Coloring has really saved my life. My youngest Son bought me my first color book after my oldest Son passed away suddenly. He was fine one minute and gone the next. I was left with a devastated heart and mind along with PTSD and anxiety. Coloring calms me when nothing else does. I wish I could paint, but I can't, so I will use the methods you showed in my thicker paged books. Thank You for adding positivity in my journey.
I’m so glad this is helping you! My brother just passed away suddenly and I have begun coloring to help with my anxiety as well. It’s what brought me to this video! I hope you are doing well.
When I’m painting with a water brush away from home, I plan ahead and cut the top cuff off of a sport sock that has no mate and wear it on my non dominant wrist. This way I don’t need to carry a rag. I just wipe the excess off my brush and keep on painting 🧑🎨
I pre treat my coloring book pages when they are of a heavier paper with clear gesso. I use two layers and dry them with a hair dryer in between on back & front of the page. Then I place the book under heavier book over night to eliminate curling of paper. Then I'm all set to use watercolor. This works really well on the Basford books and other coloring books with heavier paper quality.
Haha, another convert to adult colouring books! Seriously, these books have really helped my brush technique, colour blending and stress levels. They reawakened my love of art and because of them, I started with watercolour again - first time for 40 years. I love your videos. Thanks for all the effort you put into them.
I am super impressed by your technique in these books! I'm apart of a LOT of coloring groups on facebook and I can honestly say, the tiny amount of coloring you did would have stood out like a sore thumb (in the best way). I just ordered some gouache paints. Those are supposed to lay down a lot easier in coloring books (as you already would know, I'm sure). I can't wait to learn a few things from you!
This is one of the many reasons I love your channel! Coloring books aren’t on my want list, but some people love them. What an awesome way to introduce coloring book enthusiasts to the world & joy of watercolor! 👍
I've always been fascinated (and intimidated) by watercolors. You've inspired me to go ahead and give it a try. Your work is beautiful, thanks for taking the time to share your talent.
so glad you made this video!! I had been wondering the same thing. It totally makes sense to practice blending and shading in a coloring book like this. Can't wait to get started!
Thank you very much for this video! I really want to pick up watercolour painting again and in colouring books as well, especially using that aquabrush watercolour paintbrush! They look very useful and convenient to get fine details!
I use water soluble pencils and then go over with brush and water in my Secret Garden colouring book. It works great and never ruins or leaks through the paper! Great video! I enjoyed it very much.
One has to remember when 'Secret Garden' came out is was for coloured pencil! People used so many different types of media I think the company was overwhelmed. Think of the changes, pictures now only on one side of paper, some books have a black backing to the pages and much thicker paper to support various media. Also companies that make all that different media must be so happy.
Thank you immensely for putting this video together! I've recently gotten some watercolors and am looking forward to trying some of these tips in my own books!
What an awesome video! I've been wondering about just this thing! I actually have the Enchanted Forest book already, so I suspect you know what I'll be doing tomorrow ;)
I searched and bought the "artist edition" Secret Garden colouring book and two types of the refillable water brushes. You've inspired me to try out water colour. I really enjoy your videos, your a talented artist.
Enjoyed this video as a student I'm in my second year into learning watercolor thru you and many other artist ...I'm excited to learn that theres a watercolor preprinted WC book it's going to supply helpme with growing my shading and tonal value techniques and such, sometimes I need help upgrading my tonal values and shading and I think this is a great way to learn and to practice on..thanks I saw your video review by a coloring ytube who suggested looking at your video and even tho I'd been watching you for a over a year I knew exactly who she was talking about I'm like what he has a review on watercoloring in books awesome, as I was just looking to expand my knowledge on a good watercolor practice book thank you....I'm hoping that barnes noble still has this book I can purchase...if not I guess amazon will be a look see.....
Ooooooo! I know what I want for Christmas!! I especially like to see how a pretty but otherwise boring line drawing magically transforms into something amazing with the blending and shading! Beautiful! Thanks for doing this.
wonderful video! I have been in a coloring fest over this holiday and loving every minute of it. I would like to also suggest Peerless watercolors. I used them with my Enchanted Forest Postcards and they turned out very well. Thank you for helping my life to be more CREATIVE!! Happy Coloring all!
I love that you made this video-- I've literally sat with these books in my hands in the store and wondered if I could watercolor in them. It was fun to get some ideas on how to do that and rest assured that it wouldn't completely fall apart.
Yay! Im a new subbie- Just jumped on the coloring book ride myself and not sure what to "color" with- which led me to your channel, So glad to see I can watercolor in them! cannot wait
What a great video! I just discovered the digital coloring books but I love this idea!! Thank you for the great review and tips for watercoloring! Look forward to more!
Thank you for this video! I didn't even know there was a artist version of Secret Garden! I learned a lot. I am going to order that watercolor pen now!
I am really grateful you did a video like this. I am a beginner watercolour painter and I think this would be a good way for me to learn to use the medium and practice the techniques like you said. I will have to give these a try. Thanks!
