. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>These are all free
resources that can enhance our coloring experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over the past year I have witnessed the innovation and sharing of
clever and inventive new coloring techniques. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>When I first read about someone
dipping their colored pencil tip into Vaseline, I was a bit skeptical. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>But when I tried it, sure enough – it
does melt the color a bit and makes it glide onto the paper more
smoothly. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Folks who didn’t
have a jar of Vaseline on hand began experimenting with other, similar
household items. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Would
coconut oil work as well? <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Lip
balm? <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>What if you rub it
into the paper instead of tip-dipping? <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>People
play and explore and experiment – results are shared and everyone finds what
works for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not only are colorists exploring traditional art mediums (as well
as the new coloring products now being made), they are experimenting with
applying other kinds of colorful things to their pages. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Using eyeshadow to create soft, pastel
effects has become popular. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Eyeshadow
you can buy at the Dollar Store for 99 cents! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Nail polish can be used to add
embellishing, dimensional dots. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s truly inspiring to me to see what folks are coming up with,
and sharing with enthusiasm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The coloring communities I participate in are overwhelmingly
positive, supportive, encouraging and respectful. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>They are populated by friendly and
generous people of all ages from all over the world and all walks of life. Some
of these Groups boast over 40,000 members!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most of the Groups have stated rules and active Admins who do not
tolerate negativity or meanness. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>There’s
no need or room for it. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>They
also tend to respect the artist’s rights and have brought a lot of awareness to
the issue of copyright and the legal and illegal use of artwork on the internet
(which is a huge problem for artists these days). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which brings me another awesome thing about the Coloring Phenomenon
– it’s giving independent artists a chance to publish their work and actually
sell it directly to people who really, really appreciate it at a wonderfully
intimate level. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s an
amazing thing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the Internet Age, images come cheap. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Why bother paying for stuff you can
look at online for free? <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s
a situation that has made it incredibly difficult to make a decent living
creating original art. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The
explosion of this genre has created a market that truly values the skill and
creativity of artists and is willing to pay for it. It’s made it possible for
people to support artists they admire without having to spend thousands of
dollars on original paintings or expensive prints.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> And it’s not just a passive
experience of merely<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>looking</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>at the artwork – it’s a participatory
experience of actually being a part of a creative process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s also a genre where artists and colorists can communicate
directly with one another, effectively shaping the experiences
together. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Artists are
participating in online communities, asking what themes and styles colorists
want and creating books that fill those niches. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Some of these books are published by
established book publishers, but there is also a new, growing industry of
self-publishing artists that are able to get their books out there on their
own, utilizing crowdsourced funding and/or print-on-demand platforms like
Createspace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Colorists are buying those books, loving them, and promoting them
through sharing their colored pages -<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> allowing
the artists to earn more money, which allows them to create more new imagery
for colorists to enjoy. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s
a thriving ecosystem where everyone wins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I truly believe that coloring is a creative collaboration between
the artist and the colorist. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>One
of them starts the picture and the other finishes it. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The unique combination of skills and
choices creates a distinctive work of art, every time an image is colored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coloring celebrates diversity. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The variety of interpretations of a
single image is fascinating to me. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I
have seen dozens of versions of a single picture, and each one has its own
unique and wonderful sense of color, style and mood. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>So often, I’ll see color choices that
I would have never thought to make and they turn out to be dazzling. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8VYjhi_V1RSOs39Z1qNCgkKcKLt7ev55RjSYZVuCG9cASRMflfdu5FJWzKmF0mX7UL-3yE4DuXthskiPCY3_SIOxNcEX-n4_bfDKLG3fbeif2g8oMxDfs2xe86oVmUwJellVbPxmTrIm/s1600/ColorWheelWM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8VYjhi_V1RSOs39Z1qNCgkKcKLt7ev55RjSYZVuCG9cASRMflfdu5FJWzKmF0mX7UL-3yE4DuXthskiPCY3_SIOxNcEX-n4_bfDKLG3fbeif2g8oMxDfs2xe86oVmUwJellVbPxmTrIm/s320/ColorWheelWM.png" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Wheel Page from The Lumina Chronicles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is room for everyone here, from the beginner to the expert
and everywhere in between. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>There
are people interested in designs that are whimsical or wicked, realistic or
way-out. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>There are books
that appeal to the devoutly faithful, and books that amuse the irreverently rebellious. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>There are coloring pages that offer
easy-breezy, elegant simplicity and books that offer mind-bogglingly intricate
challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> For some people, it’s enough to stick to the basics, and
that’s a-okay. There are No Rules. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Do
what makes you happy! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Truth be told, even the most basic aspects of coloring can be
almost magically satisfying.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> This
effect can be most powerfully felt when coloring abstract designs like mandalas
and repeating patterns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> There is something about flowing your color into a space and
filling it up. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s
addictive. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Once one space
is filled in, the next space must be filled in. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You’ve started down a path and now you
want to see where it’s taking you. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You
want to see what it’ll look like if you put this color here and that color
there. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You want to see how
alternating two colors will turn out. Sometimes you get stuck. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You’re not sure which way to go. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>But eventually you just pick a color
and get on with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> It can feel just the tiniest bit dangerous, because there’s
an element of unpredictability to how things will turn out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Often, at some point, I’ll begin to have doubts that my color
scheme is working. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Maybe I
shouldn’t have used that reddish brown there...? <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>But 9 times out of 10, if I push through
my doubts and keep working on it, it’ll all come together beautifully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For me, there is a magical moment – when the last white space has
been filled in and suddenly the image is Whole and Complete. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The interplay of shapes and colors
comes together into a harmonious rhythm, a dance of beautiful balance that
creates Order from Chaos. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>All
my doubts melt away, and any little mistakes just disappear as I shift my focus
from all the little details - to experiencing the page as a cohesive and
complete image. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It is a
legitimate and gratifying act of creation – even if I didn’t draw the picture
myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To my mind, this is a lovely little reinforcement of some
valuable things to nurture; perseverance, patience, making a leap of faith,
overcoming self doubt, pushing through fear of failure, learning from things
that didn’t work out, not letting it stop you from moving forward, “older and
wiser”. <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span>I
also see in it the truth that this kind of pure beauty is not diminished by
imperfection or flaws. <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span>Coloring is a kind of journey, and it can be
so much more than merely “staying in the lines”. But that might just be me
waxing poetic and perhaps over-thinking things again.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikION4qaM_iM8GPpM3spx0FNq9XVUXN8r4WnQcuWqTDCj3tYlSARrEdoHCY-9bCDNzki3bspz-p_s9SFKVbzjKW9xT1UGb_osAItHjptEZPrMS2YdiCJh8vDzaq-S4zMlUH5vAChduz3qC/s1600/LuminaSamples3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikION4qaM_iM8GPpM3spx0FNq9XVUXN8r4WnQcuWqTDCj3tYlSARrEdoHCY-9bCDNzki3bspz-p_s9SFKVbzjKW9xT1UGb_osAItHjptEZPrMS2YdiCJh8vDzaq-S4zMlUH5vAChduz3qC/s320/LuminaSamples3.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From The Lumina Chronicles coloring book</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even if all of us don’t find deep insights and profound lessons in
coloring…it’s still fun! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s
relaxing. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s
satisfying. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s something
to do with our free time doesn’t involve sitting passively in front of a screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, a recent development of the genre has brought up an
intriguing point. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>There are
now apps that you can use to color. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>With
a few taps or clicks, you can add your chosen colors to digital images on your
computer or mobile device. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>While
I have seen some lovely results from these apps, discussions about them have
revealed that for most people, the digital version of the activity clearly does
not capture the depth of experience that coloring by hand does. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Working with our hands, using actual tools to create, connects the
mind and the body. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It
stimulates our brains, nerves and muscles. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It promotes dexterity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have even heard stories of people with injuries who have used
coloring as a form of physical (and mental) therapy while recovering. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>One woman recovered the use of her
hands and arms after paralysis left her unable to lift them. People with
chronic pain have reported that coloring helps them manage their pain. People
who are bedridden with illness or injury have found that coloring helps
alleviate their physical suffering and frustrating boredom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">People suffering from severe chronic disease, anxiety, depression,
OCD, ADHD, PTSD (look at all those acronyms for things that greatly reduce the
quality of life for millions of people, and are also notoriously difficult to
treat)…are finding solace and relief in the simple application of color to
