Design Originals Creative Coloring books by Thaneeya McArdle & Valentina Harper

Summary
Current Price: £5.99
Number of Pages: 72
Size: 28 x 21 cm
Paper colour: White
Paper surface: Smooth 
Paper thickness: Average
Linework: Assorted​ 
Perforated: Yes
One sided: Yes 
Binding: Glue 
Drawings go into the spine: No​
Waterbased pen bleed: Slight

Design Originals had been publishing arts and crafts books for over 25 years before joining Fox Chapel Publishing in 2011, both companies coming together to combine their crafty expertise. Their Creative Colouring series is made up of 10+ themed books for your colouring pleasure, 6 of which I have to review for you today. All Design Originals books feature indroductory pages which include colour ideas, tips and inspiration for your reference. So without further ado, let's get started!

Birds

Peacocks, toucans, herons- it's not just your bog standard garden sparrow here! A whole host of birds are rendered in this book, all filled with circles, leaves and swirls for you to fill with colour. Let your imagination run wild with these amazing avian designs, whether it be the wise owl or flamboyant flamingo.

Groovy Abstract

This fab book of patternful abstract illustrations is designed for you to add details to and practice your doodling, or just colour them as they are! All the images are flowing and fluid with paisley influences, so if that's your bag this is a definite purchase.

Inspirations

The only book of the 6 to contain wording on every page, Inspirations is filled with colourable quotes to uplift and motivate, all beautifully adorned with pretty little flowers and birds. Images range from simple to complex, any of them worthy of displaying for a little positivity wherever you can see it :)

Follow Your Bliss

My favourite book of this collection contains 30 happy illustrations that make me smile as well as feeling really relaxing. Whether it's nature-infused yoga poses, Hama hands or a content feline, Follow Your Bliss is a book I'll be dipping into often when I want to chill with something pretty.

Mandalas

This mandala book features 30 symmetrical diagrams for you to tune out and connect with your inner self to. These sacred circles are well known to have meditative effects on some colourists, bringing your anxiety level down by losing yourself in the flowing lines. Each mandala is printed centre page and large in scale for those who don't like small spaces.

Nature Mandalas

The difference between this book and the last is that all these mandalas centre around animals and the natural world, rather than just lines and circles. It still has the uniformity of a mandala but is much more interesting to colour (in my opinion), as each one has a distinct theme whether it be sea shells, feathers or butterflies.

Design Originals books have thick paper stock that is perforated for easy removal, as well as all being printed one sided to avoid bleed problems. The fact that the illustrations are not as intricate as some may appeal to the beginner colourist, and are ideal for people with eyesight and fine motor control problems. I hope you've enjoyed looking through this set. Here are some pictures I completed using Staedtler Triplus felt pens.

Inspirations

Follow Your Bliss

Birds

These books were given to me in exchange for an honest review. You can find them all on Amazon here:

Creative Coloring Mandalas: Art Activity Pages to Relax and Enjoy! (Design Originals)

Follow Your Bliss Coloring Book (Coloring Activity Book)

Creative Coloring Inspirations (Design Originals)

Groovy Abstract Coloring Book (Coloring Is Fun)

Creative Coloring Birds: Art Activity Pages to Relax and Enjoy!

Nature Mandalas Coloring Book (Coloring is Fun)