Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Interview Tomislav Tomic

Hello adult coloring fans! Today we have an interview with creator of adult coloring book “Zemlja snova”. A great coloring book created by illustrator that worked previously on Game of thrones and Outlander adult coloring books.  For those of you lucky enough to have a copy of his book,  you already know how good are his designs, and for his new fans… read on to find out more about Tomislav Tomic.


Zemlja snova

Q: First of all tell us little something about yourself.

tomislav tomic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My name is Tomislav Tomic and I am an illustrator from Croatia. I usually illustrate children books using ink drawing as a technique in my illustrations. So far I made illustrations for several coloring books for different publishers. Zemlja Snova is first book coloring book I did for Croatian publisher.

Q: Where do you get the ideas? What inspired you?

When creating this book I was inspired by the fairy tales, I made my own worlds using all kinds of creatures that usually live in these stories. I tried to tell my own stories through pictures and make the people who will color the book create their own stories by adding their own touch to the illustrations.

Tomislav Tomic
Q: Describe your illustrations in three little words

I would say that my illustrations are: detailed, classic, decorative.

Tomislav Tomic

Q: How would you describe your workplace?

My workplace is always too small and messy but I like it that way.

Tomislav Tomic

Q: Do you work with a team? If so, how many people you work with?

I always work on my illustrations alone, not much of a team player.

Q: In your opinion, why does your illustrations appeal so much to adults?

I am not sure why my illustrations appeal to adults, maybe they remember some old books from their childhood when they look at my illustrations. Really not sure about this.

Tomislav Tomic

Q: Before making this adult coloring book did you have any other projects?

Before this book I made two coloring books as a part of Pictura edition, these are: A Walk Through Paris and New York Jazz.

Also made some illustrations for official Game of Thrones coloring book and some illustrations for Outlander coloring book.
It was fun making these and there I was able to see different approaches of other artists, it was very helpful later while making my latest book.

Q: What challenges (if any) did you face in making your coloring book for adults and can you give other artist any tips for solving similar problems?

When I was creating this book I tried to put myself in a position of someone who is going to color my illustration. I tried to make enough elements to color, and to make pictures that give lot of opportunities to make their own worlds. My advice is to make illustrations in a way that you enjoy the most, it is important to have fun while creating. That way you are honest to yourself and it turns out good in the end.

Tomislav Tomic

 

Q: Do you test your illustrations on a specific group of coloring community members before publishing?

I didn’t test the book on anybody. I didn’t know any person that color the coloring books for adults at the time. I met some people after the book was published, and they told it is ok.

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Q: What’s your favorite thing from your latest coloring book?

I am really happy that I was allowed to make whatever I want while making this book. Some other projects are not that much fun to make. That is why I am happy with this book. No favorite piece I think.

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Q: How do you feel about the success of your coloring books for adults?

I am not sure what to say about that, it is maybe too early to call it success.

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Q: What’s the one message you’d want to send to all of the people who enjoy your books?

I would like to thank them for buying the book and to be brave with colors, there is no wrong way in coloring. It is important that you have fun while doing it.

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Q: What drives the adult coloring trend according to your experience?

I am not sure what makes people color the coloring books, I am sure that there are many different reasons. But probably it helps them in a way, that is why they are doing it. As an illustrator I have a possibility to fill all my creative needs through my projects and on the other hand it is stressful and a therapy at the same time. So I am probably not the best person to talk about other people’s reasons about coloring.

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Q: Do you have a favorite coloring book author? How did he/she earn your admirations?

I don’t really know many authors of coloring books, mostly these that I can find in local bookstore. Didn’t make a big research before I started making my own book. Now I see that there are really lot of artists in the world that made coloring books. Don’t have my favorite artist of coloring book but I liked one I noticed few months ago on the web. Unfortunately forgot her name and not able to find it anymore, her drawings were really beautiful.

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Q: What would you like to see more in adult coloring book world?

I think that there is so many books on the market at the moment, more than I can explore to say what would be a good way to go from here. It would be better to ask the people who color these books, what they would like to see in the future.

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Q: And last but not least, where can we find your artwork?

I don’t use Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, I don’t feel comfortable using these services, people think I am weird, but I got used to it. These services can be very useful but I am not the right person for it.

I only have a website, I don’t upload new images to it very often (every five years or so I think). I prefer spending my time drawing and with my family and friends in person.

Bellow is the link to my website:

http://tomislavtomic.com/


Here is a review of the adult coloring book Zemlja snova by Youtuber Coloring Queen


Clik here to buy Zemlja snova on Amazon.