black and white (or grayscale!) pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s truly astonishing and almost miraculous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many colorists report the experience of time flying by, everything
else fading away as they get lost in their work, intent upon their colorful
endeavors. Coloring is one way of inducing an altered state of consciousness
that can sooth our psyches and reduce our awareness of physical pain. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>This is commonly known as “Getting in
the Zone”, and it can be experienced during all kinds of activities; playing
sports or exercising, dancing, singing, solving puzzles, making or listening to
music, making art, crafting, reading, writing. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Just about anything in which you can
fully engage your attention and intention can create this “Flow State”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When we reach this state of consciousness, our brains actually
start working differently. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Our
brainwaves shift frequency. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Our
patterns of blood flow and neural activity alter, integrating our subconscious
and conscious minds, allowing us to tap into our intuition and explore novel
ideas. We also tend to slow our breathing and relax. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Awareness of time, discomfort and
worries drop away.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> This is
a state of enhanced creativity, clarity and often, bliss. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It has been an essential component of
many ingenious innovations, brilliant works of art and extraordinary human
achievements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is very real, it is very fun, and it has concrete
benefits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’ve managed to reach this state , ever-so-briefly, through
meditation. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>But meditation
is hard for me. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Like,
REALLY hard. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Getting my
inner voice to shut up for more than a few seconds is ridiculously difficult,
and often impossible. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>My
brain does not seem inclined to rest. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>But
when creating, making art, letting my imagination take flight…I can access the
Flow Zone with relative ease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My theory is that coloring, unlike meditation, doesn’t ask you to
try to do something as infamously difficult as turn off your thoughts. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It just allows you to focus
them. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It gets your inner
narrator to cooperate with you on a single, chosen task instead of letting it
drag you down into useless worries, doubts and painful ruminations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For some of us, this is a true blessing. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It can give us some mental rest, help
us clear our minds, offer us moments of peace. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And when you are finished, you have a
beautiful picture to enjoy and take pride in. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You have the satisfaction of
completion. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You have a
unique work of art that makes you happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I haven’t even mentioned the sometimes delirious excitement of
getting new coloring supplies (so full of colorful potential!), or the soothing
contentment of organizing your colors into glorious rainbow order (or whatever
order you want), or the warm glow of receiving admiring comments on a page
you’ve colored and posted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think there might be as many ways to enjoy coloring as there are
people who color. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>There’s a
vibrant, shining spectrum of goodness to dive into and explore. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>For some it’s a passion, for other’s a
casual hobby. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>But everyone
who has found enjoyment, relaxation, creative inspiration and even healing
through coloring understands that color can make life a little brighter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So to those who consider coloring an infantile escape, or a
pointless distraction, I invite you to grab a coloring book and some colored
pencils or markers or gel pens and give it a try. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You might discover (and create)
something beautiful.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cPJ9Kbwj6Ts2KAZChrAOLYRX_gPU915iCEVsyNSH-Nc33v0isQkfed1lz4xQDvr_BJiehXSZpjnN7s4SPanML4hQaLSiB0rdHaLHm7oo0bxDfdbaZBv05s8v8tF6m7pbdLu-qzUAOCmM/s1600/EtsySamplePage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cPJ9Kbwj6Ts2KAZChrAOLYRX_gPU915iCEVsyNSH-Nc33v0isQkfed1lz4xQDvr_BJiehXSZpjnN7s4SPanML4hQaLSiB0rdHaLHm7oo0bxDfdbaZBv05s8v8tF6m7pbdLu-qzUAOCmM/s400/EtsySamplePage.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from the Sacred Beauty coloring book</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you a grown-up coloring book fan? Have you experienced some of these things? Do you have any other experiences or benefits to share that I haven't mentioned here? Please comment below!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some references and relevant articles to explore:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.jirotaylor.com/flow-habits/brain-flow-part1">http://www.jirotaylor.com/flow-habits/brain-flow-part1</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://simonekeiran.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/beautiful-art-produces-positive-physiological-effects-on-viewers/">https://simonekeiran.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/beautiful-art-produces-positive-physiological-effects-on-viewers/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-43322814231423292402016-05-20T13:58:00.001-07:002016-05-20T13:58:25.223-07:00Coloring Secrets by Cristina McAllister<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLrso5_tHtNpkCUANx1Fq-kkSGbw7RMEYl" width="425"></iframe>Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-59128204326690992572016-05-12T15:35:00.000-07:002016-05-12T15:46:53.874-07:00Interview on Self Discovery Radio About Adult Coloring!A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to be interviewed about the Adult Coloring Phenomenon and my journey as an artist on Self Discovery Radio:<br />
<br />
<h4 style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: 'droid serif', georgia, serif; font-size: 1.1538rem; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 17.307px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 17.307px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #ead1dc; font-family: inherit; font-size: 17.307px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://selfdiscoveryradio.com/about-us/" style="background-color: #4c1130;">Self Discovery brings you insightful, liberating, intuitive people from around the globe.</a></span></em></strong></h4>
<div>
I was pretty nervous at first, and my voice sounds a little weird because I kept forgetting to breathe! </div>
<div>
But the hosts were very cool and made me feel at home and I think we had an interesting conversation. I was very happy to have the opportunity to express some of the things I've discovered and really love about coloring.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can listen to Part 2 here. This is the part where we get to talking about coloring:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/263351556&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<br />
This is Part 1, which focuses on my journey as an artist:<br />
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<br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/262218304&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<br />
This page aggregates a bunch of info and links about me and my work, including some stuff about Calliope The Wonder Wagon, a gypsy wagon that my husband and I built together:<br />
<br />
https://selfdiscoveryradio.com/2016/04/30/16-19-the-gypsy-mystery-and-calliope-the-wonder-wagon-with-cristina-mcallister-pt2/<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy the listen and that I did a good job representing the Coloring Community.<br />
<br />Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-69372318052646016002016-05-07T16:09:00.000-07:002016-05-07T16:28:33.697-07:00Creating A Coloring Book- Part 3: From Sketch to Finished Artwork<i style="color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: magenta;">I’m working on my next coloring book, and I thought it might be fun to document the process on my blog as I go along. </span></i><br />
<i style="color: #ffeef8; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">In <a href="http://cristinamcallister.blogspot.com/2016/03/creating-coloring-book-part-2-perfect.html">Part 2</a>, I talked about my process of conceptualizing my book and exploring what ideas I wanted to include in it, and designing my world and the characters that inhabit it. During that phase, I produce a lot of sketches of my ideas and page compositions that come to me.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Here in Part 3, I'll be transforming my sketches into finished artwork.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">My method for this is to scan my hand-drawn sketches into my computer and then basically trace over them and add to them by creating vector art in Adobe Illustrator.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> Er...what kind of art...?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpgrdBz3jyXTknKQmjDaXGiy2SRawORTxKAFyq1f4-rYY2Pt22lXnjPL1J01gj4-BMxEXu97mvJFEdF1q3gx0UgnHl-j1rSI0GxApQTntzQEHISqPTEnzTdMzy_nEj8MhF9V8AcRdkokc/s1600/vector_raster.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpgrdBz3jyXTknKQmjDaXGiy2SRawORTxKAFyq1f4-rYY2Pt22lXnjPL1J01gj4-BMxEXu97mvJFEdF1q3gx0UgnHl-j1rSI0GxApQTntzQEHISqPTEnzTdMzy_nEj8MhF9V8AcRdkokc/s400/vector_raster.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://signalizenj.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/vector-vs-raster/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">So -there are two general kinds of 2D digital image - pixel (aka raster or bitmapped) and vector. Pixel images are made up of tiny squares of color (pixels) on a grid, that create an image. Vector images are made of...er...math...? It's difficult to describe. It's just magic, okay?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Here's a better explanation:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/32597/whats-the-difference-between-pixels-and-vectors/">http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/32597/whats-the-difference-between-pixels-and-vectors/</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">On a practical level, what it comes down to is that when you want to create or alter a pixel image, you </span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">would use a brush tool to lay down colored pixels, and an eraser tool to eliminate pixels. It's similar to painting with actual paint. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iOqVChFGuz3sVjR2cQpKMJfGycLiKP17wT-7c3V7lKNJRuMBzQ2zErYIa3qrfMX300LUaQL9tmjiFkukvHqmr6H4NrxKa1PRrhaofpstwnV2vRnJQSVXwiIRXeejy_Mxz9YKEaeplM6G/s1600/VectorsinProgress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iOqVChFGuz3sVjR2cQpKMJfGycLiKP17wT-7c3V7lKNJRuMBzQ2zErYIa3qrfMX300LUaQL9tmjiFkukvHqmr6H4NrxKa1PRrhaofpstwnV2vRnJQSVXwiIRXeejy_Mxz9YKEaeplM6G/s640/VectorsinProgress.jpg" width="499" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">In a vector image, each line and shape is a separate entity that can be manipulated in a variety of different ways without having to erase and redraw. You can change an entire shape's color with a single click, as opposed to having to select and paint pixels. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">You can very easily move things around, manipulate lines, adjust and tweak and experiment until you get it perfect. You can also very easily do things like duplicate shapes and flip them, which is very handy for </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">creating symmetrical images, which I love. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> A picture is built by creating and layering these individual, fully-editable shapes and lines.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">It basically gives me complete control over every aspect of the image, and allows me to experiment and adjust things along the way. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSkA1C_nhLy8DbUty_ui8KMivJT3oLMMRfABv3MNauMphjLqutJJdCCJrex40LXI74laPrT3q2MCruQvZq8w9hSy9xLm3QKfpQ4v-Qewqkbqym3sElxtZM6n4UaTUJz8rh6ewYUDrG5AY/s1600/MeditationSteps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSkA1C_nhLy8DbUty_ui8KMivJT3oLMMRfABv3MNauMphjLqutJJdCCJrex40LXI74laPrT3q2MCruQvZq8w9hSy9xLm3QKfpQ4v-Qewqkbqym3sElxtZM6n4UaTUJz8rh6ewYUDrG5AY/s640/MeditationSteps.