Yes it can be. The papers in coloring books react differently and are a little less predictable than watercolor paper, but I do think it's a good way to practice.
I also* would like to know about prepping the various pages, particlarly in the Johanna Basford books (regular and artist’s edition), with clear gesso or watercolor ground. I really admire your ability to be positive about using watercolor pencils and watercolor in these books. It helps to make painting seem more accessible and enjoyable for those of us who struggle from a lack of art background/drawing skills. *ref. previous comment
I love this! I've never stopped coloring since I was a kid. It's new to so many people and I've joined so many coloring groups on facebook now. I am going to share this video with all my coloring friends and I hope it gets you tons more subscribers. Excellent video!
I love your openness to try the coloring books. I do the Secret Garden and will do some practice on it now that you have inspired me to do so. Thank you for expanding the options to keep enjoying art without boundaries!
As a complete newbie to watercolour pencils, i was scrolling through CZcams for some help & inspiration. I found it! Thank you so much... I actually have these exact pencils. I cannot tell you how much i absolutely adore that introduction. 'Run for the hills' - hahaha - i love it... Thank you for making me laugh in these terribly dark days. Hi from Gilly - in England! x
Love your commentary and good information in your search for using watercolors in coloring books. You made me smile with your last comments of "this all being an alien plot, to turn me into a pod-person...." Yep, you got it! So easy to loose your self inside this art form.
I'm new to colouring books and have the new Joanna Basford World of Flower coloring book and was wondering how I was going to colour this. I am not a pencil crayon fan and LOVE Tombow markers but was trying them out and finding they did not blend very well on the paper used for the colouring book. MInd you I am also new to makers so I may be a schmuck and don't have the technique down pat. I tried using them as water colours ( putting some of the ink on a tile and picking up the colour off of that ) and VOILA!!! Shading and blending!!!! Your video was a lifesaver :) Ty so much for this. I wish I could use the markers straight on the paper though because the colour seems a lot more muted when using them with water.
I got the Johanna Basford Secret Garden and the Pepin floral still life postcard coloring book. I find small postcard is easier for me to handle and am having fun coloring them. I have some color bleeding on the secret garden ones, not sure I use too much water during blending. Haven't tried the Pepin ones yet. They are so beautiful and I don't want to ruin them. So I have been practicing on the secret garden ones.
Thank you for the coloring book review that is just for watercolor media. I'm visiting my sister soon for a week and wanted to bring something that would be fun for us to work on together. When my other sister arrives from CA it will be a watercolor party! And we should all be able to take something home with us when we're done. We'll be thinking of you Steve while sharing a good time.
Definitely answered the question I had about what works for the various adult coloring books. I think I will try the water color pencils now having this new knowledge.
love getting your thoughts on the coloring books.. I discovered that you could do the water colors in some of hte books as well.. Especially love those that have flowers.. Thanks for sharing...
Thanks for this nifty video! I enjoy both watercolors and adult coloring books. Never thought to combine the two! Now I know what I'm doing this weekend. :) Happy holidays!
Your painting is awaking and thanks for sharing your advice and tips on these books. I got the animal kingdom book for Xmas and I cannot wait to try it out.
Upon rediscovering my old watercolour materials stash, I've been experimenting with watercolour in colouring books. I have been using it on my Johanna Basford page a day calendar which is a sheet a day in a loose box. The paper is thin, but actually quite strong. It takes pencil, water markers and paint quite well. But it will buckle. I've also used it in a book with slightly stronger paper, but again a good bit of buckling going on. Sooooo, I iron them flat! And it works. I wait for the page to dry fully (I use an old travel hair drying on the low setting to help this process) and then I put the sheet face down on my ironing board, turn the steam setting off on the iron and set the iron to it's gentle setting and I iron it. Perfectly flat result to carry on with another layer. In books, I put a few sheets of paper down onto the board first, open the book out and lay the page onto it and put a sheet of paper over the back and again iron it. Only caveat is that if you have used coloured pencil on the back of a painted page you can't iron it. I was pretty amazed that this worked and allows me to use wet washes for backgrounds without destroying the paper.
I'm here because I recently bought a book of colour-in postcards which I thought would be nice to watercolour and send to my friends. Thanks for this!!
I was wondering about if I could use watercolor on my adult coloring books, and THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for posting this! I can now enjoy a relaxing coloring session during my break time.
the first time i heard about the adult coloring books, i immediately thought about using watercolor..... so far i have picked up a book and started, but this video really opened my eyes to the PAPER.....thanks for posting this!
Oh WOW!! Steve, this is just awesome!!! I love water coloring, this is all I use for my hand made cards. A dear friend of mine gave me one of this books not so long ago and, even if it says there that you can water color the pages, the paper is not to thick and it really didn't work to well so, I grabbed my Prismacolor pencils and some paper stumps dipped in baby oil and it worked so beautifully. Thank you for this video, Steve and, about this new trend for adults.....I think it's great to do something this fun and challenging while waiting in doctor or dentist offices. I take mine while waiting for my grandchildren at the Orthodontist offices, sometimes it's a quick 30 min. wait but other times it can take up to an hour, people around me comment that this is so much better than watching tv. while waiting, I hope they go to the store and get one for themselves. Thanks again for the inspiration.
