coloring pages
A website is born - Color Your Own
Color Your Own was the result. I began with an idea and a few line arts I had already on the computer. I wasn't sure, at the time, if anyone would be interested in them at all.So I was already mulling the idea in my head when I joined a new sim game online - Virtual Horse Ranch. I was pleased to discover that artists were encouraged to use their own art for images of their sim horses, and there is a lively little play money industry creating art for other players. I began doing line drawings of horses, adding them to Color Your Own and making them freely available to other players. And, of course, taking requests. (I later joined Virtual Pups and Sandbox Farms and create art for those players as well.)
There are a few other small websites with free line art set up for those players as well. Sadly, most of them come and go or don't offer a large selection of drawings. Many of the artists are young adults who love the work, but also have other commitments such as school, sports, and so on that limit the effort they can put into the site. Often they are on free hosting, which can be a problem, too.
Color-Your-Own
Color-Your-Own.com
Over 300 original coloring pages
But that isn't the only reason...
Not long after I joined VHR, I became involved in a discussion on Gather.com about adults who enjoy sitting down on a lazy day with a big box of crayons and coloring books. (Yes, I do) One of the major complaints was the lack of coloring books that offered subject matter and artwork that would challenge and please adults. I began adding more drawings to Color Your Own in response to their requests.Since I started Color Your Own, I've gotten requests to use the art for more things than I could have imagined. They have been used in a college project on visual recognition, one greyhound rescue group prints out the greyhound pages and hands them out to children at their meet and greets, and most of all, other players have used them and enjoyed them - as well as children whose parents have written me and thanked me for the pages!
One project that especially touched my heart was a request for a rottweiler head study to be used to make a needlework pattern so a handicapped person could create it and place it on the back of her wheelchair to honor her assistance dog who had recently passed on.
Free line art is often used to create various needlework and craft patterns. Be sure if you are going to sell the product that you have the artist's permission. Artists who create designs for sewing and craft patterns, or for t-shirts and so on, are usually very highly paid designers. No artist particularly appreciates it when you use his or her art to make a product that you then sell for a profit. When asked I have given permission to use my line art to create various craft items to be sold to benefit charities, but I did refuse permission to a person who wished to make patterns of my free line art, and then sell those patterns on the Internet for profit. I offered to license the patterns to them - for an appropriate fee - and never heard from them again.
Now this doesn't mean you can't use free line art to make a pattern to make one or a few shirts for yourself, your family, or a gift. But be sure and read the artists or websites terms of use, or be polite and write for permission. I really enjoy hearing from people who want to use my art. Other folk's creativity always delights me.
And now there's more...
This was my first Squidoo lens ever! Since I wrote it, I've found more wonderful coloring books and coloring pages on the Internet, and met some great Squidooers who also draw coloring pages, or find the best coloring books. So I set up a group so you can find links to all the best Squidoo coloring page and coloring book lenses, as well as related art and craft lenses. Check it out!-
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.
New! Free Digital Coloring Books
Some words about proper usage of line art
Back to the sim game players for a moment. Several players have written me to request permission to use my line art, color it themselves, and sell it for game money or enter the art contests held on game. I always say yes, and in fact, I say on the front page of Color Your Own that you may use my art that way. It's for play money, after all.A good colorist can really make a difference in how a line art looks. I am a comic book fan from way back. If you look at a comic book - a new one or one from years ago - you will probably find inside the cover a list of names. They will include the cover artist, the line drawing artist(s), the colorist (or inker), and the author of the story. A good colorist can do good things for your line art!
Always make sure if you are looking for free line art, that you check the Terms of Use posted by the artist or website and do not violate them.
I hate to mention it in such a positive article about something I enjoy so much - but there is also a problem with people who direct link to art and steal bandwidth. My website is set up so that cannot be done, and it happens less with line art than with the clipart and web graphics, but please do not steal bandwidth. It is a crime, and it does hurt people - in fact, all of us who use the Internet as a source of art of whatever kind.
Netiquette is a good thing for all of us to use. Polite and correct usage of art will make sure that it is available to us all now and in the future.
If you have some websites that are good sources of free line art, feel free to list them in the guestbook.
And last, but hardly least, if you have a request, please do write me! I can never decide what to do next and I love the challenges requests set me.
Latest additions to Color-Your-Own.com
Latest updates and newest coloring pages
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My Tattoo
Tattoos - a new use for line art
I am a big fan of tattoos, and yes, I have two - one of which I designed. My husband also has a tattoo I designed just for him. As an artist, I have from time to time been asked by a friend to design a personal tattoo just for them. This is always such an honor. Someone wants to wear a piece of my art on their body for the rest of their lives!So it should have come as no surprise when the first request arrived in my email from someone who wanted permission to use a line art from Color-Your-Own as a tattoo design. My answer, of course, was a resounding YES!
Not long after that came a request from someone for a particular drawing to use for a tattoo - a request I gladly accomodated. Although I made the design to their specifications, they encouraged me to add it to the Color-Your-Own site to share with others.
I can't possibly express to you what an honor it is to me that someone would want to use the line art from Color-Your-Own as a tattoo design - or would request a design from me for their tattoo. Trust me, if you want something in particular designed, please do feel free to make a request or let me know if you use a line art that is already up at Color-Your-Own. You will totally make my day!
Carvebuddy.com
Another use for the Color-Your-Own drawings!
I am very pleased to announce that Michael Tyler (who is a great guy) and I have worked out a business arrangement to create Carvebuddy.com patterns for use on the CarveWright and CompuCarve machines. For more information and to see the patterns visit Carvebuddy.com Coloring Books
sometimes a coloring book is just what you want
Sometimes I don't have what you want, or you're out of printer paper, or you just feel like sitting down with a simple coloring book. Here's some of my favorites.
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
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
More about coloring books and coloring pages
Since I made this - my first lens - I've learned so much more about coloring books and coloring pages, and now even digital coloring books. I've shared my favorite resources in these lenses!-
Wild Bird coloring books, coloring pages, and clipart
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There are so many uses for wild bird coloring books, coloring pages, and clip art. If you are a bird watcher, you may want some bird clip art to decorate your web pages or blog. Home schoolers can use bird coloring books, and bird coloring pages prin...
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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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eColoring Books
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I love to color! Recently I discovered what I think is a great new idea - eColoring Books sometimes called Digital Coloring Books. They can be found online for download, as well as for sale on CD. The advantage over regular coloring books is that you...
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Coloring Books for older kids and adults
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I once thought I was the only adult who still had a big box of crayons and a pile of coloring books stashed in the bedroom. My excuse is that I am an artist and I always loved to color. Sometimes after a long day of webcoding, writing, and doing "ser...
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fairy coloring pages
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Everyone loves fairies, from Tinkerbell to a Midsummer's Nights Dream. Coloring is one of the oldest, simplest, and most relaxing of pasttimes for young and old, a wonderful family activity or something to keep the kids busy on a rainy day. There are...
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Tell me what you think
Have you used any of this art? Do you have some great ideas for new coloring pages, or new uses for the line art, or maybe you've got some coloring pages of your own to share?
foovay wrote...
in reply to Ramkitten Thank you! What a great story! I don't take my crayons camping with me anymore though - here in New Mexico they tend to melt! I do take colored pencils and a sketchbook - always!
Ramkitten wrote...
I just LOVE to color. One night when I was hiking the Appalachian Trail, a fellow hiker brought out a coloring book and crayons he'd received in a care package and invited me to color. I had such fun, and we colored for hours in camp. We're never too old to color, and I think your line drawings are wonderful "canvases."
Laniann wrote...
Very nice art work and so good of you to share with everyone. 5*s

















