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Do you like to color?

Jaeteuk May 6th

Does anyone like to color when they are feeling stressed? When the adult coloring books first came out, I bought a whole bunch (at that time, I worked at a place where I get employee discount with purchases). Now I have a good collection of them sitting on my cupboard, some I've started coloring with, others, I've just left it. Instead, I downloaded a coloring app on my phone, which I color everyday. I know it's different than having real color pencil in hand and filling in the lines of a picture, but it still somehow gives me a sense of satisfaction from every picture I choose to color (fill-in-the-space). 

I read an article recently, saying that coloring is good for our health. It helps us practice mindfulness and relieves stress. Below is the article, if anyone is interested in reading it:

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/coloring-is-good-for-your-health#:~:text=It%20calms@20the%20brain%20and,coloring%20session%20holds%20great%20value

For anyone who is interested in Interior Design and coloring, I recommend a book, titled "Farmhouse Styles: Interior Design Coloring Book Adults Relaxation and Stress Relief" by "Stella Rose".

What do you like to color? Patterns? Animals? Landscape scenes? Mandalas? Flowers? Birds? Buildings?.. etc.

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@Jaeteuk

I have a couple of apps and like to take time doing online coloring the landscape and animals are in my opinion the most relaxing.... i like birds to color. 

1 reply
Jaeteuk OP May 7th

Birds are always beautiful.. I've been with one app for a couple of years now, been on a streak with its daily pictures. I mostly enjoy Interiors, Birds, Nature, Food, Vehicles - mainly cars and boats.. and whatever catches my eye. I'm doing the daily picture now, as I'm typing this. It's a pot of roses today.

@toughTiger6481

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@Jaeteuk I love to color. I have an assortment of adult coloring books and ones for kids 😁 Sometimes crayons are used and other times colored pencils. It's relaxing and helps when I'm feeling anxious

7 replies
Jaeteuk OP May 7th

That's great! What do you prefer to use when coloring? 

When I first bought those adult coloring books, they came in a pack with markers that were double-ended. I don't personally own any color pencils though, as I haven't used any since grade school, so I don't even know where they are now.

I find that coloring also helps satisfy my OCD as a perfectionist. Coloring within the lines.

@mytwistedsoul

7 replies

@Jaeteuk I think I lean more towards using the crayons. The colored pencils give softer colors - if that makes sense. I'm thought about getting some of the oil crayons because I've seen some really nice drawings here that people have made with them. Did the markers do a nice job or did they good through the pages? I thought about getting some but was worried that they might seep through the pages

Oh gosh that would be a good way to satisfy OCD! 
7 replies
Jaeteuk OP May 7th

My brother and I took art classes as an extracurricular activity when we were in elementary school. I did art mainly in water color and pastels. Is that the same as oil crayons? I remember when I used the pastels, it was easier to mix the colors, although my hands often got stained with color, but it can easily be cleaned off with warm water and soap. The markers that came with the package, they were very fine and of light colors, and the pages were thick enough that it didn't bleed through.

@mytwistedsoul

7 replies

@Jaeteuk The pictures with the oil crayons seemed more vivid. From what I understood of them they can be messy to work with. I'll have to see if I can pick some up and give them a try. I'll let you know how they are if you'd like :)


Oh ok! The markers I have a fine point but the colors are pretty dark and the pages don't seem to be very thick
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Jaeteuk OP May 9th

Please do let me know how it goes with the oil crayons!

@mytwistedsoul

5 replies

@Jaeteuk I will! I just picked up some earlier today but haven't had a chance to use them yet. I did run across this link just now that someone has posted pictures of their oil pastel art

https://www.7cups.com/forum/crafts/DrawingSketching_2615/oilpastelart_326039/

4 replies
Jaeteuk OP May 9th

They look beautiful. Reminds me of when I learned how to use pastels. It's been decades though.