I appreciate you taking the time to make this video. I had prematurely jumped on the adult coloring book bandwagon since I love to color and paint, but have (not yet, at least) any drawing skills. I bought several books online and was very disappointed in the paper quality. Though I'm not an artist, I have been paper crafting a few years and have learned to appreciate how paper quality can affect the results. I had no idea that Johanna Basford's books were available in Artist's Editions. I've already ordered one to practice watercolor skills and will probably give my other coloring books to my 11 year old niece.
I sometimes use watercolor brush markers for my coloring...Tombows are my favorite but there are other good quality ones out there (Mars Graphic and Marvy +) Brush markers are super portable but you still have to be mindful of not saturating or over brushing the paper too much. I now check the weight of the paper carefully and am pretty picky. And I usually put most of them back on the shelf. One coloring book that I can highly recommend Georgie Woolridges' Mindful Coloring- Birds book. Heavier than typical and beautifully designed by the artist herself...she has a few others too for turtles, sea creatures and horses. And yes, you can learn an awful lot about shading and how colors work together and drawing repetitive shapes more easily while you're doing relaxing color work.
omg! this is such a good video! I am currently 18 and have been researching for 5 months about what are the best coloring books out there, watercolors, brushes, and this video just helped me so much! thank you for this video! I learned a lot as a young artist! (:
I've been looking at these books for awhile, too. I didn't realize there's an Artist Edition of the Secret Garden. I'm definitely going to look for that at my local store. Thanks for this great video :), cannot wait to see more. I hope you have a good holiday!
ahaha it was a pleasure to watch this video. i'm just starting to dabble in watercolor. i would not have considered buying these kinds of book but now I might! :) good to know even a professional still enjoys the simple pleasures of a coloring book!
I love my colouring books and have used watercolours successfully in most of them. your right about The Enchanted Forest, the paints dont really like it but inks work really well! thanks for making this video and showing other artists the wonderful world of colouring books!
Yes, I did notice that after priming the surface a bit with a sort of pre wash then color went down better. Sort of opened up the fibers I think. It's the plate finish that's the problem. WC pencils did fabulously.
That's awesome, Steve! Love your videos. I've seem many of these books in stores and have always wondered how to make the best use of them. You've saved me a good amount of money and time! Thanks, enjoyed it!
Thank you so much for this!!!!! I have already began to experiment with Watercolors and watercolor pencils and didn't know an artist like you are was don't it too 😊
Hi - This video is completely amazing. Thank you! I have been "tracing" the coloring book pages onto water color paper, then playing with the lines in different color of pens. Doodling at its finest!
If you have a printer/copier you can also use that to transfer a coloring book page onto watercolor paper by scanning the page and printing it on watercolor paper. OR, you can use a light pad and trace or paint on watercolor paper with the coloring page underneath (as long as it’s one sided) and have the light shine up so it’s easy to see the lines. My daughter and I use both these methods all the time. Etsy also has tons of printable coloring pages which makes both these methods even easier.
I teach an art class to adults with specIal needs on Fridays and I do coloring. I used to do my own art on that day, but my students became intimidated and didn't want to paint or draw, so now I let them do the art while I do the coloring. Another person I really like is Joanne Fink, her coloring books only have a design on one side so you don't ruin the other side. I have tried watercolor pencils and they seem to work well on most books. Thanks for all your videos. I really enjoyed you and Angela Fehr swapping channels. Since that video I haven't been able to get over the sepia, I ran out the next day and bought a tube. Thanks for taking the time to do these videos.
thank you for the information i was looking for I'm new to this and looking for a easy way to get started and wasn't sure what to buy I'm stuck in a hospital bed and after 2 months I'm looking for a easy way to do art in bed to relax so you were a lot of help for a beginner who can't get out to get the correct information and not wanting to waste my money buying the wrong thing so I'm hoping my next 6 to 8 months of bed rest will be more enjoyable with your help and was also thankful for your video of how each different product works with excessive medical bills I'm glad to get started without wasting money i love your work and talent and plan to access your videos after i order my supplies next week for any questions hoping this will bring me much joy be blessed
Kerby Rosanes books have pretty decent paper. So do the Johanna Basford books. I usually make a copy of the page I’d like to use water-media on onto Neenah Card stock. Then, I pretreat the page using Satin Glaze Liquid. I brush a very light coat horizontally and let it dry. I then do the same thing vertically. As a precaution, I’d say it’s best to test your watercolor or marker in a small section in the back of the book. A lot of the illustrators now include “test pages” in their books. Or you can always just use a page that you don’t think you’re going to color as a test page.
Lovely to see it all in practice - I have enchanted one too and have coloured a few (well I bought for my daughter but you know ... appropriated it) have tryed oil pencils and watercolour and normal but not full out watercolouring so thats next and have put my order in for my christmas present!!!