If you are from another country here is the link: http://www.algoritam-mk.hr/zemlja-snova-bojanka-za-odrasle/PR/185373,11165 – you’ll have to register but if you have any problems you can contact Colorplaner on facebook and we can help you πŸ™‚


If you want more information about the book and see more finished coloring pages please visit Facebook group:

Fans of Zemlja Snova (Land of Dreams) by Croatian artist Tomislav Tomić

And check out more pages on Instagram:

#tomislavtomic


 

 

 

The post Interview Tomislav Tomic appeared first on colorplaner.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Top 10 best-selling adult coloring books

Here is the top 10 selling list base on Amazon website . We included a photo of front page, one colored page, quick flip through and link for the shoping. Hope you like the list and happy coloring!

No. 1

Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book

SECRET GARDEN is the original and first book by Johanna Basford.

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Experience the phenomenon that has sold 11 million copies worldwide and launched the coloring craze for adults.

 

Click here to shop on Amazon

No.2

Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest & Coloring Book

Fall under the spell of the #1 New York Times Bestseller!

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This magical coloring book by Johanna Basford takes colorists through an enchanted forest to discover what lies in the castle.

Click here to shop on Amazon

No.3

Creative Haven Creative Cats Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

Cat fanciers and coloring enthusiasts will be enchanted with this gallery of original designs

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Form a rich tapestry of motifs that includes hearts flowers and paisleys in various patterns

 

Click here to shop on Amazon

No.4

Creative Haven Owls Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

Especially designed for experienced colorists, Owls and other Creative Haven® adult coloring books offer an escape to a world of inspiration and artistic fulfillment.

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Click here to shop on Amazon

No.5

Adult Coloring Books: A Coloring Book for Adults Featuring Mandalas and Henna Inspired Flowers, Animals, and Paisley Patterns

Detach yourself from everyday distractions and unwind with detailed images that will keep you focused and entertained.

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Click here to shop on Amazon

No.6

Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Animal Designs

If you like the cover picture, you will love this book, most of the illustrations are just as good or better

Click here to shop on Amazon

No.7

Dover Creative Haven Art Nouveau Animal Designs Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

Specially designed for experienced colorists

Art nouveau animal designs and other creative haven coloring books offer an escape to a world of inspiration and artistic fulfillment

 

Click here to shop on Amazon

No.8

Mystical Mandala Coloring Book (Dover Design Coloring Books)

This vibrant collection of drawings was inspired by the hypnotic appeal of the mandala. An ancient form of meditative art, mandalas are complex circular designs that draw the eye inward, toward their centers.

Click here to shop on Amazon

No.9

Balance (Angie’s Extreme Stress Menders Volume 1)

Stroke by stroke, shade by shade, tension and worries fade away as you transform Angie’s beautiful black and white lines into your own unique, personal and beautiful keepsake art piece.

 

Click here to shop on Amazon

No.10

Lost Ocean: An Inky Adventure and Coloring Book for Adults

Johanna Basford invites color-inners of all ages to discover an enchanting underwater world hidden in the depths of the sea.

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Click here to shop on Amazon

 

Since there are 3 adult coloring books only from Johanna Basford we decided we should add 2 more adult coloring books to the list πŸ™‚

No.11

Release Your Anger: An Adult Coloring Book with 40 Swear Words to Color and Relax, Midnight Edition

The book that started it all! A global bestseller, this beautiful coloring book features 40 creative and intricate designs with classic and wonderfully original insults, exclamations and swear words to help you relax and let go of the stressful situations in your life.

 

Click here to shop on Amazon

 

No.12

Adult Coloring Book: Butterflies and Flowers : Stress Relieving Patterns (Volume 7)

You will found 30 designs of different dimension of butterflies and flowers such as cute butterflies, art butterflies, creative butterflies, graphic butterflies and etc. range in complexity from beginner to expert-level.

Click here to shop on Amazon

 

So here it is the top 10 best-selling adult coloring books. What do you think? Do you own a couple of these? Please like and share with your friends πŸ™‚

The post Top 10 best-selling adult coloring books appeared first on colorplaner.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Interview with Christina Simon

Hello adult coloring book fans! Today we present you a colorist from a country known for love and passion. Meet Christina Simon from France who can colour all day everyday!

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Q: First of all tell us little something about yourself.

My name is Christina Simon. I am in my forties and live in the South of France, just beside Monaco.

