5 Must-Know Tips for Coloring Like a Pro

One of the (many) benefits of working on product development here at C&T is that I get advance copies of most of our products. The other day, I received my advance copy of the Enchanted Grove Mandala Coloring Book, and just WOW! I think I’ve found my new favorite coloring book!

The illustrations are amazing and the intricate and detailed mandala-style illustrations feature trees and leaves, flowers, crystals, seeds, plants, acorns, and mesmerizing repeated organic motifs. One page alone will provide hours of coloring challenges and relaxation.

The oversize pages (11.5” x 11.5”) showcase the stunning illustrations beautifully (30 in all!). Because the back of each page is printed with an inspiring quotation, I don't have to worry about bleed-through from a previous page.

I can’t say I’m a coloring expert (only an enthusiastic amateur!) but I do have a few helpful hints:

1. Keep your pencil sharpener handy! With so many small shapes you will definitely need to keep your pencil sharp.

2. I mainly use colored pencils but feel free to experiment with other mediums. I like to use a white gel pen to add little highlights of white ink but be careful and make sure you let it dry completely so you don’t end up with smudges.

3. Layer your colors for variety and use shading and deeper colors to add depth and value.

4. Use a piece of scrap paper to rest your coloring hand on so that you aren’t smearing the page. I also use scrap paper to test colors before committing them to the page.

5. I also use scrap paper to create mini thumbnail sketches to test out different color combinations.

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Illustrated by Kesar Khinvasara. Kesar is a self-taught artist who has always been attracted to drawing and painting since childhood, using a variety of materials to creatively explore her passions. Kesar lives in India.

Blog post by Betsy La Honta, Product Development & Manufacturing Manager at C&T Publishing.