Love your try and see what happens style! I've been using colored pencils with adult coloring books for almost 3 years and decided it is time to jump into the world of watercolors. I look forward to watching more of your videos, as I said, you have a wonderfully relaxed "lets give it a try" attitude! Thanks Steve :-)
I love Enchanted Forest--my favorite so far. I've been eager to get water color pencil crayons--thanks for this great review! Will go out and get some now :)
I have several (3+) books of varying quality. Almost looks like your stack. Yes, Joanna's are the best (and I think the first) out there. I've used so many types of mediums. Gel pens, inktense, watercolor pencils, and many types of markers. I think that alcohol markers are worse for wear than watercolors! They typically always bleed through. my preference has been water-based mediums..most fun! Great video! Thanks for getting it out there. I always get excited when I see your video in my email box! I know I'm always going to get something out of it. Lauri.
Thanks so much for this demonstration. I think it would drive me crazy too paint in these book. Kinda like putting a puzzle together. Thanks again. Merry Christmas.
Gasp! I never even dared dream... but thank you for trying this out and sharing! I've go5 a busy weekend ahead but I'll be sure to squeeze in some colouring/watercolour time :)
Coloring has really saved my life. My youngest Son bought me my first color book after my oldest Son passed away suddenly. He was fine one minute and gone the next. I was left with a devastated heart and mind along with PTSD and anxiety. Coloring calms me when nothing else does. I wish I could paint, but I can't, so I will use the methods you showed in my thicker paged books. Thank You for adding positivity in my journey.
That’s great
I’m so glad this is helping you! My brother just passed away suddenly and I have begun coloring to help with my anxiety as well. It’s what brought me to this video! I hope you are doing well.
Yea I’m doing okay
If I may ask Where are you from from?
I am sorry for your loss. That was a sweet thing for your younger son to do. I hope you are doing well despite the heartache.
When I’m painting with a water brush away from home, I plan ahead and cut the top cuff off of a sport sock that has no mate and wear it on my non dominant wrist. This way I don’t need to carry a rag. I just wipe the excess off my brush and keep on painting 🧑🎨
That's a great tip, thanks!
Hello 👋 how are you doing?
I pre treat my coloring book pages when they are of a heavier paper with clear gesso. I use two layers and dry them with a hair dryer in between on back & front of the page. Then I place the book under heavier book over night to eliminate curling of paper. Then I'm all set to use watercolor. This works really well on the Basford books and other coloring books with heavier paper quality.
Haha, another convert to adult colouring books! Seriously, these books have really helped my brush technique, colour blending and stress levels. They reawakened my love of art and because of them, I started with watercolour again - first time for 40 years.
I love your videos. Thanks for all the effort you put into them.
Hello 👋
I am super impressed by your technique in these books! I'm apart of a LOT of coloring groups on facebook and I can honestly say, the tiny amount of coloring you did would have stood out like a sore thumb (in the best way). I just ordered some gouache paints. Those are supposed to lay down a lot easier in coloring books (as you already would know, I'm sure). I can't wait to learn a few things from you!
This is one of the many reasons I love your channel! Coloring books aren’t on my want list, but some people love them. What an awesome way to introduce coloring book enthusiasts to the world & joy of watercolor! 👍
Hello Anne how are you doing today?
In the middle of this virus pandemic. This has really helped me
I've always been fascinated (and intimidated) by watercolors. You've inspired me to go ahead and give it a try. Your work is beautiful, thanks for taking the time to share your talent.
Hello 👋
so glad you made this video!! I had been wondering the same thing. It totally makes sense to practice blending and shading in a coloring book like this. Can't wait to get started!
+Keiry DePaolis 👍
You never fail to make me smile. Thank you ..... I am also enjoying learning about watercolors.
Thank you very much for this video! I really want to pick up watercolour painting again and in colouring books as well, especially using that aquabrush watercolour paintbrush! They look very useful and convenient to get fine details!
Your one of my favorite teachers on watercolor tech. and hints. Thank you.
I use water soluble pencils and then go over with brush and water in my Secret Garden colouring book. It works great and never ruins or leaks through the paper! Great video! I enjoyed it very much.
+frihed my secret garden book is of the same quality as the second to last book you showed. I don't have the one meant for wet medium.
+frihed Me too! I use the Faber WC pencils, how about you?
Colour Crazy hi! Do Faber Castell WC pencils work well on Secret Garden book?
One has to remember when 'Secret Garden' came out is was for coloured pencil! People used so many different types of media I think the company was overwhelmed. Think of the changes, pictures now only on one side of paper, some books have a black backing to the pages and much thicker paper to support various media. Also companies that make all that different media must be so happy.
I love water color, and I agree that these coloring books are a great way to practice different coloring techniques, and it's so fun, imo.
👍
Why spam his page, go elsewhere
Hello 👋 how are you doing?
Thank you immensely for putting this video together! I've recently gotten some watercolors and am looking forward to trying some of these tips in my own books!
