Chrissy Morin took her first leap into the adult coloring world through a cat coloring book. As a self-proclaimed cat nut, the book caught her eye. She grabbed some old colored pencils lying around the house and decided to give it a try.
That was just the beginning.
“I color at least three days a week,” said Morin, who now has about 20 coloring books. “I like to do it while I’m watching TV —I’m a multi-tasker. It also helps keep you from snacking.”
Coloring is not just for kids anymore.
Intricate adult coloring books are the latest lifestyle craze with millions of fans, booming sales and libraries jumping in to host workshops.
They are often the first books seen while walking into bookstores and are topping the Amazon bestselling list each month — six adult coloring books are on the list for 2016.
“Coloring connects people to their child-self and it brings back some really great memories for people,” said Jennifer Lepke, a licensed creative art therapist.
But it’s not just a national trend. The adult coloring craze has taken off in the Denver metro area over the past nine months:
The books have been top sellers at the Michael’s on South Broadway in Highlands Ranch for the better part of the past year.
Morin, who lives in Parker, created a Facebook group, Coloring Book Addicts of Colorado, and a blog, coloringbookaddict.com, where she talks all things coloring.
The Parker Library held a coffee and coloring event in November to address the craze.
“I saw a trend with adults, in particular, and wanted to introduce coloring to adults who may not have known of its meditative benefits,” said Brittni Ehrhart, branch program liaison at the Parker Library.
The event, held again in January, drew 34 men and women, with more people on a waiting list. Because of its popularity, Ehrhart said she will host a monthly coloring event at the library beginning in May.
The Bemis Public Library in Littleton also jumped in and started a monthly adult coloring event.
But why are so many adults connecting with this childhood pastime?
Morin turns to coloring to fuel her need to create without the mess of traditional crafting. But many adults are hoping to find zen between the lines of their coloring books.
“It is a stress releaser,” said Lepke, who studied people’s moods before and after coloring. It “has therapeutic qualities because it can be meditative, repetitive in nature, and requires focus.”
But Lepke, who is in the process of creating a coloring book with a group of creative art therapists, warned that some books can be too detailed and actually create pressure for some people.
“But sometimes the detailed ones can create the flow experience — when you’re highly focused on something and the world fades away — and it becomes meditative,” she said.
No matter why adults are coloring, Lepke said it’s great they are connecting with their creative side.
“Art-making is often geared toward kids and I always find that so odd that there isn’t more art happening that’s geared toward adults,” she said. “I think we all have a desire to be creative. We all have a desire to engage in some sort of creative outlet. And I think the coloring book is a simple and contained way to tap into that.”
Zen between the lines
The adult coloring craze has people relaxing with coloring books
