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Color Therapy

February 11th, 2016

In addition to sewing and crocheting, I’m a big fan of coloring as a creative outlet. I don’t have good light anywhere in the house, so I only color on bright winter day when I have a nice amount of natural light. Lately, I’ve been working on Enchanted Forest. I’ve been trying to work through my perfectionist tendencies, choosing colors quickly, coloring a little less perfectly, and in general just trying to enjoy myself. That’s why I call it color therapy, working on some of those tendencies that can get in the way of completing tasks or not enjoying yourself.
Coloring the enchanted forest 2
I even colored this picture out of order *gasp* ever since I was a little girl I have felt the need to color books straight through in order.
Coloring the enchanted forest 1
Coloring the enchanted forest 3
I’ve also been working on blending markers together for a more interesting effect. This is usually something I shy away from because I get too worried about things not blending seamlessly.

What types of creative outlets do you do when you’re not gardening?

11 Comments to “Color Therapy”
  1. Emily on February 11, 2016 at 7:44 am

    I love your color blending! I have Lost Ocean and the Staedtler pens. I have been disappointed by how dark some of the colors are. Are you using any other brand pens that you like? What do you think of Staedtler?

    My mom gave me a Maine coloring book for Christmas. It’s called Color Me: Maine Coloring Book for Artist’s of All Ages by Teddi-Jann Covell. It’s a bit less detailed than Basford’s books. I am using Crayola watercolor pencils on some of the pages, which is such a fun medium.

    Happy coloring!

    Reply to Emily's comment

    • PennyAshevilleNC on February 11, 2016 at 9:43 am

      Yes, do you recommend a marker for blending- the blending in your pictures looks really nice. I love that book theme too!

      Reply to PennyAshevilleNC's comment

    • Susy on February 11, 2016 at 10:22 pm

      I use the Prismacolor Colorless Blender Marker for blending and like it. I use the Staedtler fineliner and the felt tip pens and I only find some of them a bit too dark.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. Nebraska Dave on February 11, 2016 at 9:23 am

    Susy, adult coloring is a big fad here in Nebraska. The last generation just didn’t give up coloring books when they grew up. My grandson that’s 11 is into drawing and adult coloring. Another thing that the last generation didn’t give up in adulthood is chewable gummy vitamins. I had to chuckle at adult gummy vitamins. I don’t know maybe the young adult generation has the answer to stress and pressure in adulthood. Children do have a lot of carefree fun. Why not bring it into our adult life and continue to enjoy it. :-)

    Have a great coloring Winter day.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  3. Kara on February 11, 2016 at 4:53 pm

    Susy – I just got into coloring and have been using colored pencils (actually my boyfriend’s daughters leftovers – so they’re a little well used anyway! :) )

    I’d love to incorporate markers but I’m scared about the colors being too dark or bleeding through. Yours look lovely. What pens do you use??

    Reply to Kara's comment

  4. jennie on February 11, 2016 at 7:44 pm

    I used to love to write stories as a kid-but never after seventh grade or so. I joined a writing group that meets once a week, and it really helps me to take the time and learn a new skill and create something.

    Reply to jennie's comment

    • Susy on February 11, 2016 at 10:21 pm

      That sounds like a GREAT group!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  5. Susan Schmitz on February 12, 2016 at 5:56 am

    I just love that adult coloring books are such a “hot” item now. Now more
    hiding my grandsons coloring books that, ahem, were colored a wee bit better than a 4 year old could ever do.

    Reply to Susan Schmitz's comment

  6. Maybelline on February 14, 2016 at 7:11 am

    Got pencils and a coloring book for my high stress daughter to enjoy. I walk.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

  7. Andrei Kelner on February 15, 2016 at 8:01 pm

    I am a librarian AND an adult color book publisher AND a beginner gardener. All from Montreal, Quebec.

    I am hoping you would all enjoy our first gardening coloring book: Medieval Gardens of Love.
    https://www.etsy.com/ca/people/Bookolorata
    https://www.facebook.com/Bookolorata
    http://on.fb.me/1NOlWda

    http://amzn.to/21FIfWo

    Reply to Andrei Kelner's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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