@mytwistedsoul

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mytwistedsoul May 11th

@Jaeteuk I thought they were too! Do you ever think of taking it up again? Even if it has been a while it might be nice to work with them again

They didn't have much to choose from but I got these img-20240510-212021634_1715390467.jpg

I'm hoping to find time this weekend to try them out 😊

2 replies
Jaeteuk OP May 11th

I don't really have an artistic gene in me, so to create something from scratch, not really my thing. But I remember that it was fun when I was learning it as a kid.

I can't wait to see how it goes for you!

@mytwistedsoul

1 reply
mytwistedsoul May 14th

@Jaeteuk Hey so I tried them out and have mixed feelings. I think having the right paper and the proper tools would make a difference. Blending sponges or something because I tried to blend just using my fingers and it didn't go to well lol. I'll have to look into getting some :) And of course my mind went completely blank when trying to come up with something 😅


Aww hey you don't need to be really artistic to do something. If you get enjoyment out of it and it makes you happy that's all that matters! ❤️
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@Jaeteuk I like to colour mandalas.

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Jaeteuk OP May 10th

Oh yes, mandalas give a very soothing effect after they have been filled with color.

@communicativePond1728

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@Jaeteuk yes they do!

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loveguru May 11th

I love colouring.


@ahappyme92 do you??

hambagucat May 12th

yes, definitely! i have a love for creativity and calm, solitary activities, so coloring definitely checks all of my boxes. 🎨🖌️

MrsBrat02 May 16th

I love to color! I actually just ordered a beautiful color pencil set and about 5 more adult coloring books today. My favorite coloring book right now is my chicken one, we began raising chickens about 2 years ago and I immediately fell in love with them!

1 reply
Jaeteuk OP May 17th

What kind of chickens are in the coloring book? Are they cartoonish or more real-life chickens? Sounds very cute.

@MrsBrat02

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I have a huge collection of adult coloring books that I love to color when I’m stressed and need to be busy. I love the curse word books. They crack me up. I ended up collecting gel pens to color with and now I use them for journals too.

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Jaeteuk OP June 6th

Oh, gel pens! I never thought of using those to color. The ink probably get used up quickly though. I used to use gel pens to write journals, each paragraph a different color! I turned to doing coloring on an app on my phone now, but I do still have some patterned coloring books

@versatilecat1977

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I use the colors in my journals for my mood. If I’m really angry it’s red, if it’s an ok day usually purple, when I’m writing to someone in my journal I use their favorite color or whatever color I think of as representing them to me. I have cheap gel pens and they work just as well as the expensive ones. Sometimes the cheaper ones work better than the expensive ones. I just love using color.

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Thanks for reminding me about this mindfulness activity. I used to enjoy this. I would print out pages off the Internet.

dhabib June 8th

@Jaeteuk I do I need it I write a lot I have seperating away from my dad my dad and I have been fighting it’s unhealthy for me to be in the house with him I’m trying to escape be free just leave leave him he just wants me to deal with him the past less healing suffer like being in chains it’s not okay 

1 reply
Jaeteuk OP June 8th

I'm sorry to hear that you have a toxic relationship with your dad. I think the best way to resolve it, is to stay away from him as much as you can. Even when he tries to dump everything onto you, that's just his manipulative way to control you. Do what you can to stay away from him. Sending you good vibes.

@dhabib

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MellowMusic June 10th

@Jaeteuk

Coloring is truly so satisfying! I especially love paint by numbers because they take away the stress of choosing colors (I get super caught up on getting the perfect color combinations if left to my own devices 🙈).

To those who have VR headsets, I recommend the app Vermillion - it lets you have the entire oil painting experience in VR and also has a paint by numbers mode! It also lets you choose the virtual environment and ambience, so I paint in an aesthetic vintage looking room with pouring rain outside. It is so relaxing! 💗


1 reply
Jaeteuk OP June 10th

That VR experience sounds so relaxing! Painting by numbers sure help take off stress in choosing the right colors. 

@MellowMusic

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