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand sketch - Final artwork - Coloring test</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Vector images are generally more "graphic" in style - smooth lines and gradients, more precise and "clean" looking, while pixel images tend to be more "painterly" - textured, can have "brush strokes" and mimic photos and traditional art techniques and mediums. Having said that - there are artists doing photo-realistic and/or painterly work with vectors and very graphic work with pixels - artists tend to do whatever they want with their tools!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">But for me, creating an image with vectors is a very enjoyable process that results in very satisfying final images. And it works very well for coloring book art because you can get lovely smooth lines and shapes for colorists to fill in.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6LYzyPp3b-QIM5S0sUNvWBbW2i12SnGZEa5RrAgj1gmocleQ6UjnwhM0MmcmnKdMD3mzPlUP5-efSLIOhy8NjTLpFrRikH3-qE-sCJ0-gvHKgPz04-FWosxVBsuM-iGVgmqqsSXVdV2Y/s1600/GoddessSteps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6LYzyPp3b-QIM5S0sUNvWBbW2i12SnGZEa5RrAgj1gmocleQ6UjnwhM0MmcmnKdMD3mzPlUP5-efSLIOhy8NjTLpFrRikH3-qE-sCJ0-gvHKgPz04-FWosxVBsuM-iGVgmqqsSXVdV2Y/s640/GoddessSteps.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one started with a VERY rudimentary sketch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">The level of detail that I put into my initial hand-drawn sketches varies a lot. Sometimes I'll just do a super basic, almost stick-figure-level sketch that does little more than indicate a basic pose or composition. In those cases, I already have the rest of the details pretty firmly in my mind and feel confident that I can fill out the drawing on the computer without needing much guidance from a detailed sketch.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Other times, I'll spend a lot of time on a sketch - working on poses, filling in little details, refining things and exploring with my pencil at that stage. Some sketches are a mixture of detailed and rudimentary visual "notes to myself". Sometimes I'll include actual written notes to myself like "shorten neck", or "mandala wings" or "Healer making medicine w/ plant's help. Scientific stuff! Lots of bottles and jars". </span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> I just want to create a foundation upon which to build my vector shapes.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSg2tEo02wCpzFh0n1xLaopRrFoyvjTpUHdRIUEoH7Mau80zQx4BkK47JZYnkwrG8wJHZw9i-CrxJMzzfUNTj-8pwzFH5Gg9NRmGW6Ca0dBm-LD4hG1-V0OXltJ6FKZpou7v3VvKzMuL8C/s1600/SpringQueenSteps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSg2tEo02wCpzFh0n1xLaopRrFoyvjTpUHdRIUEoH7Mau80zQx4BkK47JZYnkwrG8wJHZw9i-CrxJMzzfUNTj-8pwzFH5Gg9NRmGW6Ca0dBm-LD4hG1-V0OXltJ6FKZpou7v3VvKzMuL8C/s640/SpringQueenSteps.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">After I scan them in I'll often do a bit of tweaking in Photoshop. Sometimes something needs to be a bit taller or wider than I originally sketched it, a limb needs to be a little longer or shorter, or maybe I'll adjust the size and angle of the head. I can do this quickly in Photoshop (which is a pixel-based program, btw. The sketches are converted into pixel images when I scan them.), by "cutting out" a part of the sketch and rotating it or adjusting the size. It chops up the drawing and makes it look crappy, but nobody but me is seeing that stage. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">For symmetrical images, I'll usually just sketch out half of the drawing, then in Photoshop I can copy that half and flip it to create the mirror-image half. Easy peasy! </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16yFypV3yFdL5Lei2O0qVJguAFETEM7cR8BIqbfyNkkLNSC9LpozMAiEeM-sG_obyAkeV4hdX_z1ivZG1201KBP9GjqRiXOXyQI1-NSmTSRHm_urx7bMGFKer47uiqrkzWTay7_kfP0ih/s1600/CastleSteps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16yFypV3yFdL5Lei2O0qVJguAFETEM7cR8BIqbfyNkkLNSC9LpozMAiEeM-sG_obyAkeV4hdX_z1ivZG1201KBP9GjqRiXOXyQI1-NSmTSRHm_urx7bMGFKer47uiqrkzWTay7_kfP0ih/s640/CastleSteps.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Symmetrical image - only sketch half and mirror it </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">I open the sketch in Illustrator and put it on a separate Layer that I can turn on or off, make transparent, etc. Layers are kind of like transparent sheets of paper stacked on top of each other that you place your shapes on. You can make each layer invisible or change it's transparency, lock it to "freeze" it so you can select other things without effecting that layer, move it around in the stack to move things above or below other things. Layers are wonderful things!</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Then I start building up my image on different layers. For the art in this book, I've generally been organizing my layers into Foreground, Midground and Background. Using layers helps to keep things organized, makes it easier to navigate all the shapes and can help to create a sense of depth.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Sometimes I stay very faithful to my original sketch, but more often than not, some ideas are tossed, new ideas come up. Sometimes I try several different options until I find the one that works. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">This phase is the most labor and time-intensive. It's me spending hours making lots of little things and putting them exactly where I want them until the artwork looks finished to me.</span> </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Once I get everything in place and it looks good, I'll print it out on my laser printer and test-color it. I've found that this step is really valuable. It helps me catch any mistakes or weirdness that I might have missed and gives me a feel for how well it colors. Is there too much open space in this area? Are these shapes way too tiny to color? Is the image legible - can you tell what things are? </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">Also - I get to color! :D</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">As I color, I'll make little notes on the back about any mistakes I've caught or changes I want to make, then go back into the vector image and correct them.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<span style="background-color: black;">And that's that! Artwork finished! And then I do it 24-30 more times with the rest of my sketches!</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
Next step - Layout! (stay tuned for Part 4!)</div>
<div style="text-indent: 48px;">
<br /></div>
Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-2030268193997869932016-04-20T13:42:00.000-07:002016-04-20T14:06:23.031-07:00A Glimmer In The DarknessI'm still plugging away at my Utopian paradise (see previous entries: "<a href="http://cristinamcallister.blogspot.com/2016/03/creating-coloring-book-part-1-i-am.html">Creating a Coloring Book Parts 1</a> & <a href="http://cristinamcallister.blogspot.com/2016/03/creating-coloring-book-part-2-perfect.html">2</a>), but I've been waylaid by another idea for a book, and got super inspired, so I've been focusing on that recently. <br />
<br />
That's one of the perks of self-publishing...I can switch up my projects if I want to because no one is imposing deadlines on me. Yay! I've finally gotten to the point where I have the luxury of working on the things that are actively stimulating my creativity - which truly does bring out my best work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmIS3-N0ib6WtsnMkHA32cjFfANVQD7IS3HvTjMZgAwaipObZi7g4qGNhh_IplBvkDxCCNbr6uwPPjGM1NYLsHk5wV2GUHc9oQOIZWkJCB89D_mKazlhGKIXKZdDqaaJ7LHPRKr4k0Bz1/s1600/20160420_124915.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmIS3-N0ib6WtsnMkHA32cjFfANVQD7IS3HvTjMZgAwaipObZi7g4qGNhh_IplBvkDxCCNbr6uwPPjGM1NYLsHk5wV2GUHc9oQOIZWkJCB89D_mKazlhGKIXKZdDqaaJ7LHPRKr4k0Bz1/s400/20160420_124915.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
I've been seeing a lot of gorgeous pages from the "Midnight" books: "Midnight Mandalas", "Midnight Garden", etc. What makes them distinctive is their black backgrounds, which really make the colors pop! The results are so striking, I got to thinking that it would be fun to try my hand at something along those lines.<br />
<br />
I've also been hearing requests for simpler images with bigger colorspaces, for folks who get hand fatigue or have trouble seeing the super-intricate stuff (both of which I also experience), or for those who aren't into getting really fancy and/or want something quick and easy-breezy, but that still turns out beautiful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3XVL5GGJcn2dfjTMgicu4Qra4Q3J73T-ithEk_BX6sFHn0J4tzRPwsCMEPB5y7TL_FYWG79OmPDff2fmkDlxhDpKEe2au_zDi6cffWg_PNg07tf_7R-Hmfh_0oT_fW2EU0fmbzSBX-Fd/s1600/20160420_131221.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3XVL5GGJcn2dfjTMgicu4Qra4Q3J73T-ithEk_BX6sFHn0J4tzRPwsCMEPB5y7TL_FYWG79OmPDff2fmkDlxhDpKEe2au_zDi6cffWg_PNg07tf_7R-Hmfh_0oT_fW2EU0fmbzSBX-Fd/s400/20160420_131221.png" width="315" /></a></div>
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Turns out, coloring with transparent colors (such as markers and most gel pens) over a page with a lot of black facilitates these attributes because you don't have to "stay in the lines" when the shapes are surrounded by black. Thicker lines in between colorspaces also has this effect. So I've been utilizing those principles when designing pages for this book.<br />
<br />
I'm playing with creating elegant, stylized images with simple shapes and lines.<br />
<br />
My basic theme is "things that glow", and there's a lot of variety within that category to explore! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqz4YTrq5kPJtv8poPDid0bBaMNUT-0geafXI8t4WU3YhL8mZnwrO2yP6u-FOWgLTx9mZsvKPcmKYHP-VHf-S_ZQRMkHytlItp5HLHt5oCU-mJ8l7n5WeTTZDAAylQchn7UJcDCezYZOL/s1600/20160420_131419.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqz4YTrq5kPJtv8poPDid0bBaMNUT-0geafXI8t4WU3YhL8mZnwrO2yP6u-FOWgLTx9mZsvKPcmKYHP-VHf-S_ZQRMkHytlItp5HLHt5oCU-mJ8l7n5WeTTZDAAylQchn7UJcDCezYZOL/s400/20160420_131419.png" width="302" /></a></div>
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There are a few pages with some more intricate bits, but even those can be simplified by coloring multiple spaces a single color - and they still look great. Also - if you DO want to get more elaborate with them, you can certainly use your colored pencils to do blends, or get in there with your gel pens and add doodly bits to embellish. <br />
<br />
I've been enjoying the effect of doing most of my basic coloring with markers (I've been using Crayola Supertips), and then using gel pens over that to outline things with metallic, or add some glittery sparkle to some areas. <br />
<br />
I may do a video about the techniques I've found that create cool effects on these pages.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOeJvn7rXA_tP51L39G2eA3JtH0OP0xBWRiS9YVO_esuywiLTlK7bDq7n6We4-_gDNOKKI6-42LfhMKws_ZsF0SBHMG9Js63Gjyfs0Lv86hM6KvFilEgz9IJtFaar94oRBrFZxXDhsOMQ/s1600/20160420_124459.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOeJvn7rXA_tP51L39G2eA3JtH0OP0xBWRiS9YVO_esuywiLTlK7bDq7n6We4-_gDNOKKI6-42LfhMKws_ZsF0SBHMG9Js63Gjyfs0Lv86hM6KvFilEgz9IJtFaar94oRBrFZxXDhsOMQ/s400/20160420_124459.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The artwork is also going fairly quickly, since they are simpler compositions. It's a nice break from the more elaborate artwork I've been doing, which takes a long time! I've got about half the drawings done so far, and I think they are turning out pretty cool!<br />
<br />
What do you guys think? Would you enjoy coloring these images?<br />
Let me know in the comments!<br />
<br />
<br />Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-12534196374018612312016-03-24T17:30:00.001-07:002016-04-07T20:46:01.072-07:00Creating a Coloring Book - Part 2: A Perfect World<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="background-color: #4c1130; color: #c27ba0;">I’m working on my next
coloring book, and I thought it might be fun to document the process on my blog
as I go along. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In <a href="http://cristinamcallister.blogspot.com/2016/03/creating-coloring-book-part-1-i-am.html">Part 1</a>, I talked about some
stuff that inspired me and got me thinking about creating a fun, beautiful world
that people could escape into for a bit and fill with their own colors.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I started out by sketching some
colorful critters. I wanted to create
some interesting characters that had personality and charm, and would also be
fun to color. I started thinking about
colorful animals, or interesting parts of various creatures that I could
combine into something new. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Things like: butterfly wings, curly
antenna, floppy ears, giraffe spots and other patterns and markings, feathery/leafy/curly/fluffy tails, feathers and feathered wings, chameleon
skin, fins, glowing angler fish lures, fat elephant feet, big, glowy, shiny eyes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosIg3V_0o-lMitTrJ-fqg62vFtJMXKEVlt698kaeJjc5dUNahOUt7_Jdd87VFOLpkrHOXDrVEhr0ZCpK7lTKTdMOpsmWeRXVSLkSBWX6l0BayoNXU-xtGh9bPhytZvjYyskXCq6GtM6TS/s1600/Sketches.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosIg3V_0o-lMitTrJ-fqg62vFtJMXKEVlt698kaeJjc5dUNahOUt7_Jdd87VFOLpkrHOXDrVEhr0ZCpK7lTKTdMOpsmWeRXVSLkSBWX6l0BayoNXU-xtGh9bPhytZvjYyskXCq6GtM6TS/s400/Sketches.png" width="332" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I also wanted a variety of kinds of
characters - different shapes and sizes.
