WAYS TO COLOR IN THE ANYWHERE COLORING BOOK
THOUGHT POST 16
In this post, I share my favorite ways (+ tips) to color in The Anywhere Coloring Book by Lo Mar’s Art, but I’ll start by mentioning my small list of current coloring supplies. *Note: This post does not include ways to use the journal pages in The Anywhere Coloring Book.
Side Note: For those unaware, The Anywhere Coloring Book by Lo Mar’s Art is a coloring book & journal mash-up that is filled with wisdom, a lesson about neuroplasticity and the power of our thoughts & emotions, and journaling techniques to help bring deliberate focus to thoughts that feel good & appreciation. To learn more about The Anywhere Coloring Book, check it out in the shop!
BEFORE WE BEGIN, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO MENTION IS THAT THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY TO USE THE ANYWHERE COLORING BOOK. I created this baby with the intention of allowing one’s own creative freedom to fly forth and shine in any way that feels best to the individual using it. And since this is an abstract coloring book, the opportunities to let that creativity run wild, are endless.
SECTION 1: LO’S CURRENT COLORING SUPPLIES
Ohuhu Dual Tip Marker Pens (0.4mm fine tip & 1-2mm brush tip) – WATER BASED
I LOVE THESE MARKERS and I use them the most. Since they are water based and not oil based, they do not bleed through the paper…unless you go wild and soak the paper with ink in the same spot hah, but I have only experienced that once and the ink was still barely noticeable on the other side.
Castle Arts Premium Soft Touch Colored Pencils
For an alternative (& cheaper) option, I really like the Amazon Basics Premium SOFT CORE Colored Pencils as well. Great bang for your buck.
Prismacolor Colorless Blender Pencil
Just a nice little addition to soften color pencil streaks and blend different colors.
Mr. Pen Felt-tip pen
I love this pen so much. It doesn't bleed through and frequently use it for line work (discussed further below)
Electric Pencil Eraser
Haha I actually just bought this and am amazed at how well it works. Lots of options under $12. The cheapest I saw was for $6.
A simple Pentel R.S.V.P ballpoint pen
Just a great pen and has been one of my favorites for years, which is saying something because I loveeee pens well regular store bought pens haha not experienced with those fancy pens yet.
QUICK TIP: I LOVE mixing markers and colored pencils because it helps the color pop more when you first put a layer of marker then top it with colored pencil. Also, using both in separate spaces on the coloring page adds a nice variation. There are lots of videos that teach that technique on YouTube.
SECTION 2: FUN WAYS TO COLOR IN THE ANYWHERE COLORING BOOK
“I love to view each space/shape, as it’s own world – like many little canvases or blank pieces of freedom on one page. If you feel led to do so, pull back and look at the page you selected for a moment. What do you see? Do you see a whole landscape, or many independent pieces, or images of something realistic, or even nothing at all? Color what you feel, create what you envision.”
-Lo Mar (9/17/22 5:15pm)
Below are some of my favorite ways to use The Anywhere Coloring Book and the ones that feel best to me as I partake in my daily coloring sessions. I often use many of these ways on a single coloring page, but they can also be used solo.
WAY #1 - The Good Ol’ Solid Colors
A reliable and true method that never goes wrong.
Sticking with solids colors was actually a great way for me to learn how to blend colors together, play with new supplies, and practice any new color pencil & marker techniques
FUN FACT: I was brand new to the color pencil and marker art world when I first created & started using The Anywhere Coloring Book so I watched YouTube videos to learn the blending basics and I practiced with many trial and error situations. If you’re curious, I highly recommend this Colored Pencil 101 video
WAY #2 – Illusion Line Work & Doodles To Fill in The Spaces
Have you ever seen or visualized optical illusions? Such as those repeating lines or shapes that alternate between two color and appear to be 3D, but are just on a flat piece of paper or computer screen? I like to call that style of art ILLUSION LINE WORK. AND it is my absolute favorite to color/draw. There is such a peaceful and meditative essence that washes over me every time I use it and it’s so easy to create. Once I get in the zone with the flow illusion line work is fun yet repetitive and eye-catching.
DOODLES (squiggles, swirls, etc.) are also thrown into mix of my coloring and often paired with my illusion line work.
Side Note: keep a look out for my posts about neuroscience & art studies! Lots of fascinating research! One day I hope The Anywhere Coloring Book will be used in these scientific studies!!
WAY #3 - Write Words, Phrases, and/or Poetry In Blank Spaces
I love taking my black felt-tip pen and writing good feeling words (ex. love, joy, peace, etc.) within some of the blank spaces then coloring around those spaces with bright colors.
On page 8 in The Anywhere Coloring Book, I share a plethora of good feeling words and phrases that can be used in this way or on the journal page to elicit more good feelings to focus on.
WAY #4 – Fill The Spaces With Realistic Drawings
Turn the coloring page into a realistic image, or fill the blank space with different realistic drawings, like portraits or scenery or animals or anything at all.
This is not my specialty, but I’m practicing haha very slowly. If you try this idea out or want to share pictures of any pages you colored in your copy of The Anywhere Coloring Book, I would love to see what you create! Just tag @TheAnywhereColoringBook on instagram.
ANOTHER FUN FACT: I love to leave some spaces blank. I like the contrast between the pops of color and blank spaces and to be blunt, I’m still learning how to blend and shade lighter colors.
Anyway, that is all for this post. Happy Coloring & feel free to follow @LoMarsArt on instagram for more pictures and videos from my frequent color seshes in The Anywhere Coloring Book.
Sending lots of love,
Lo
(Post deemed complete at 9/17/22 5:55pm)