Colouring In for Adults

[crikey*mate]

Are there any other Colourists out there?

If there are maybe we can use this thread to talk about our preferred illustrators and equipment?

I am looking for a similar illustrator to Kerby Rosane. I've pretty much finished all of his books so looking for a replacement.

I did find a series called Mythographic on line which I think may be similar but I don't know for sure? Has anyone else seen these?

I also love Johanna Basford's books particularly Magical Jungle (I've completed it 5 times!) and Enchanted Forrest and Ivy and the Inky Butterfly (currently doing both these for the second time).

I cannot stand Millie Marrotta - her work just overwhelms me, I have NFI where to even start with it - they all just look too hectic and chaotic to me.

EQUIPMENT

PENCILS

My favourites are Prismacolor (wax) and Faber Castell Polychromas (oil) The Lyra Rembrandts (oil) are pretty good too.

I use some Derwent Coloursoft for animals but apart from that I haven't had much success with any of the other Derwent ranges. User error for sure, I know others who swear by various types but I can't get the desired colour lay down from them.

WATERCOLOUR PENCILS

• Faber Castell Albrecht Durer
• Derwent Inktense

PENS
I use Tombow dual brush and Faber Castell Pitt markets
For very fine work I use the Steadler Triplus Fineliners

GEL PENS
Favourites are uniglo Signo - open stock only, limited colours but best white one on the market

For coloured gels, the best I've found are the Crayola Signature but I've also got a few sets from Aldi which are really good despite their very cheap price.

[crikey*mate]

Daria Song's books look promising, has anyone seen them "in person"? Know anything about their paper quality?

[imastawka]

Crikey, I know nothing about it.

But daughter colours, a lot.   She was an art student in her previous life.

She photocopies the pages.  That way she can try different shadings etc.

She has spent a fair bit of money over the years getting a vast array of pencils.

[crikey*mate]

I can't draw for nuts Stawks, so I have to colour in LOL

Finding the right pencils wasn't an inexpensive quest, that's for sure.

Could you ask your daughter if she's used any of the Caran D’ache pencils? I'm thinking I might like to try those but they're a bit expensive to just "have a go" iykwim when I'm happy with the ones I've got.

[icyfroth]

I used to colour in when I was a kid. Then, as a grown up, I coloured in with my granddaughter, it was a fun thing to do together.

But as an adult? Nuh.

A million better things to do.

[imastawka]

*Googles Caran D’ache pencils.

Noice, but 'spensive.

She has watercolour pencils, but unsure of the brand.    I'll ask.

Have you tried watercolour pencils?

[not_for_sale2025]

I spoke with my son who draws and colours in. He uses Faber Castell because some are not that expensive and he finds they allow him to blend colours nicely. I recently bought him a new laptop and a Walcom Tablet to draw and colour in. He is experimenting with the tablet. Do you have any experience with the tablet, and maybe some tips?

[crikey*mate]

I mainly use the Derwent Inktense Stawks but I do have the FC Albrecht Durer ones, I've mainly been colouring the Kerby Rosane books lately and i get the better results from the Inktense for that style and I tend to use regular watercolour paints for background.

My daughter and Hubs are proficient artists though so maybe I can get them to give me some freehand watercolour lessons lol

[crikey*mate]

Hello not for sale, *warm smile*

Do you know which Faber Castell s he uses? With some of my earlier ones I found that they weren't light fast so they faded after a few months. The Polychromas however are light fast but on the expensive side unfortunately. They do however wear well so they don't require as much sharpening as others so do last a lot longer.

I'm not very good at blending but can do so fairly well with the Prismacolors - one of the reasons their probably my favourite. Because they're wax based, they're buttery and smooth. I do ok with the Lyra Rembrandt too(oil based) but I get far better results from the Prismacolor.

I am hopeless with blending both Faber Castell and Derwent 😞 - even the top end ones. But I know others who can create magic with them.

I have never heard of the Walcom tablet, I'm sorry so I have no tips, useful or otherwise for you.

[crikey*mate]

The good thing about most of the higher end pencils (and pens) is that you can buy them singly/open stock. So if one colour runs out before the rest of the set you can just replace that colour, you don't have to buy a whole new set iykwim.

@Stawks - I could probably buy just a few Caran D’ache singles and 'have a go' I spose but I can't decide if I want the Pablo or Luminescents?

Derwent also have a new range out which I really want to try but as I've had no success with any other Derwent, I'm hesitant...