My hobbies are drawing, colouring, reading, photography, watching good movies and TV shows, gardening, have long walks in nature.

I have a bachelor degree in Product Design, worked as Interior Designer before moving to France where I worked on luxury retail and as a freelance Graphic Designer for many years.

I started drawing and colouring again a few months ago and hope it will become more than a hobby.

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Q: How did you start to color?When did this attraction begin?

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I was just more than a baby actually. My late mother used to tell me I couldn’t even walk well enough but was always grabbing paper and pencils to « draw » something. At this time, I used to do it with both hands simultaneously.

 

Q: Do you use coloring as a small getaway from the real world?

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Yes. But more than this it really is something I love to do. Today I can’t imagine myself doing something else. I draw and colour all day everyday or almost.

 

Q: How do you prepare before coloring?

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I don’t! I just follow my feelings. But I always do some research when I’ll colour, look for photos of the real subjects to choose colours and details.

If I am creating something, it depends. Sometimes I just doodle and than something comes out of it. But I can also be inspired by other artists work. I also draw from a reference photo, but I haven’t done it for a while now.

 

Q: You are a colorist and an artist. What do you prefer? And why?

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Both, it depends on the moment. It is a feeling, I can’t really explain.

 

Q: Where do you get the ideas? What inspired you?

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Nature itself, photos, other artists work…

 

Q: Describe your illustrations in three little words

Intricate, delicate, organic.

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Q: How would you describe your “coloring” workplace?

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An organized mess.

 

Q: What are your favorite supplies for coloring? Do you always use the same or you like to experiment with it?

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I love everything, but my favourites are coloured pencils, markers and ink.

I have more experience with pencils and started working with markers just a few weeks ago and like it very much as well.

I use technical pens (Rotring Isograph), for drawing mandalas, patterns, doodles, etc.. I have UniBall, Pigma Micron, but prefer the “old ones”.

I have only Caran d’Ache pencils: Supracolor Soft, Pablo and Luminance.

Markers, I use Winsor & Newton Promarkers, Molotow, Staedler Triplus Fineliners andStabilo point 88.

I’d love to try many other materials, brands and techniques but they are very expensive. My wish list is huge!

 

Q: Why do you prefer working with pencils as opposed to digitally?

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I don’t have a preference. I like both of them. I just don’t use the computer to sketch, doodle and colour. Now I intend to work a floral doodle on Illustrator, make it a vector image, a pattern, who knows?

 

Q: Do you have special techniques and color mixes that you’d like to share with us? Any tips and tricks?

 

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Well, I mostly work with coloured pencils. My technique is to layer a lot! Light strokes and layers to mix colours, blend and shade. In the end, white and black in key places to increase contrast. I need to work on feathers and hair.

Something I always do when colouring books is to scan the illustration and print it on a thicker and appropriate paper for the technique I choose to use. Even with the same medium, the paper texture (and colour of it) changes a lot the results. Colours mix and blend differently, final texture is different and so on. I also make the contour lines lighter, since I don’t like them black. Specially when using pastel colours.

 

Q: What challenges (if any) did you face in making your coloring pages and can you give other artist any tips for solving similar problems?

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I think I answered it on the tips above… But mainly it is the quality of the paper that sometimes it’s not appropriate for markers, watercolour and such. And the fact that when the illustration is on two pages it is quite hard to colour in the middle. I skip those.

 

Q: If you could choose only one of your finished coloring page which one would it be? And why?

This is hard… They are all so different, impossible to compare.

But I’d say it is the one from the link below, an illustration from Floribunda, a colouring book illustrated by Leila Duly.

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It took me more than a month to complete it and I really love the result.

  • The colours are much brighter (and soft at the same time) than in any photo I took from it.
  • Because it is the best layering job I’ve done until now.

Q: What drives the adult coloring trend according to your experience?

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It is a way to release stress to most people, a therapy. And many of them have a huge talent for colouring!

 

Q: Do you have a favorite coloring book author? How did he/she earn your admirations?

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There are many! The most known being Johanna Basford, Leila Duly, Hanna Karlzon,Kerby Rosanes, Denise Klette… I like to colour things I’d love to have drawn, this is how I choose the books and pages I colour.

 

Q: What would you like to see more in adult coloring book world?

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I’d love to be able to buy digital versions of the books since I always scan and print the illustrations before colouring. Also, if an accident occurs, we could print it again and restart without needing to buy the whole book once more and experiment colouring the same illustration with different mediums.

Contour lines should be lighter, not black. