Adult coloring has become very popular, and for good reason! the simple act of coloring has been shown to relieve stress and is even considered a form of meditation. I love to spend a night at home watching a movie or playing music, drinking some wine and coloring my favorite coloring book. Not only is it a relaxing activity, but it also helps me relax my brain after a busy day while giving me a “pressure-free” creative outlet.
The above image is from the book, “Animal Kingdom” by Millie Marotta
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One of my favorite parts of adult coloring is choosing a color palette. As a trained graphic designer and illustrator, I enjoy putting on my “designer hat” when choosing colors and love finding new inspiration for unique color combinations. Today I’m going to share with you some of my favorite sources of color inspiration, tips on choosing colors, and how to make your own color swatch reference sheet.
find inspiration
nature
Nature is my favorite source for inspiration. just get out in your own backyard or walk around your neighborhood. you can take photos of the colors you see or choose some fresh flowers and use the bouquet as your color inspiration.
magazines & catalogs
Sometimes I discover a beautiful color palette when flipping through a magazine or catalogue. mark the pages you like or tear off the pages and use them as a color reference.
online
There are great resources online for color inspiration. Search for “color palettes” on pinterest, visit design seeds, or check out the color collective.
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if you have a smartphone, try playing with the adobe color app. you can take a photo of anything and the app will automatically detect colors and create color swatches directly from your photo.
how to choose colors
limit your color palette
See what happens when you limit the number of different colors you use. I like to stick with around twelve colors, but feel free to use more or less.
Image above from the book, “Color Like Crazy! Kaleidoscope Mandala Designs Vol. 1” by Mary Tanana
includes a neutral color
try to add at least one neutral color like cream/brown/grey/black/white (no color). you’ll be amazed how including a neutral or two really makes your other brighter colors pop!
all hot or all fresh
Arrange your colored pencils in the order of the rainbow, then limit your color choices to be warm (yellow, orange, red, pink) or cool (blue, green, purple).
50-count crayola colored pencils shown.
create color swatches
Once you’ve chosen your twelve or more colors, try them out before you start coloring your page to make sure you really like them. I like to create a quick color swatch of each of my pencils for quick reference as I color. you can make your swatches directly on your coloring page if there is space (see photo above) or you can use a separate sheet of paper. try trying different shades by coloring lightly (low pressure or single coat) and then coloring darker (extra pressure or multiple coats).
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One last tip: If you plan to spend more than one sitting coloring a single page, save the pencils from your color palette. instead of storing them in their box, tie them together with a rubber band so they’re easy to access for the next coloring session.
Shown: Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencil, 72 Assorted Color Set
Now it’s time to start coloring!
Hey, I’ve also created a free coloring page for you! you can download it here.
If your addiction is out of control, you’ll need books and more free coloring pages to download and print.
Do you want more dye? check out this post on how to color like a boss.
and don’t forget the essential list of coloring supplies.
and once you’ve finished your masterpiece, here are some ideas on how to reuse and display your finished coloring pages, including this coaster project.
fix it!
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