I wanted them all to look like they came from the same world, but were
also unique to themselves. I wondered:
what if there were different “species” that lived together in harmony? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
What if the whole world lived
together in harmony?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I really liked this idea. What if the world functioned like a perfectly
balanced, symbiotic ecosystem, where everyone did their part and contributed so
everyone would benefit from a thriving and abundant natural “economy”…?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
What would it take to create a
world like that? How would a world like
that naturally evolve?</div>
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I decided that in my world, there
wouldn’t be any social distinction among “species”.
They are all just considered “earthlings” (though this isn’t Earth,
obviously. I haven’t figured out what to
call them yet!). There are beings
that are more like animals, and beings that are more like plants, but they
all have a certain degree of sentience and they all hold each other in mutual
respect. The animals would take care of the plants, which would produce fruit to feed everyone. Plants would be more than
just providers of food or pretty things to look at – they could participate in
society, be considered valuable allies – even friends! Plant friends! I like it! </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHoBdkpnLI-IJw0iih_2Ke5jtbbCZLVbJCT_SrWCHXHyNqWSjKV72umDgyitXFZKNjVNSQcNbD36GxaRsteMyEh_XMM4cmtClBmypFVCUQgi8n9eLh383fvgnQ5emyWVzS0mWSQCzR3_P/s1600/Castle.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHoBdkpnLI-IJw0iih_2Ke5jtbbCZLVbJCT_SrWCHXHyNqWSjKV72umDgyitXFZKNjVNSQcNbD36GxaRsteMyEh_XMM4cmtClBmypFVCUQgi8n9eLh383fvgnQ5emyWVzS0mWSQCzR3_P/s400/Castle.png" width="302" /></a></div>
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The “animal style” creatures would
have a variety of features and body types that I could mix and match. There would be some that looked more female,
some that looked more male, some that were more androgynous. Some more cutesy, some more elegant. Some would be more mammalian, some more avian
or amphibious, or combinations of all of those.</div>
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Because everyone considers everyone
else their kin, they are naturally inclined to work together and share the
resulting abundance with everyone else, so no one has to struggle to survive. No one would have to resort to crime. They
would work, but the work would be rewarding and perfectly suited to each
person. They would do their work with enthusiasm and
have plenty of time for creative or relaxing pursuits. </div>
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Their technology would work in harmony with
the environment. If you have cooperative
plants that you can communicate with –
there are all kinds of things you could do with this idea! Plants could be part of the architecture –
supporting and wrapping around structures made of stone and earth and the only
plant materials used would be stuff that wouldn’t harm the plants to harvest.</div>
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</div>
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Energy would be generated with
green technologies – wind and water power.
Some of the beings could produce bioluminescent light. What if the plants could produce different useful
compounds like medicines or glues or paints – just by communicating with them
and feeding them different things…? What
if some creatures could produce cloth like a spider spins a web? </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMCSNFolf6f2p8lkSCzLyq5Yu4UkSYkGEP739C18rM6MSOXcZ7G8kK_z0xocMnlh7WCEnuYRofvRmAxnyWXghBpNNk6_wzhDMfe3kUvUu0tFrqr6-rY-GESE_At-fNlIehCKssI8Eyx-3/s1600/MailStop.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMCSNFolf6f2p8lkSCzLyq5Yu4UkSYkGEP739C18rM6MSOXcZ7G8kK_z0xocMnlh7WCEnuYRofvRmAxnyWXghBpNNk6_wzhDMfe3kUvUu0tFrqr6-rY-GESE_At-fNlIehCKssI8Eyx-3/s400/MailStop.png" width="310" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I began coming up with benign, organic solutions
to various needs.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">This helped shape the
look of the world – natural shapes, rounded forms, curling vines.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Decorated pots and baskets, fruits and flowers that look
like cool, ornate lanterns.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Stacked and
standing stones with swirly carvings (just because I think they are cool looking!), pathways made of
tree limbs, stairs made of mushrooms spiraling around a tree.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Windmills with sails that look like leaves,
or wings – or wings made of leaves! Waterfalls and bubbling streams, ornate tents and banners, colorful costumes and funky hats.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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My world would be shaped by a form
of evolution that relies on symbiosis and mutual benefit instead of “survival
of the fittest”. A world where the
people work together with the environment to create abundance instead of just carelessly
using it. A kinder, gentler world that
we can escape into from time to time when our complicated world gets us down.</div>
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<br /></div>
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After awhile, it dawned on me that
I was working through some fears and frustrations about the current political situation
in the U.S., as well as environmental issues and other problems facing the
world in general. I think by creating my
own little ideal hippie world that I could design from the ground up, I was exploring
my own ideas of what I wished the world could be. No conflicts, no poverty, no greed, no
crime. </div>
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</div>
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I don’t want the book to be
political – that’s not my goal at all, but I found that all the things I’ve
learned about ecology and societies began to come into play as I began to
fiddle with these ideas. I am creating my own cozy little Utopia!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOL5QcUTL1toNPvbJVkIunpwxfiqEi_hochBiBE2Qx_cxVEwcjlPzw9lDdNRbTQg9-w9AGShJbIYDaKeE9mM-iE8OmRlPQe9y9LJplBBP69-aoqayqNVY306yBNy7X0rbBvAG6HIXbnIJ/s1600/Shoppers.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOL5QcUTL1toNPvbJVkIunpwxfiqEi_hochBiBE2Qx_cxVEwcjlPzw9lDdNRbTQg9-w9AGShJbIYDaKeE9mM-iE8OmRlPQe9y9LJplBBP69-aoqayqNVY306yBNy7X0rbBvAG6HIXbnIJ/s400/Shoppers.png" width="342" /></a></div>
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And most of this information won’t
even be explicitly mentioned in the book (I'm not even sure there will be any writing in this book. Perhaps some poems to go with each art page...if I can come up with anything decent!)...this is just stuff that sets up the
world in my mind, that will come through in the design and artwork. These things will be expressed visually
through the scenes I choose to present and the details of the pictures.</div>
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I’ve found that once these kinds of
establishing ideas start fitting together and gelling, that’s when everything
else starts to “bubble up” naturally.