Hello 👋 how are you doing?
thank you for this, I love the watercolor medium in my colour books. Watercolour pans as opposed to the pencils. very helpful. Really love your videos
What an awesome video! I've been wondering about just this thing! I actually have the Enchanted Forest book already, so I suspect you know what I'll be doing tomorrow ;)
+K Werner Design Thanks so much. That means a lot coming from a CZcams pro of your caliber! Have fun with the coloring!
+K Werner Design Hahaha...I was just thinking of posting this on FB and tagging you on this. I LOVE Steve!!!! Steve, thanks so much for this review!!
+Sally Yotz You're quite welcome!
Hello 👋
Really fun tutorial, I especially related to your comment about how addictive adult coloring is in the best possible way.
I searched and bought the "artist edition" Secret Garden colouring book and two types of the refillable water brushes. You've inspired me to try out water colour. I really enjoy your videos, your a talented artist.
Thank you!
I just did the same!!
I’m going to do that
How are you doing karen
Enjoyed this video as a student I'm in my second year into learning watercolor thru you and many other artist ...I'm excited to learn that theres a watercolor preprinted WC book it's going to supply helpme with growing my shading and tonal value techniques and such, sometimes I need help upgrading my tonal values and shading and I think this is a great way to learn and to practice on..thanks I saw your video review by a coloring ytube who suggested looking at your video and even tho I'd been watching you for a over a year I knew exactly who she was talking about I'm like what he has a review on watercoloring in books awesome, as I was just looking to expand my knowledge on a good watercolor practice book thank you....I'm hoping that barnes noble still has this book I can purchase...if not I guess amazon will be a look see.....
Ooooooo! I know what I want for Christmas!! I especially like to see how a pretty but otherwise boring line drawing magically transforms into something amazing with the blending and shading! Beautiful! Thanks for doing this.
+Claire Bureau You're quite welcome!
Hello 👋 Claire how are you doing?
Didn't know such a thing existed.Even though I don't have the time to do it myself,it makes me happy to know it's there.
Really nice, thank you for the demo. I want to try this using the water brush.
wonderful video! I have been in a coloring fest over this holiday and loving every minute of it. I would like to also suggest Peerless watercolors. I used them with my Enchanted Forest Postcards and they turned out very well. Thank you for helping my life to be more CREATIVE!! Happy Coloring all!
+RuthAnn R. Thanks!
I love that you made this video-- I've literally sat with these books in my hands in the store and wondered if I could watercolor in them. It was fun to get some ideas on how to do that and rest assured that it wouldn't completely fall apart.
👍
Hello 👋
Yay! Im a new subbie- Just jumped on the coloring book ride myself and not sure what to "color" with- which led me to your channel, So glad to see I can watercolor in them! cannot wait
👍
thank you for showing different things to color
What a great video! I just discovered the digital coloring books but I love this idea!! Thank you for the great review and tips for watercoloring! Look forward to more!
👍
Thank you for this video! I didn't even know there was a artist version of Secret Garden! I learned a lot. I am going to order that watercolor pen now!
+Tina R Its an amazing book!
Love love love your videos. I normally do colored pencil, but now I'm looking forward to trying your water color techniques.
+Mona Moon 👍
I am really grateful you did a video like this. I am a beginner watercolour painter and I think this would be a good way for me to learn to use the medium and practice the techniques like you said. I will have to give these a try. Thanks!
Yes it can be. The papers in coloring books react differently and are a little less predictable than watercolor paper, but I do think it's a good way to practice.
I also* would like to know about prepping the various pages, particlarly in the Johanna Basford books (regular and artist’s edition), with clear gesso or watercolor ground. I really admire your ability to be positive about using watercolor pencils and watercolor in these books. It helps to make painting seem more accessible and enjoyable for those of us who struggle from a lack of art background/drawing skills. *ref. previous comment
I love this! I've never stopped coloring since I was a kid. It's new to so many people and I've joined so many coloring groups on facebook now. I am going to share this video with all my coloring friends and I hope it gets you tons more subscribers. Excellent video!
+Susie LaLonde Thanks so much, I appreciate that!
I love your openness to try the coloring books. I do the Secret Garden and will do some practice on it now that you have inspired me to do so. Thank you for expanding the options to keep enjoying art without boundaries!
👍
Hello 👋 how are you doing?
Johanna Basford has a CZcams channel as well and is very informative.
You always make me smile! Thanks for keeping things simple, fun and relaxing!😊💗👍🏼
Hello 👋
As a complete newbie to watercolour pencils, i was scrolling through CZcams for some
help & inspiration.
I found it! Thank you so much...
I actually have these exact pencils.
I cannot tell you how much i absolutely adore that introduction.
'Run for the hills' - hahaha - i love it...
Thank you for making me laugh in these terribly dark days.
Hi from Gilly - in England! x
Hello 👋
Love your commentary and good information in your search for using watercolors in coloring books. You made me smile with your last comments of "this all being an alien plot, to turn me into a pod-person...." Yep, you got it! So easy to loose your self inside this art form.
Hello 👋
This is amazing! Going to get art supplies now!
Fun!! Great Christmas presents for those who love to try painting in a very simple way. My daughter in law will be delighted! Thx!
Hello 👋
I'm new to colouring books and have the new Joanna Basford World of Flower coloring book and was wondering how I was going to colour this. I am not a pencil crayon fan and LOVE Tombow markers but was trying them out and finding they did not blend very well on the paper used for the colouring book. MInd you I am also new to makers so I may be a schmuck and don't have the technique down pat. I tried using them as water colours ( putting some of the ink on a tile and picking up the colour off of that ) and VOILA!!! Shading and blending!!!! Your video was a lifesaver :) Ty so much for this. I wish I could use the markers straight on the paper though because the colour seems a lot more muted when using them with water.
Thanks Steve I just quickly spent about$100.00 in coloring books, I am anxious to try it out!
Hello 👋
I got the Johanna Basford Secret Garden and the Pepin floral still life postcard coloring book. I find small postcard is easier for me to handle and am having fun coloring them. I have some color bleeding on the secret garden ones, not sure I use too much water during blending. Haven't tried the Pepin ones yet. They are so beautiful and I don't want to ruin them. So I have been practicing on the secret garden ones.
Thank you for the coloring book review that is just for watercolor media. I'm visiting my sister soon for a week and wanted to bring something that would be fun for us to work on together. When my other sister arrives from CA it will be a watercolor party! And we should all be able to take something home with us when we're done. We'll be thinking of you Steve while sharing a good time.
Hello 👋 Janet how are you doing?
so awesome... I gonna try with my watercolor pencils in the Enchanted Forest book .... great idea
+Marisabel Boscan You'll love it. Makes for rich saturated colors using that method.
Definitely answered the question I had about what works for the various adult coloring books. I think I will try the water color pencils now having this new knowledge.
+ruevixen 👍
love getting your thoughts on the coloring books.. I discovered that you could do the water colors in some of hte books as well.. Especially love those that have flowers.. Thanks for sharing...
+suzy hayden 👍
Thanks for this nifty video! I enjoy both watercolors and adult coloring books. Never thought to combine the two! Now I know what I'm doing this weekend. :) Happy holidays!
+Vaylia Cool, have fun!
Your painting is awaking and thanks for sharing your advice and tips on these books. I got the animal kingdom book for Xmas and I cannot wait to try it out.
I like the colouring books very much, but I love that water brush! Holy cow! That would be great for sketching too! Thanks!
They work quite well for both!
Would love to see the finshed piece haha. I would also love to see a video of a lot of your work, maybe your favorite pieces over the years.
Hello 👋 Sherri how are you doing?
Ok you'rethe best at explaining all about watercolor. I'm going to start. I have a couple Johanna Basford books.
Hello 👋 how are you doing?
Upon rediscovering my old watercolour materials stash, I've been experimenting with watercolour in colouring books.
I have been using it on my Johanna Basford page a day calendar which is a sheet a day in a loose box. The paper is thin, but actually quite strong. It takes pencil, water markers and paint quite well. But it will buckle.
I've also used it in a book with slightly stronger paper, but again a good bit of buckling going on.
Sooooo, I iron them flat! And it works.
I wait for the page to dry fully (I use an old travel hair drying on the low setting to help this process) and then I put the sheet face down on my ironing board, turn the steam setting off on the iron and set the iron to it's gentle setting and I iron it. Perfectly flat result to carry on with another layer.
In books, I put a few sheets of paper down onto the board first, open the book out and lay the page onto it and put a sheet of paper over the back and again iron it.
Only caveat is that if you have used coloured pencil on the back of a painted page you can't iron it.
I was pretty amazed that this worked and allows me to use wet washes for backgrounds without destroying the paper.
Hello 👋 how are you doing?
I'm here because I recently bought a book of colour-in postcards which I thought would be nice to watercolour and send to my friends. Thanks for this!!
Hello 👋 how’s your day going?
I was wondering about if I could use watercolor on my adult coloring books, and THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for posting this! I can now enjoy a relaxing coloring session during my break time.
+Capucine N Yeah!
the first time i heard about the adult coloring books, i immediately thought about using watercolor..... so far i have picked up a book and started, but this video really opened my eyes to the PAPER.....thanks for posting this!
You bet! Have fun with it!
Oh WOW!! Steve, this is just awesome!!! I love water coloring, this is all I use for my hand made cards. A dear friend of mine gave me one of this books not so long ago and, even if it says there that you can water color the pages, the paper is not to thick and it really didn't work to well so, I grabbed my Prismacolor pencils and some paper stumps dipped in baby oil and it worked so beautifully. Thank you for this video, Steve and, about this new trend for adults.....I think it's great to do something this fun and challenging while waiting in doctor or dentist offices. I take mine while waiting for my grandchildren at the Orthodontist offices, sometimes it's a quick 30 min. wait but other times it can take up to an hour, people around me comment that this is so much better than watching tv. while waiting, I hope they go to the store and get one for themselves. Thanks again for the inspiration.
