I love to color in coloring books. I find it very relaxing and a great creative outlet. I started coloring three years ago. I started doing it to spend time with my niece. She now considers coloring for "kids", but I still continue to color. I purchase cheap coloring books and crayons at the Dollar Tree or 99 Cent Only Stores.
I actually love doing the coloring books with my grand-children. It is something that I would regularly do, and it's not that bad as people think. It's relaxing, (especially with some Mozart, and some London Symphony Orchestra in the background). But some of the prices here in Australia, up to $4 a book.
To me, this was the great thing about having kids - being able to do all the fun things that, because we're now "adults" - are totally inappropriate. Unfortunately, my son is now 25, so no more fun stuff. I can't wait until the grandkids come around. If you enjoy coloring, try zentangles - it is deceptively easy and quite enjoyable - plus you can call it "art"!
I friend was telling me about zentangles. This is the second time that I have run into that name. I am going to look into it! Play is very important for adults. It's supposed to be good for developing creativity, problem solving and relationships. They more complicated the mind, the more need for play.
Just google "zentangle" to see some really wonderful examples, keeping in mind, that even thouth they appear complicated, they are really easy to draw. If you want to try your hand at it, google "zentangle step outs" (step outs are the line by line instructions to draw a pattern). There's a great website, tanglepatterns.com that is a good place to start if your want to give it a try. Also, youtube has a lot of how-to videos. Here's one (it's not one of mine, I found it online - I'll post some of mine one of these days)
Loved colouring in books. I eventually took up painting and still daub now and then but it's not the fun that colouring in is. You're never too old to do what amuses you, you don't need the kids around as an excuse. Go for it. I'm looking down the barrel of 70 and have just discovered the joys of 'playdough'. Well Polymer Clay. Is that some fun or what?? Why waste that on kids? Thanks for the Zentangle links, I'm getting tired of my games and looking for new computer toys.
Just wow! It's beautiful. They really do look complicated. I don't consider myself an artist (drawing) which is why I do coloring, crocheting and cooking as creative outlets. I'm definitely going to be checking out the websites you mentioned. I will also checking out YouTube. It's a great place for tutorials. I'm also so impressed that people share their knowledge so freely.
I have enjoyed coloring with the kids when they were younger. I was just looking at a coloring book today now I wish I had picked it up. I like to get the really large box of colors so that I have all kinds of colors to play with. Puzzles are also good to help keep the mind working and to release stress. Lego's are my favorite. When the boys were little we would make castles and bridges and all kinds of things with the lego', I was more upset with their mother than they were when she threw them away. I think I will buy myself my own Lego's.
Relatives remembered me bemoaning the fact once that when I was a kid the boys got all the best toys and I wasn't allowed to have a Meccano set because I was a girl.. So they bought me one, for my 65th birthday! They thought it was a huge joke. But it was a set to make among other things a Locomotive. (I used to work for the railways.) ... and I built that thing and had it running on it's li'l battery motor around the kitchen floor when they came by to visit 3 days later. It was the best present I'd received since I could remember. And I had the last laugh. Never too old for toys.
I do love to color and spend many hours coloring with the grandchildren. They generally get bored with it before I do and once they are gone, I find myself coloring on my own. Its relaxing and helps to bring out my creative side. Of course, hubby thinks I'm just a big kid. lol
Just remember - "we don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing!". I think it's really important to keep an aspect of "play" and fun in our lives. My brother used to always say that life is too serious to take it seriously. You have to be able to laugh and enjoy yourself.
I do love to color on occasion! My 'claim to fame' is when I was 9, I won a 'Goofy Grape' contest for coloring beautifully. As a result, I won a 'Goofy Grape' watch which was one of my all time favorite accomplishments! Smile with me,,,,
I once bought a kit to make a working clock to hang on the wall. The clockface had a 'painting by numbers' outline of a picture on it, and it came with a set of paints and a brush. I chose one with a tiger on it and I enjoyed bringing it to life with the paints. A few years ago I bought some coloring books for adults or older children. One was based on William Morris wallpaper and fabric designs, the other was all landscapes. I used felt-tips to color them in and I was pleased with the results.
That is a great line and super true philosophy, Mal! I enjoying playing with the kids who live in my complex - usually some game they have to teach the old foreigner! Whenever I go to the mall I never fail to check out the toy stores...and occasionally I seem to bring home something for me to play with! LOL, 69 year old kid!
Coloring is a nice way to reduce any stress...as long as you don't mind going out of the lines once in awhile!