There’s a rhyme and a reason for things to sprout from.</div>
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</div>
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Years
ago, when I was deep into exploring visual symbolism from cultures around the
world, I came across a symbol that really appealed to me. It’s an African adinkra symbol, one of a
whole lexicon of icons used to decorate cloth and express specific ideas. It’s called Funtunfunefu Denkyemfunefu (easy
for YOU to say!), and it depicts “Siamese crocodiles” that share a stomach, but
have two heads that fight over food. It’s
a warning about the dangers of infighting and tribalism, and a call for unity
in diversity. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwdner1fA_EoS1NXXKQpELTntmLj6hoJkwPlRdWnLrWoei_vcsqZRcjV-qyOGoB093EicPiGqFCdGewYJpNBtGxWMa6MaJ1AA_DmcZETcUfmX9pQraTvgXTfDHc-GIrVjVd8KC-D1P8c1/s1600/funtunfunefu-denkyemfunefu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwdner1fA_EoS1NXXKQpELTntmLj6hoJkwPlRdWnLrWoei_vcsqZRcjV-qyOGoB093EicPiGqFCdGewYJpNBtGxWMa6MaJ1AA_DmcZETcUfmX9pQraTvgXTfDHc-GIrVjVd8KC-D1P8c1/s320/funtunfunefu-denkyemfunefu.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>
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I think
that’s a pretty good theme upon which to build a peaceful and thriving society.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8-knIckobWWGEaP40iniPuHhGlX9a_yTHnPhkNASRWYXUZznsnMijBvIy2q8izyJEcBLHG7qFb0xmFDfZTZQEu5wGz6SlfwVvlkFBshPmbRV24Abhgmvz3gkOPdWhm9mMq8ZsErxEIjl/s1600/MidnightSnack.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8-knIckobWWGEaP40iniPuHhGlX9a_yTHnPhkNASRWYXUZznsnMijBvIy2q8izyJEcBLHG7qFb0xmFDfZTZQEu5wGz6SlfwVvlkFBshPmbRV24Abhgmvz3gkOPdWhm9mMq8ZsErxEIjl/s400/MidnightSnack.png" width="306" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Stay tuned for future updates!</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<i>I’m having trouble coming up with a name for my world and its
inhabitants, which will also likely be the title of the book. Any ideas? Please share in the
Comments section below!</i></div>
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<br /></div>
Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-31948808301616888502016-03-23T15:13:00.001-07:002016-03-24T17:32:19.632-07:00Creating a Coloring Book - Part 1: I Am A Sponge!<br />
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</div>
<br />
<br />
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</div>
<br />
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<i><span style="color: magenta;">I’m getting started on my next
coloring book, and I thought it might be fun to document the process on my blog
as I go along. </span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I have a file folder on my computer with
several book concepts that I'm developing.
I jot down whatever ideas come to me, make notes, do some sketches, start thinking about how the idea can
be expanded into 30 or so art pages.
Some ideas I can pretty easily envision as supporting a book project –
others I have to kick around for a bit before they start coming together for
me. Sometimes they end up scrapped or
incorporated into other ideas. </div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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My first book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Beauty-Coloring-Cristina-McAllister/dp/1516976134/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=087HBHP4PZD0EMBHM7YS" target="_blank">Sacred Beauty</a>, was basically
a collection of art pieces I had done over the previous few years that I
re-worked so they could be colored. I
also did several new mandalas and patterns to fill out the book. Looking back now, there are couple of images I think I should have spent some more time on, but it was a learning experience, and I think I'm getting better with each book.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fef7aa_29e85372530345d2b2ba4d3397f94e81.jpg/v1/fill/w_228,h_289,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/fef7aa_29e85372530345d2b2ba4d3397f94e81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fef7aa_29e85372530345d2b2ba4d3397f94e81.jpg/v1/fill/w_228,h_289,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/fef7aa_29e85372530345d2b2ba4d3397f94e81.jpg" /></a><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">At the time, I had just found out
about the “Adult Coloring Craze” and I felt a massive sense of urgency to get
something out there as soon as possible.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">So often, trends such as this hit fast and hard and then fade just as
quickly. I’d often found out about trends too late to actually participate in
them, which is just as well since they don’t often end up being </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">long-term opportunities anyway.</span></div>
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I feel like this trend is different though – I
think it has potential to become an established and permanent category of books
(as well as an awesome opportunity for artists). So far, that seems to be the
case. And I love it! </div>
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I truly love the whole concept of coloring
books – they are like collaborations between the artist and the colorists. There are so many ways a picture can be
interpreted as far as color choices and different mediums. I love seeing how the same image can take on
a variety of “flavors” depending on each colorist’s unique style.</div>
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<br /></div>
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After putting together the first
book, I was hooked. The self-publishing
process has gotten much easier since the last time I looked into it. I won’t claim that it’s easy to do everything
yourself, but most of the skills required are things I’ve learned over the
years of being a professional illustrator and artist, and the things I didn’t
know how to do, I could learn by doing research on the internet and exploring
the various programs now available. </div>
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I am mainly self-taught, and I started
when I was a child. I would look at a
cool drawing and really want to draw like that, so I figured out how to analyze
and experiment until I was able to mimic the effect I was after. This was back before the internet, so I
was mainly working from comics, animation, books and magazines about movies and
art books.</div>
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I think “learning how to learn” has
been a big part of my journey as a person – both in art and in general. It’s a pretty darn useful skill! And now that we have the internet, there is
this massive resource for learning how to do things, and most of it is
free! Amazing!</div>
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</div>
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In any case…</div>
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<a href="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fef7aa_e21eceb795c945e291bc3d635db6dc07.jpg/v1/fill/w_228,h_289,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/fef7aa_e21eceb795c945e291bc3d635db6dc07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fef7aa_e21eceb795c945e291bc3d635db6dc07.jpg/v1/fill/w_228,h_289,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/fef7aa_e21eceb795c945e291bc3d635db6dc07.jpg" /></a></div>
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After publishing my last book (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lumina-Chronicles-Fantasy-Coloring-Experience/dp/1523739460/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455742950&sr=1-2&keywords=Lumina+Chronicles" target="_blank">The Lumina Chronicles</a>), I
took some time to redesign my <a href="http://www.gypsymystery.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, put some downloadable print packs
together and do some marketing and promotion to get the word out. Since my books haven’t been picked up by
brick-n-mortar stores yet (though they are available in the biggest book
distributor catalog out there), I’ve got to let folks know my books exist and
are available online. <br />
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I’ve
also learned that buying coloring books online can be risky, since it’s often
the case that the buyer can’t look inside the book, and are sometimes disappointed
with the contents. I’ve tried to
eliminate that risk by making <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrso5_tHtNpkCUANx1Fq-kkSGbw7RMEYl" target="_blank">video tours</a> and watermarked images available that show what’s
inside my books. </div>
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</div>
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In any
case – that’s the boring part of being an artist, but it’s essential if I want
to actually sell things to people! I
think I’m doing pretty well, for a self-publisher! My sales have basically doubled in the last 2
months, so I must be doing something right!</div>
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<br /></div>
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So… I knew I wanted to do more
books, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do yet. To be honest, I was pretty
burned out after finishing The Lumina Chronicles. It was a pretty intense project, and I think
it turned out well and I’m really proud of it, but it was a lot of work!</div>
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<br /></div>
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I decided to take some time off and
go into “Sponge Mode”.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve found that I tend to move
through a creative/receptive cycle as an artist. There are times when I am full of ideas and
inspired to create and produce, and times when I need to take a break and
re-charge my creative batteries. </div>
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This
usually involves watching a lot of movies and documentaries, looking through
books or researching stuff on the internet, and sometimes playing video games. A lot of this is just something passive to do
that doesn’t tax my brain too much, but it is also often the source of new
ideas that I can tuck into my Inspiration File.
Anything and everything goes into the mix! I am a Sponge, soaking up what's around me and letting it swirl around in my brain until something new and interesting comes out!</div>
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</div>
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This
time, the video games ended up being more inspiring than time-wasting. I discovered that there’s a whole genre of
YouTube videos of people playing video games – which sounds kind of stupid and
boring, but I’ve become quite a fan. I’m
not a particularly skilled player, (and my reflexes and eyesight aren’t getting any better!) but I love video games as an art form. Watching a skilled player go through the game
allows me to appreciate the artwork and design without having to spend the
hours (or hundreds of dollars on different game systems) to actually play it. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2956219-dragon1.jpg" height="242" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from the "Dragon's Lair" arcade game.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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When I was a kid, I was fascinated with the Dragon’s Lair
arcade game. It was like an animated
movie that you could play! So cool! But I sucked at it, and back then you had to
pay with quarters to continue if you used up all of your lives. I just wanted to watch the cartoon, especially
the end scene, which you could only see of you were good enough to progress to
the end of the game. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So
instead of burning through my limited quarter supply and not getting very far
because I was crap at it, I’d actually give my quarters to skilled players who
had already made it halfway through the game – so I could hopefully watch them
get to the end and see the whole story. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So –
watching folks play on YouTube isn’t much different – except that I don’t have
to spend quarters on it! Win/Win!</div>
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<br /></div>
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I also
discovered that video games as an art form have really taken off. There are some truly beautiful and unique
games out there now, and the genre is gaining in popularity.</div>
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The one that really blew my mind
recently is Journey. It’s difficult to
describe, so if you’re curious, check out this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKqeD7ojynw" target="_blank">video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKqeD7ojynw</a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.cheatcc.com/imagesps3/journey_10a.jpg" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from the "Journey" video game.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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This
game literally took my breath away – there are moments that are just epic and
glorious, others that are quite frightening, or heartbreaking, or heartwarming. The story is told completely through sound
and imagery - there's no dialog at all. You just wander through and try things and discover how it works and what's going on as you go along. And the colors – WOW! The artwork is so simple, yet elegant and evocative. It truly creates a sense of atmosphere and mood and exotic mystery.</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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I
started seeking out other “artistic” games, and found some really cool stuff. Another wonderful one is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cklw-Yu3moE" target="_blank">Ori and the Blind Forest</a>. The story is quite touching, and the artwork is just gorgeous - look at the colors! Don't you just want to jump in there and explore? Don't you want to COLOR this scene? I do!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2562384-ori-screenshot17.jpg" height="360" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from "Ori and the Blind Forest" video game.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It got me thinking about how much I love the imagery of a
lot of games, which often involve designing entire worlds; scenery, costumes,
characters, creatures. I’ve done this
kind of work on role-playing games before and I love it. It’s something I’ve done since I was a
kid. I learned how to draw by copying other people’s designs, but then once I mastered the skills, I could apply them to
creating my own characters and whatnot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I began
revisiting a lot of the stuff that I loved as a kid – fantasy movies like
Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, comics and graphic novels like Elfquest,
animated films and anime that created entire fantasy worlds. I started
looking at them from the point of view of pure visual imagery and coloring
opportunities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started
thinking about doing a book that was set in its own unique world. I had a few ideas of that nature in my file,
but none of them quite felt right yet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I felt
like doing something light and fun. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I
pay attention to when colorists mention what they enjoy coloring (which is just about anything,
truly!), and since a lot of folks color for stress relief, I thought that
working with uplifting themes would be good.