Yes, great way to pass the time!
Hello 👋
What a great vid! Often wondered how watercolor painting would go on these books, so now I know.
Thanks, Steve.
You bet! Thanks for watching!
I appreciate you taking the time to make this video. I had prematurely jumped on the adult coloring book bandwagon since I love to color and paint, but have (not yet, at least) any drawing skills. I bought several books online and was very disappointed in the paper quality. Though I'm not an artist, I have been paper crafting a few years and have learned to appreciate how paper quality can affect the results. I had no idea that Johanna Basford's books were available in Artist's Editions. I've already ordered one to practice watercolor skills and will probably give my other coloring books to my 11 year old niece.
+Carol Melancon 👍
Hello 👋 Carol how are you doing?
I sometimes use watercolor brush markers for my coloring...Tombows are my favorite but there are other good quality ones out there (Mars Graphic and Marvy +) Brush markers are super portable but you still have to be mindful of not saturating or over brushing the paper too much. I now check the weight of the paper carefully and am pretty picky. And I usually put most of them back on the shelf. One coloring book that I can highly recommend Georgie Woolridges' Mindful Coloring- Birds book. Heavier than typical and beautifully designed by the artist herself...she has a few others too for turtles, sea creatures and horses. And yes, you can learn an awful lot about shading and how colors work together and drawing repetitive shapes more easily while you're doing relaxing color work.
Hello Loomis how are you doing?
omg! this is such a good video! I am currently 18 and have been researching for 5 months about what are the best coloring books out there, watercolors, brushes, and this video just helped me so much! thank you for this video! I learned a lot as a young artist! (:
+Shane Tumala 👍 You're quite welcome!
I've been looking at these books for awhile, too. I didn't realize there's an Artist Edition of the Secret Garden. I'm definitely going to look for that at my local store. Thanks for this great video :), cannot wait to see more. I hope you have a good holiday!
+sl33p1e Thanks. Happy Holidays to you also. The Artist Edition is really nice. I hope they do all of her books in that format.
Hello 👋
ahaha it was a pleasure to watch this video. i'm just starting to dabble in watercolor. i would not have considered buying these kinds of book but now I might! :) good to know even a professional still enjoys the simple pleasures of a coloring book!
Indeed I do!
Great vid. I've been seeing these color books and love the illustrations in them. So detailed and gorgeous.
They are fascinating aren't they?
I love my colouring books and have used watercolours successfully in most of them. your right about The Enchanted Forest, the paints dont really like it but inks work really well! thanks for making this video and showing other artists the wonderful world of colouring books!
Yes, I did notice that after priming the surface a bit with a sort of pre wash then color went down better. Sort of opened up the fibers I think. It's the plate finish that's the problem. WC pencils did fabulously.
Hi 👋
That's awesome, Steve! Love your videos. I've seem many of these books in stores and have always wondered how to make the best use of them. You've saved me a good amount of money and time! Thanks, enjoyed it!
+NK MAGGARD 👍
Hello 👋 how are you doing?
I was just thinking - “maybe I could use a color book to practice my coloring skill…” and Voila!!! Thank you so much for sharing this timely review 😃
Hello 👋
Thank you so much for this!!!!! I have already began to experiment with Watercolors and watercolor pencils and didn't know an artist like you are was don't it too 😊
+Lesly Chamate 👍
Loved this have the books but never thought of water colors going t try this next love the verse at the end thank you God bless
Hello 👋 how are you doing?
Great Idea! Just ordered the "Secret Garden" coloring book. Thank you for the video.
+Rosalie Fink You'll love it. Thanks!
Hi - This video is completely amazing. Thank you! I have been "tracing" the coloring book pages onto water color paper, then playing with the lines in different color of pens. Doodling at its finest!
+Victoria Meyn 😄👍
Hello 👋
If you have a printer/copier you can also use that to transfer a coloring book page onto watercolor paper by scanning the page and printing it on watercolor paper. OR, you can use a light pad and trace or paint on watercolor paper with the coloring page underneath (as long as it’s one sided) and have the light shine up so it’s easy to see the lines. My daughter and I use both these methods all the time. Etsy also has tons of printable coloring pages which makes both these methods even easier.
Keep in mind though that most ink jet ink is water soluble and creates a mess when you rewet it. I always trace from a light pad.
I teach an art class to adults with specIal needs on Fridays and I do coloring. I used to do my own art on that day, but my students became intimidated and didn't want to paint or draw, so now I let them do the art while I do the coloring. Another person I really like is Joanne Fink, her coloring books only have a design on one side so you don't ruin the other side. I have tried watercolor pencils and they seem to work well on most books. Thanks for all your videos. I really enjoyed you and Angela Fehr swapping channels. Since that video I haven't been able to get over the sepia, I ran out the next day and bought a tube. Thanks for taking the time to do these videos.
+macgurrl I put the sepia and paynes gray on my Christmas wish list. Happy Thanksgiving!
