Adults color?
Then I stumbled onto a conversation at another social website, Gather.com. Several adults had admitted to enjoying sitting down and coloring. I got drawn in (bad pun - sorry) because I had posted a coloring page I drew for my website Color-Your-Own.com. It was great to chat with other adults who shared the same "secret hobby".
Just one little problem
There was just one little problem that everyone complained about - how difficult it is to find coloring pages that interest adults, or even older children. Most coloring books seem to be created with children under the age of ten in mind with very broad and cartoon like drawings. Adults, and even older kids, prefer more realistic line drawings to color.Since Color-Your-Own.com was originally set up for older kids and adults who played certain sim games online (You can read more about that at my lens Line Art on the Internet) the pages really appealed to the older audience.
But what if you don't find something there you like (well, I take requests), or you don't have a printer or just ran out of paper or...what if what you really want is a coloring book or two to have handy.
I feel your pain. Now and then I run onto a coloring book at the store that isn't too bad. It helps that I like cars, and for some reason it is okay to draw more realistic cars (for boys, I suppose) in coloring books.
But now I live in a very small town, and the selection is not very good at all. So I decided I will just have to buy my coloring books online. And as long as I am looking for me, I may as well share them with you, too! So, here's the best coloring books for adults and older kids that I've been able to find for sale online.
Here are a few of my favorites
are they yours?
You can vote these coloring books up or down, depending on how much you like them! You can really tell I like patterns (so nicely mindless and zen like to work on), history, nature and animals, and fantasy! What do you like?
Mexican Folk Art Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by Marty Noble
Striking adaptations of authentic native art depic more...1 point
A Walk in the Woods Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by Dot Barlowe
Accomplished illustrator and nature writer takes y more...1 point
Garden Fairies Stained Glass Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archives) by Darcy May
Visit a magical realm where 16 winged sprites, clo more...1 point
Mystical Mandala Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by Alberta Hutchinson
This vibrant collection of drawings was inspired b more...0 points
Decorative Tile Designs Coloring Book by Marty Noble
The decorative richness and structure of tiles mak more...0 points
Paisley Designs Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by Marty Noble
Woven from sumptuous motifs inspired by the elemen more...0 points
The Marine Biology Coloring Book, Second Edition by Thomas M. Niesen
Enter the delicate, complex world of underwater li more...0 points
The Flower Fairies Alphabet Coloring Book (Flower Fairies) by Cicely Mary Barker
From A for Apple Blossom to Z for Zinnia there is more...0 points
Butterflies Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by Jan Sovak
43 finely detailed, accurately rendered illustrati more...0 points
Kaleidoscopic Design Coloring Book (Coloring Books) by Lester Kubistal
Charming coloring book includes 30 black-and-white more...0 points
Horse Anatomy: A Coloring Atlas by Robert A. Kainer
A valuable resource for: anyone interested in hors more...0 points
Medieval Tapestries Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by Marty Noble
This collection of lovely images invites coloring more...0 points
Chinese Designs (Dover Pictorial Archives) by Dianne Gaspas
Thirty traditional designs grace the pages of this more...0 points
Richard Doyle's Fairyland Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archives) by Richard Doyle
Victorian artist Richard Doyle (1824-1883) is famo more...0 points
Art Masterpieces to Color: 60 Great Paintings from Botticelli to Picasso (Dover Colouring Books) by Dover
Artists of all ages are invited to add their own h more...0 points
Dragons Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archives) by Christy Shaffer
Thirty ready-to-color images of fire-breathing myt more...0 points
Traditional Designs from India (Dover Coloring Book) by Marty Noble
Intricate and inventive, these 30 full-page design more...0 points
Dog Anatomy: A Coloring Atlas by Robert A. Kainer, Thomas O. McCracken
Simple, easy-to-use presentation of core regional more...0 points
Coloring Mandalas 3: Circles of the Sacred Feminine (Coloring Mandalas) by Susanne F. Fincher
Coloring the circular designs known as mandalas is more...0 points
Botany Coloring Book (HarperCollins Coloring Books (Not Childrens)) by Paul Young
An exciting new approach to learning about botany. more...0 points
Garden Flowers Coloring Book (Color Your World) by Stefen Bernath
Forty important garden flowers - morning-glory, tu more...0 points
Knights and Armor Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by A. G. Smith
Historically accurate renderings of Vikings, Crusa more...0 points
Wild Animals Coloring Book by John Green
Detailed and ready-to-color drawings of 47 species more...0 points
A Coloring Book of the Middle Ages
A picture history thorugh the Renaissance, includi more...0 points
A Coloring Book of Incas, Aztecs and Mayas by Bellerophon Books
The Pre-Columbian civilizations had some masterly more...0 points
Life in Ancient Egypt Coloring Book by John Green, Stanley Appelbaum
Forty-four detailed drawings recall the glory of a more...0 points
Life in a Medieval Castle and Village Coloring Book by John Green
A panorama of life in the Middle Ages in 42 realis more...0 points
Gargoyles and Medieval Monsters Coloring Book by A. G. Smith
Dozens of mythical animals rendered by artists suc more...0 points