Whimsical, charming, cute, but not too simplistic or sugary. Something that would appeal to both adults and kids. Something that was both familiar and exotic. Lots of fun details. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I decided I wanted to create a fun,
beautiful world that people could escape into for a bit and fill with their own
colors.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I began
sketching out some little characters, playing with shapes, thinking about what
my world would be like. As I sketched
and explored, the concepts began to coalesce into something that began to take
on a life of its own. The framework
became clearer, and the details began to naturally bubble up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My
Sponge was full and ready to release something new!</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUUkscowBh1K2FrhsZ5Y-492U8yqUfAbiy5JkAHvWRNm07QVZh9vE3tAHZh8BR4JecndmJFrKoang3CUxZAtWcey5GWqVM5Ceo_y9gv1yhsmivvai9ve01bLDonwqucvJ7Au1LVXedAZB/s1600/HarmonySketches1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUUkscowBh1K2FrhsZ5Y-492U8yqUfAbiy5JkAHvWRNm07QVZh9vE3tAHZh8BR4JecndmJFrKoang3CUxZAtWcey5GWqVM5Ceo_y9gv1yhsmivvai9ve01bLDonwqucvJ7Au1LVXedAZB/s400/HarmonySketches1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a href="http://cristinamcallister.blogspot.com/2016/03/creating-coloring-book-part-2-perfect.html">Continued in Part 2!</a><br />
<br />
Are you a video game fan? What games do you think have the best imagery and design? Let me know in the comments!</div>
Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-6956965785191228702015-10-19T13:35:00.000-07:002015-10-19T13:35:44.554-07:00Video Tutorial: "Coloring SuperVibrant Mandalas"This tutorial is aimed at adult fans of coloring books who don't have any formal art training, but want to improve their coloring skills.<br />
Follow along as I color the "Mesmerizing Mandala" page from my "Windows to the Soul" coloring book, using some basic principals of Color Theory to maximize color intensity and create a vibrant color scheme that's brilliant and balanced.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dKuUPKsTBEo" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Print version of the "Windows to the Soul" Coloring Book is available on Amazon:<br />
http://tinyurl.com/p2nbsd3<br />
<br />
Downloadable Digital Edition available on my Etsy Shop:<br />
http://tinyurl.com/nlj2ewq<br />
<br />
Music by Kaminanda:<br />
https://kaminanda.bandcamp.com/Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-76968711067495877592015-10-14T01:02:00.001-07:002015-10-14T01:14:08.841-07:00Coloring Book Demo/Tutorial Video: Serenity Mandala from the Sacred Beauty Coloring Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PytuQHu1ThM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PytuQHu1ThM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This video is the first in a series of tutorial demos for grown-up fans
of coloring books. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I believe that the more confident and familiar you
are with coloring techniques and how colors work, the more satisfaction
you'll get from your coloring, and the more you'll be able to fully
develop your own unique sense of color.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /> This series of videos shares
some tips, techniques and methods I use when hand-coloring, that
I've learned or discovered over the years. It's aimed specifically at coloring book colorists who don't have much art experience or training, but want to improve their coloring skills. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In addition to some essential colored pencil techniques, I offer some methods for making great color choices and creating harmonious color schemes, and demonstrate some "special effects" that you can use to take your coloring pages to the next level.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It's not a "How To" -
because there's no One Right Way to color. But my hope is that this info
will help you to create your own unique and beautiful results that will
enhance your coloring experiences.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Please Share, Pin, Like, Comment...Yaddayaddayadda! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">#adultcoloringbooks #coloringbooksforgrownups #coloringbook #coloringdemo #coloringtutorial #colored pencil techniques</span>Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-56995506508965621172015-09-28T15:13:00.002-07:002015-09-28T15:14:39.374-07:00Windows to the Soul; A Mesmerizing Coloring Book<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk9GjFlfw_tnHMzuv-aiHvCwIt84deHoeTrSxejBLCeUss8xuEaqAal4wQBNbPePZ17zDCFLSbWkDhXYiFo4ZjZZm5F5vu_dRWWwUBraHS7SVsXQVukGZfq1xBOX8q_X7fr2E8tDLf_XM/s1600/WWTSFrontCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk9GjFlfw_tnHMzuv-aiHvCwIt84deHoeTrSxejBLCeUss8xuEaqAal4wQBNbPePZ17zDCFLSbWkDhXYiFo4ZjZZm5F5vu_dRWWwUBraHS7SVsXQVukGZfq1xBOX8q_X7fr2E8tDLf_XM/s400/WWTSFrontCover.jpg" width="312" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">M</span>y second coloring book is now available!</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Eyes are innately mesmerizing and infinitely expressive. They are, as they say, the “windows to the soul”. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For this volume, I created 30 all new, original coloring pages integrating an eclectic variety of art styles, motifs and moods. Each of them frames mysterious eyes that seize your gaze…inviting you, challenging you to infuse them with vibrant color.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Featuring a variety of colorful themes including fantasy, steampunk, traditional cultural art styles, decorative mandalas and designs inspired by nature, this coloring book offers something for everyone, and is full of ample opportunities for fun and creative coloring.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEMDXcbk-dk6wQGZfeL_6r_X1cinILs96pI23sQdqMdmx7Q80xG-1Ews19U0wycxKsw800gRicLkIQx0VTb0f12P89JeI2Z0s6MyJUCHYiRkJ2QwxvqMVygDkIXwmYLriw5_lAzjOK000/s1600/EtsyAd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEMDXcbk-dk6wQGZfeL_6r_X1cinILs96pI23sQdqMdmx7Q80xG-1Ews19U0wycxKsw800gRicLkIQx0VTb0f12P89JeI2Z0s6MyJUCHYiRkJ2QwxvqMVygDkIXwmYLriw5_lAzjOK000/s400/EtsyAd.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> After I made my first coloring book (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Beauty-Coloring-Cristina-McAllister/dp/1516976134/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">“Sacred Beauty; An Artful Coloring Book”</a>), I knew I was hooked. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I love designing coloring pages, and I love coloring them. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I wanted to do another book, and I was pondering what kind of themes and imagery would make for fun, relaxing and engaging coloring experiences that would result in beautiful finished pieces. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For me, coloring feels very much like doodling. There is some thought that goes into it in choosing colors and creating color schemes, but it is also somewhat mindless, in a good way. It reminds me of knitting, or…doodling.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">For as long as I can remember, when mindlessly doodling,
I‘ve drawn two things: spirals and eyes….often in combination. Not
faces or anything that made sense… just these weird little abstract
designs with eyes surrounded by decorative flourishes. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2js6fNBA7Z8s_2At9a220vq0XoGTcb7JzSeZeVlJggNY8rDM8FJ-QXDLVWoLH7EX_8-TTAfYpcS_hCc6JZCC-24I4HrCP3LZlusiAKTQB3vrbXVomT4Glz2cCbL9eHKmCd8pNCJybCBB/s1600/WWTSBackCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2js6fNBA7Z8s_2At9a220vq0XoGTcb7JzSeZeVlJggNY8rDM8FJ-QXDLVWoLH7EX_8-TTAfYpcS_hCc6JZCC-24I4HrCP3LZlusiAKTQB3vrbXVomT4Glz2cCbL9eHKmCd8pNCJybCBB/s400/WWTSBackCover.jpg" width="312" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I’m not alone in this habit. Apparently, it’s a <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=doodling+eyes&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMIo-SzwdeayAIVDh-SCh3-uwIh&biw=1561&bih=686" target="_blank">Thing</a>. Lots of people doodle eyes; angry, evil eyes, intensely gazing eyes, cartoon or anime eyes, realistic eyes, alien eyes, you name it. I tend to draw serene eyes surrounded by lots of swirls and spirals and dots. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Once I'd connected coloring to doodling, and explored the whole "eye doodling" phenomenon, I realized that I'd found the basic theme for my next book. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">My next step was to think up a bunch of different designs, which was actually pretty easy. My Muse was on board, and I started sketching like a madwoman. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I thought about things that would offer opportunities for lots of color choices...things like butterflies and flowers and animal patterns and stained glass and mandalas. I thought about things that accented eyes - masks and helmets and makeup. I thought about various traditional art styles that would work - like Dia De Los Muertos face paint and Maori warrior facial tattoos. I also wanted to make this book more appealing to male colorists, since my first book was pretty feminine in nature. So there is a steampunk design featuring ornate mechanical bits, a grizzled warrior, a pirate, even a creepy alien. Something for everyone, and every mood!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> I also wanted to offer a variety of levels of intricacy, so some of these designs are simpler and others are packed with details. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The artwork is accompanied by "Inspirations" and "Trys". </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Inspirations are basically keywords that you can enter into a Google image search to find loads of visual reference for inspiration and ideas. They are things I referred to when creating the designs, and coloring them myself. I encourage you to utilize these - and to take some time to study the images that come up. Getting familiar with different color combinations will add to your own inner library of ideas and help you develop your own sense of color.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The "Trys" are suggestions for various color scheme ideas to explore, or coloring techniques to apply. They are totally optional - but I wanted to share some of the possibilities that I thought of while designing and coloring the imagery.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">"Windows to the Soul" is available as a print edition from Amazon:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Soul-Mesmerizing-Coloring-Book/dp/1517346029/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443403183&sr=1-1&keywords=Windows+to+the+soul+coloring" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Soul-Mesmerizing-Coloring-Book/dp/1517346029/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443403183&sr=1-1&keywords=Windows+to+the+soul+coloring" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHiCUFAC0Zl5mYlNTuZIdDkucy_Zm2v0AYMjoiUngLowl2ll2pry663bRdZT9ye549B0UGrMATttzUAKsIgwGQqOovq5F-DT29t9yUGDfglcKYzuJ8Va1SZ-NU09Zp_4hLX_LBwQKpbKT/s1600/PrintEditionButton.