“Give crayons. Adults are disturbingly impoverished of these magical dream sticks.” ~ Dr. SunWolf
I’ve found a wonderful new form of meditation.
It’s colouring.
To give myself a calming break in a busy day, I take five or ten minutes just for me. I sit quietly with my tube of pretty pencils and my fairy book (thanks, Thanh – loveliest present ever), happily choosing colours which I then apply to the page.
It’s a joyful and reflective process. Often my colour choices are quick and completely intuitive. Sometimes they require me to sit and gaze restfully at the page until I am drawn to a particular pencil.
It doesn’t matter if I only shade one or two tiny feathers, or make a few spots of detail here or there. It’s the process that is calming.
It’s the losing myself to the picture and the forming colours that is relaxing.
I never thought that, as an adult, I would take up colouring books again. I’m not confident with drawing. I have never thought of myself as particularly artistic. But to have an outline on a page, and to use my imagination to bring that page to life? It’s a delightful activity.
If you can’t find a colouring book you like, do a quick google search of colouring pages for adults or colouring mandalas for adults. You’ll find plenty of beautiful images to download and print, ready for you to work your own colourful magic.
For stress reduction, nurture and reconnection, colouring is a simple activity that I highly recommend!
hello Nicole. what a lovely blog. I too have discovered the joy of colouring and would love to know the title of the book that contains the image of the bird and the fairy that you have so beautifully coloured.
Peter
Wow this totally resonated with me. I did the same a couple days ago to let my inner child come to play. And also swung on the swing set. Great post.
i have a colouring book full of mandalas and i definitely recommend it
There was a wonderful advert , here on U.K . T.V, showing adults with children’s voices ,and when asked what they were doing next ,they proudly said ‘colouring in ‘.
Since then it has been a private joke with me and my husband when asking what we are doing next we say ‘ colouring in ‘ . I love it …I’m gonna be checking out that website and printing some pictures to colour in …great idea .
Cherrywood
I love colouring in and find it very relaxing. Love your bird colours, Nicole, you brought him to life 🙂 <3
I started colouring in again about six months ago, it really is relaxing. Check out fishpond.com, it has many different adult colouring in books.
Hooray for colour and pencil crayons!!!! I have been indulging for years! Last year I purchased a set of watercolour pencils add water and voila! some nifty neat effects! I couldn’t agree more! And wonderful work Nicole! Beeeeeautiful! 🙂
Look at you coloring inside *and* outside the lines … beautiful!
I think it is sad that so many people think colouring in is only for children
Love this post, Nicole-your fairy page is beautiful! So funny that you sent this today as I just ordered a spirit animal coloring book, and after talking to a friend about our favorite creative toys from childhood, I found one of mine- Spirograph- at a new bookstore in town this past weekend. As I stared at the box on the counter, I knew I just had to buy it. Turns out I’ve had a love of drawing and coloring mandalas for decades without ever really realizing what they were. Thanks again- I am always so inspired by your posts- thank you so much for sharing!
It is so much fun isn’t it. I took my colouring in book to the last retreat and I think a few of the girls went down to Mary Ryan’s in Byron Bay and also purchased the same book to use for colouring in. I sent one to my daughter in London for Xmas and she has loved using it when she has been alone in her job. She has loved the meditative side of it as much as I have.
So much fun! xx
Have loved to color all of my life…I think an older lady who was the mother of a neighbor…living next door to us when I was very young influenced me…I felt so special when she let me color in her books…
Nicole your rendering of the bird is beautiful. Banish the thoughts that you are not good at drawing or art per se, because I felt you were feeling the bird and it’s feathers – and when you do that, you capture the essence. Keep on keeping on. Yes drawing is very meditative I agree ! Yay for pencils !!! much love xxxx
Thanks, Cherie. There’s a lot of love in those colours. That bird spoke to my heart as Little Auntie, so it was easy to colour her in, using the colours Little Auntie wore when she visited me before her death. http://cauldronsandcupcakes.com/2013/08/08/little-bird/
I often wander past the colouring books and pencils in our local stores (love anything with birds, butterflies and fairies) but keep walking as I think I am too old! Now you have given me reason to purchase and do some quiet colouring myself, Love your beautiful colouring of the bird Nicole. Enjoy your quiet times with paper and pencils xx
Sounds truly therapuetic… definitely at the top of my list of add ons, Thanks Nicole. <3
I found Johanna Basford’s ‘Secret Garden’ colour-in book – the Swedish version – when I was in Oslo last year – hours of bliss have ensued! It truly is meditative. 🙂
I just love colouring in , what a great idea, thank you xx