+macgurrl Awesome! Thanks for the comments and thanks for watching!
Beautiful color blending on all of them.
+Patton Kirkpatrick 👍
The adult coloring books are a great idea,with beautiful illustrations,thanks for the demo.
+Maria Kellner You bet!
Hi 👋
Hello 👋 how are you doing today hope you’re having a great day today?
What an informative and on target video! I have been waiting for this type of video. You are a joy!
+Sheila Brifman Very kind thanks!
Hi 👋
Thanks a bunch for the info - love your videos!
thank you for the information i was looking for I'm new to this and looking for a easy way to get started and wasn't sure what to buy I'm stuck in a hospital bed and after 2 months I'm looking for a easy way to do art in bed to relax so you were a lot of help for a beginner who can't get out to get the correct information and not wanting to waste my money buying the wrong thing so I'm hoping my next 6 to 8 months of bed rest will be more enjoyable with your help and was also thankful for your video of how each different product works with excessive medical bills I'm glad to get started without wasting money i love your work and talent and plan to access your videos after i order my supplies next week for any questions hoping this will bring me much joy be blessed
+cherrie hammonds Glad it was a help. Hopefully coloring will be a useful part of your healing process.
Pepin has a line of coloring books printed one sided on 90lb paper...they are also printed light grey scale which is really nice.
+Karla Anderson Thanks, great to know.
Kerby Rosanes books have pretty decent paper. So do the Johanna Basford books. I usually make a copy of the page I’d like to use water-media on onto Neenah Card stock. Then, I pretreat the page using Satin Glaze Liquid. I brush a very light coat horizontally and let it dry. I then do the same thing vertically. As a precaution, I’d say it’s best to test your watercolor or marker in a small section in the back of the book. A lot of the illustrators now include “test pages” in their books. Or you can always just use a page that you don’t think you’re going to color as a test page.
Really enjoyed this! I'm off to Amazon to get myself the Johanna Basford one you liked so much.
It's awesome!
Hello 👋 karen how are you doing?
Thank you for the info. It's great as always.
Lovely to see it all in practice - I have enchanted one too and have coloured a few (well I bought for my daughter but you know ... appropriated it) have tryed oil pencils and watercolour and normal but not full out watercolouring so thats next and have put my order in for my christmas present!!!
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Hi 👋
How are you doing today hope you’re having a great day today?
Love your try and see what happens style! I've been using colored pencils with adult coloring books for almost 3 years and decided it is time to jump into the world of watercolors. I look forward to watching more of your videos, as I said, you have a wonderfully relaxed "lets give it a try" attitude! Thanks Steve :-)
I tell viewers all the time that I'm a "chronic experimenter". It has advantages AND drawbacks. LOL!
Hi 👋
I love Enchanted Forest--my favorite so far. I've been eager to get water color pencil crayons--thanks for this great review! Will go out and get some now :)
+LE123LE123 👍
I would like to see the finished pages! Remarkable color blending and choices! I love it!
Hello 👋
I have several (3+) books of varying quality. Almost looks like your stack. Yes, Joanna's are the best (and I think the first) out there. I've used so many types of mediums. Gel pens, inktense, watercolor pencils, and many types of markers. I think that alcohol markers are worse for wear than watercolors! They typically always bleed through. my preference has been water-based mediums..most fun!
Great video! Thanks for getting it out there. I always get excited when I see your video in my email box! I know I'm always going to get something out of it.
Lauri.
Thanks for the great comment!
Hello 👋
Johanna’s books are the best! I enjoy using Faber -Castell watercolor pencils and a Pentel aqua brush.
Hi 👋 Linda how are you doing?
Thanks so much for this demonstration. I think it would drive me crazy too paint in these book. Kinda like putting a puzzle together. Thanks again. Merry Christmas.
+jean milhollin Not everyone's cup of tea, thats for sure!
I use watercolor with white goache on Strathmore Toned paper all the time. It's not the same as watercolor paper, but it still works really well.
Thank you, I love your tutorials, hoping for more!
More coming soon!
love your videos dover publications has a catalog of coloring books and have a few books for specificly water color they are really cool
+Monica Osborn 👍
A thin layer of clear gesso works great on most any paper to strengthen it and make it usable with most mediums.
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Hi 👋
You sir, just became my watercolor teacher :). Subscribed!
+Gloria Velez welcome!
Love that scripture!
This is a lovely video - thank you!
Gasp! I never even dared dream... but thank you for trying this out and sharing! I've go5 a busy weekend ahead but I'll be sure to squeeze in some colouring/watercolour time :)
Cool! Have fun!
Applying a thin layer of clear gesso can be helpful sometimes :)
Happy Painting All
Hi 👋
Awesome I just got an adult coloring book to travel with and watercolor pencils. Thanks for the review. 😊
+Shannon Sand You bet! 😊
Hello 👋 how are you doing today?
This is new for me! Last one instantly LOOKS way better. Should give them a try sometime in my life...
-A