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">and as a downloadable digital edition from my Etsy Shop:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/249785780/windows-to-the-soul-coloring-book?ref=listing-shop-header-0" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/249785780/windows-to-the-soul-coloring-book?ref=listing-shop-header-0" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeKj_-hUcZJ6bptIsrT-j8bx2fDL97rDmyk3Iyrh0XDoBc-AmqdsZwpysL3LFrXeNu5-iy1K5kXRSGvjoc0xYplGgNhRHauc2kt9xqwOQDVftB00WbR9sDNzudAPhcSjrglrmcFD-059P/s1600/DigitalEditionButton.jpg" /><span id="goog_171023681"></span></a><span id="goog_171023682"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I'd love to hear your feedback on it, and see your finished colored pages! Please feel free to comment here, or post to my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cristina.mcallister.art" target="_blank">Art of Cristina McAllister Facebook Page</a>. And please post a review to the Amazon listing page - those reviews really do make a huge difference!</span>Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-158158593145240382015-09-13T13:49:00.000-07:002015-09-14T01:08:15.302-07:00COLORING BOOK!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQYVjoP5BEW_9pKPgGKbg_ovwyH8BU_csXatDEvrPTJ_i2Dz4tz5kzw7DkZdnyPFasyg0PPE1FWDtvtOShRTByC9fFWjC3qrB7MnSaqWrpVAYzLcb_stzmxEYRR2S76TdByF4kywuWh6K/s1600/CoverThumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQYVjoP5BEW_9pKPgGKbg_ovwyH8BU_csXatDEvrPTJ_i2Dz4tz5kzw7DkZdnyPFasyg0PPE1FWDtvtOShRTByC9fFWjC3qrB7MnSaqWrpVAYzLcb_stzmxEYRR2S76TdByF4kywuWh6K/s400/CoverThumbnail.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<br />
I've published a coloring book!<br />
It's available on Amazon at the following link:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Beauty-Coloring-Cristina-McAllister/dp/1516976134/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8">http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Beauty-Coloring-Cristina-McAllister/dp/1516976134/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8</a><br />
<br />
You can also download a digital edition from my Etsy shop:<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/246343169/sacred-beauty-coloring-book-digital">https://www.etsy.com/listing/246343169/sacred-beauty-coloring-book-digital</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxrMFH3J4RxyWYoeYF-9bmpMqUmOHRuChGdM4YZT5hG_IBip8MAjTRHbO6vTXMfZ1Gb4R8LMO3pCLTg4GRjMO2e-Xn9KemPbLcYNuVIRP-cfdCb0146kboJpzUF-TKpERV87KrXp9Z5J-/s1600/BackCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxrMFH3J4RxyWYoeYF-9bmpMqUmOHRuChGdM4YZT5hG_IBip8MAjTRHbO6vTXMfZ1Gb4R8LMO3pCLTg4GRjMO2e-Xn9KemPbLcYNuVIRP-cfdCb0146kboJpzUF-TKpERV87KrXp9Z5J-/s400/BackCover.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<br />
Several weeks ago, someone posted an article about coloring books for grown-ups on Facebook and I was intrigued! It has become a hugely popular activity, and a bunch of really cool coloring books have been released in recent years. These aren't the cheesy, simplistic cartoon character coloring books you remember from childhood, but gorgeous, complex designs that offer a fun, engaging and relaxing creative experience.<br />
<br />
I realized instantly that my artwork would be PERFECT for coloring! After all, when I created the original artwork, I basically made black & white designs and then colored them in Photoshop. So converting my full-color artwork into color-able pages was simply a matter of going back to my black & white files and doing some reworking.<br />
<br />
As I re-evaluated my drawings with hand-coloring in mind, I realized that I really enjoy designing coloring pages! And I really enjoy coloring, which was something that mostly bored me as a kid.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgZ0Ut9Wzu5GNgs966svJhfv3re99c2oCNqSPFIVRkPlX0zHAziHnZ14hTTGy2Pra0I2miX8Tob5fCh3ASjMmsY8BISQ1auZBpNLZlgs_GJzhhK3uUgABuyxG9k0GJ0oNTDDaFqaqvtIn/s1600/EtsySamplePage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgZ0Ut9Wzu5GNgs966svJhfv3re99c2oCNqSPFIVRkPlX0zHAziHnZ14hTTGy2Pra0I2miX8Tob5fCh3ASjMmsY8BISQ1auZBpNLZlgs_GJzhhK3uUgABuyxG9k0GJ0oNTDDaFqaqvtIn/s400/EtsySamplePage.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I published through <a href="https://www.createspace.com/" target="_blank">Createspace</a>, Amazon.com's Print On Demand Self Publishing platform, and found the process to be surprisingly quick and easy. Within 3 weeks, I had put my book together, uploaded it and it was listed on Amazon.com. Amazing!<br />
<br />
The response has be incredible, and people really seem to be enjoying the book. I'm working on getting my wholesale distribution set up, hopefully in time to get some books in stores for the holiday shopping season.<br />
And I'm working on my second book, which I think is going to be even better!<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-33538978123685679862015-07-31T17:13:00.000-07:002015-07-31T22:36:48.383-07:00Forget Frozen – Why Strange Magic is the Fairytale Our Young Women (and Men) Should Be Crazy About<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/strange_magic-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/strange_magic-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This film was slammed pretty hard by the critics, and I went
into it warily. Being a visual artist and writer myself, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a huge fan of quality animation, but I am
well aware that a lot of it is crap, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was pleasantly surprised by Strange Magic, and the more I watched the
more I realized that not only is it a beautiful and lushly-realized, nuanced
story with some great messages…it’s actually kind of revolutionary as far as
feature animated films.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect that
the critics hated it because they didn’t GET IT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably because they are mostly men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s not a slam on men…it’s an
acknowledgement that men don’t have the perspective of growing up as young women. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
SPOILERS WARNING.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Basically, it’s a Feminist Fairy Rock Opera that explores
the complexities of Love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
Coming-of-Age story about young women that doesn’t romanticize romance, but
portrays the experience of learning to navigate romantic relationships in a way
that was pretty darn familiar to me, as a woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It portrays the challenges of girls
struggling to establish their independence in a world dominated by men who want
to control, manipulate and protect them, and it does so with insight and
compassion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One thing I saw a lot of critics mention was that there was
too much music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I’ll admit that I
find some animated films where folks start bursting into song a bit annoying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this is a musical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not aware, musicals are insanely popular with
young people, and for good reason. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you don’t like musicals, steer clear (and if you're a critic who criticizes musicals for having music, you're a pretty lame film critic, IMHO). But if you can appreciate the art of using relevant pop music to express
character and advance plot, Strange Magic ROCKS at this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The musical selection is eclectic, recasting
beloved songs from such popular artists as The Four Tops, Bob Marley, Beyonce, Dionne
Warwick, Queen, Heart, ELO and the Troggs, to name a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The arrangements are great, and they are
integrated into the film quite skillfully, evoking relevant emotions and often,
charming humor. It's self aware enough to even acknowledge that breaking into song is silly (and sometimes annoying).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, this is a story about Fairy Princesses falling in
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s not your average, sugar-coated Disney
tale (don’t be fooled by the saccharine setup…stick with it!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a Handsome Prince (who is not
actually a Prince…not yet, anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
has to marry the princess first to achieve that goal).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s quickly established that despite this
guy’s good looks and popularity, his actions mark him as a manipulative,
selfish bully who’s only after the crown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rest of the story follows MaryAnn’s journey after she discovers his
true nature and processes her first major heartbreak.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her initial response is to swear off love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Former goth girls will relate to the impulse
to harden our hearts and toughen up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
decides she doesn’t need a man, and she focuses her energy on becoming her own
protector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One scene references the
classic scene in Star Wars of Luke Skywalker honing his lightsaber skills with
the training drone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some folks found
this annoying but f them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the reasons
George Lucas made this film is because he has daughters and wanted to make a “Star
Wars for Girls”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Critics bashed the fact that the King (and father of the
girls) looks like Lucas – an obvious vanity cameo, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the King is kind of a boob.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s a clueless, overprotective single Dad whose
heart is in the right place, but is admittedly ill-equipped to guide his girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a LOT of dads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I applaud Lucas for portraying the Father’s
Dilemma of wanting to protect his adolescent girls with sensitivity and self-depreciating
humor, as opposed to the traditional notion, which is to pull out the shotgun
when the predatory boys come sniffing around. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The film also features an over-involved, inept matchmaker of