Fifty Favorite Birds Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by Lisa Bonforte
Learn to identify birds like the Myrtle Warbler an more...0 points
Life in Ancient Greece Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by John Green, Text by Stanley Appelbaum
Over 40 expertly rendered illustrations depict lif more...0 points
START EXPLORING(tm) Masterpieces - A Fact-Filled Coloring Book by Steven Zorn, Mary Martin, Illustrated by Mary Martin Steven Zorn
An artistic adventure awaits you! Masterpieces lea more...0 points
Audubon's Birds of America Coloring Book by John James Audubon
Forty-five of Audubon's noted illustrations render more...0 points
The Titanic Coloring Book by Peter F. Copeland
Impressive illustrations dramatically portray even more...0 points
Wonders of the World Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by A. G. Smith
Detailed, ready-to-color images of India's lovely more...0 points
Greek Gods and Goddesses (Dover Coloring Book) by John Green
Ready-to-color illustrations, each accompanied by more...0 points
Insects Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by Jan Sovak
Color precise, carefully researched depictions of more...0 points
Color Your Own Impressionist Paintings (Dover Pictorial Archives) by Marty Noble
Use colors of your choice, or recreate the origina more...0 points
Lewis and Clark Expedition Coloring Book by Peter F. Copeland
Forty-five accurate, precisely rendered illustrati more...0 points
Celtic Design Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by Ed Sibbett
Children and adults alike will enjoy adding their more...0 points
Snakes of the World Coloring Book by Jan Sovak
Over 40 species. Add your colors to the king cobra more...0 points
African Designs Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archives) by Marty Noble
Thirty large, ready-to-color illustrations, all ad more...0 points
Great Barrier Reef Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book) by Ruth Soffer
With a variety of life rivaled only by a tropical more...0 points
Erte Fashions Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archives) by Erte
The Russian-born designer Erté was a major influe more...0 points
Backyard Nature Coloring Book by Dot Barlowe
Wild animals in our midst come to life in this uni more...0 points
Garden Fairy Alphabet Coloring Book by Darcy May
Exquisite renderings of ready-to-color floral favo more...0 points
Castles of the World Coloring Book by A. G. Smith
Detailed drawings of 31 world-famous castles: Wind more...0 points
Color Your Own Van Gogh Paintings (Coloring Books) by Vincent Van Gogh
Thirty meticulously rendered black-and-white drawi more...0 points
Arabic Patterns Stained Glass Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archive) by A. G. Smith
Sixteen elaborate geometric designs incorporate a more...0 points
Western Pioneers Coloring Book by Peter F. Copeland
For lovers of western lore and coloring book fans more...0 points
State Birds and Flowers Coloring Book (Dover Pictorial Archive Series) by Annika Bernhard
Fifty-one accurately detailed, royalty-free render more...0 points
Coloring Pages on the Internet
Just like in coloring books, most of the coloring pages on the Internet are for little kids. Do you have any favorite sites for free printable coloring pages for older kids or adults? Please share!
Coloring Fun for Kids and Grownups
Complex line drawings and coloring crafts for big more...1 point
Adult Coloring Designs
Detailed line art and coloring posters for older k more...1 point
Color Your Own - Coloring Pages
Welcome to Color Your Own! Color Your Own are blac more...0 points
More coloring pages and coloring books!
I am not alone! Here are more lenses with coloring books and coloring pages to chose from!-
Fairy Coloring books
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Fairies delight children of all ages - even the ones who are called adults. Coloring books, and free printable coloring pages from the Internet are a great way to have inexpensive family fun, or just to while away a few hours on a rainy day. So what...
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Coloring Books and Coloring Pages on the Internet Headquarters
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Coloring Books and Coloring Pages on the Internet A central list for lenses devoted to coloring books, coloring pages on line, and other crafty and artsy lenses.
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Line Art on the Internet
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I became involved with making free line art available on the Internet in 2005. My clipart and web graphics site, Demented Pixies Graphics, had generated some requests for line art that could be colored, or that would be suitable for various uses in p...
Mandala Coloring Books
What do you like to color most?
Coloring Pages Blog
Here's the latest additions to my coloring pages website
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Speak up!
Thanks for reading my lens on coloring books for adults. What about you - do you like to color, have a favorite that isn't listed here, or just want to share a thought?
foovay wrote...
in reply to WhiteOak50 Okay, you have me by maybe a year or two ;) See you at Seeds of Time!
WhiteOak50 wrote...
This is just an awesome idea! I will gladly admit, I LOVE to color. Of course, I have been coloring for ummmm, lets see.....48 years (laughs) oh, my!! My grandmother would sit me up on books in a chair, and I would sit there for hours coloring when I was three years old! Love this lens, love your pixie blog, and I do hope to see you at Seeds of Time!!
SquidooKimberly wrote...
Love these! Found you through your blog. Keep up the great work.
SquidooKimberly wrote...
Love these! Found you through your blog. Keep up the great work.
SquidooKimberly wrote...
Love these! Found you through your blog. Keep up the great work.





















