a Mother who is determined to make sure her boy (who happens to be the Bad Guy)
finds love, despite his bitter rejection of the “L” Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both families seem to be missing one parent,
a factor that is not insignificant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The interaction between parents and their willful children
is handled beautifully – the children love their parents, and understand that
they are trying to look out for them, however annoying they might be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t resort to destructive parent-hating
rebellion, yet still manage to exert their independence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So – the Dad’s a boob and the handsome boy is a jerk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds pretty anti-male, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While there are male characters that represent the dangerous, confusing
and frustrating interactions between men and women, there are other male
characters that are awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just
happen not to be the ones who are handsome, popular and/or powerful (or white).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are flawed, but brave, loving, respectful,
and perhaps most important of all, willing to take the risk of vulnerability.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The plot is fairly complex and moves pretty darn fast in
places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some folks may think it’s too
advanced for kids, but I think our kids are up to the challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know how kids watch these things over and
over again…if they miss something the first time around, repeated viewings will
clarify things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did for me, with the
added benefit of spotting little details that enhance the story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also totally dug the Sugarplum Fairy character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the wisest and most magically powerful
of them all, she has been imprisoned for years and her frustration at this is hilariously
palpable, yet there is also a suggestion that her incarceration is all part of
a larger plan to teach some valuable lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’s an enchanting representation of the elemental goddess figure, at
once powerful and vulnerable, helpful and dangerous, loving yet mischievous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And ultimately, the secret of her Love Potion
is the most profound (and relevant in this day and age) lesson of all.</div>
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Which brings me to some other refreshing elements. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Love Potion brings up issues which are relevant
in our world of Gamergate-style male entitlement and date rape drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While not explicitly delving into these
topics, it does depict a young woman delirious with potion-induced infatuation,
and an older male being honorable and NOT taking advantage of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also explores the phenomenon of the “friendzone”
with insight and sensitivity.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one scene that touches
on the confusing mixed messages we send our young women, the King Dad urges his
older daughter to get back on the dating horse after a traumatic heartbreak so
she can find a man to love and protect her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A moment later he worriedly complains about how his younger, boy-crazy daughter
is too flirty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older daughter’s
response is a justified gnashing of teeth that the King seems oblivious to, but
is all too familiar to most of us female types.</div>
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It also champions the notion that even “ugly”, “unpopular” people
can be lovable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trope of the
Misunderstood Bad Guy is quite beautifully handled, and the development of the
relationship between the Bog King and MaryAnn results in some Falling In Love
scenes that I found quite enchanting.</div>
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Ultimately, I found much to love about this film, and I
wrote this because I don’t want it to pass into obscurity because of the petty
complaints of clueless critics.</div>
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Because here’s the thing – girls DO need and deserve their own
Star Wars -not that Star Wars doesn’t work for girls as well as boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I think they do need to see female
characters embarking on their own Heroes’ Journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This film acknowledges that young girls ARE
innocent and dumb and DO need to be protected…but they also need to be
respected and allowed to learn the (sometimes harsh) lessons of life. A girl’s path
to maturity is often filled with different dangers and challenges than boys
face, but they can learn to navigate this dangerous world, and be heroes
themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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That’s an empowering and progressive message I think our young women AND young men need
to hear, and Strange Magic manages to tell this story in a way that’s appealing
to kids and adults, boys and girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5607596110146734871.post-1511933407693148762015-07-10T15:36:00.000-07:002015-07-10T15:49:56.226-07:00How Did You Make That???"; The Wonders of Kraft*Tex<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_jMO8jZpuzEzckc8Ji69gx69W4TLAhcM5SEPdwbgod6o-BzLkBTvIlFhsn6ZZpaRlWOOANNM2omB6IbkDKSj0u5keVV-27vmAtr3xPqNG16s1UK3dOJxnKFDvSQm28GFCYvmnh_-9QKA/s1600/ManyAccessories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_jMO8jZpuzEzckc8Ji69gx69W4TLAhcM5SEPdwbgod6o-BzLkBTvIlFhsn6ZZpaRlWOOANNM2omB6IbkDKSj0u5keVV-27vmAtr3xPqNG16s1UK3dOJxnKFDvSQm28GFCYvmnh_-9QKA/s640/ManyAccessories.jpg" width="308" /></a>For the past several months I've been making a bunch of different kinds of accessories featuring intricate cut-out designs backed with iridescent film.<br />
I started with a vision of what I wanted to make; an insect or fairy wing effect (which also turns out to be reminiscent of stained glass), and specifically set out to find materials that would work.<br />
<br />
I had certain requirements for my structural material. It had to be flexible but not floppy, durable, paintable, glueable, non-toxic and cut well on my <a href="http://knkusa.com/product/knk-zing-air-2/" target="_blank">Zing electronic cutting machine.</a><br />
I experimented with several materials; EVA craft foam, different fabrics, leather, faux leather, plastic crafting sheets, various kinds of paper and cardstock.<br />
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The papers cut beautifully, but weren't terribly durable.<br />
The fabrics, leather, faux leather and foam were too soft, stretchy and/or fibrous to cut intricate detail well. The plastic sheets looked flimsy and cheap.<br />
<br />
I needed something that cut like paper but held up like leather. I started looking into synthetic papers (of which there are a number), and ultimately came across this stuff: <a href="http://www.ctpub.com/kraft-tex-roll-black/" target="_blank">Kraft*Tex</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGnABK11SFnPqqDQQjq9LYjrGs91pRA8J4GcMV73l-qpjl4a3cqSzwS4IHrtdHW_XmEuYtKEiyKWtC5cTpkkJ_bp_sIfonU0VBCp3wBM57S_FRgbxNcIxhNUeca53u8yr8Uk0X-0Ip0DG/s1600/kraft-tex-paper-pouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGnABK11SFnPqqDQQjq9LYjrGs91pRA8J4GcMV73l-qpjl4a3cqSzwS4IHrtdHW_XmEuYtKEiyKWtC5cTpkkJ_bp_sIfonU0VBCp3wBM57S_FRgbxNcIxhNUeca53u8yr8Uk0X-0Ip0DG/s320/kraft-tex-paper-pouch.jpg" width="320" /></a>What is Kraft*Tex? Turns out you may have been wearing it most of your life without realizing it. Kraft*Tex is what those leathery tags on the backs of your Levi's jeans are made of.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJz_91jHu_lN4rl9Rahw9SpwIL8hXFnKgrrYPf5TYmAGkGNZhcTN26oO2G5XhFZ8-DPhv7WNAjQcsHJvBihihs0NmBpiNzqpQ6i1n3tilCytGye8j81GZizX497XKi-8SS02DIcc_qyCg4/s1600/levi-jeans-tag-weku3i66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJz_91jHu_lN4rl9Rahw9SpwIL8hXFnKgrrYPf5TYmAGkGNZhcTN26oO2G5XhFZ8-DPhv7WNAjQcsHJvBihihs0NmBpiNzqpQ6i1n3tilCytGye8j81GZizX497XKi-8SS02DIcc_qyCg4/s320/levi-jeans-tag-weku3i66.jpg" width="320" /></a> It's been used in the garment industry for decades, and only recently been marketed as a crafting material. <br />
<br />
In it's raw form it looks like a sturdy cardstock, with one paper-smooth side and one subtly textured side. But if you scrunch it up, or wash it, it gets creased and crinkled, which gives it a very convincing leather appearance. It starts out rather stiff, but over time and use, it softens into more of a fabric-like feel. It can be sewn, folded, molded into 3-dimenional shapes...probably a bunch of other stuff, too!<br />
<br />
It is very durable, washable, flexible, paintable, glueable, non-toxic and, once I hammered out the settings and mounting techniques, it cuts like a dream on the Zing.<br />
<br />
But still - what IS it? A paper? A plastic? A fabric? I couldn't find the answer to this question on the web, so I emailed the manufacturer, C&T publishing, and asked them. They replied promptly, informing me that it's a paper pulp impregnated with a kind of latex.<br />
<br />
(Note: for those of you with latex allergies, don't worry - my accessories don't have any Kraft*Tex directly in contact with the skin).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1AP19nck1VTFQsao6qWmKJjPm09ezxiS8BUhQQP89OXSAX-4dyQwbjS_j8vLENH_-CS89lLkOOhmodFIFOHqyWr0outZOHJSTXFs-4_bP9W5meFhB1yQ1gLZ_uCP-MNeKBLZbeE5urLu/s1600/KraftTexbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1AP19nck1VTFQsao6qWmKJjPm09ezxiS8BUhQQP89OXSAX-4dyQwbjS_j8vLENH_-CS89lLkOOhmodFIFOHqyWr0outZOHJSTXFs-4_bP9W5meFhB1yQ1gLZ_uCP-MNeKBLZbeE5urLu/s1600/KraftTexbook.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/kmik727/kraft-paper/" target="_blank">Folks are starting to play with this amazing material</a> - mostly making things like wallets, bags and book covers - things often made of natural leather.<br />
<br />
But Kraft*Tex has many advantages over natural leather. A. No animals are harmed. B. It's cheaper than leather. C. It's more consistent than real leather (which tends to have flaws and uneven thicknesses and come in irregularly sized and shaped pieces, which results in a lot of waste scraps. D. It's actually more durable than real leather of the same thickness.<br />
<br />
Here's a video with some great info:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jWlGw5a26ww" width="560"></iframe>Cristina McAllisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02997355652282455202noreply@blogger.com2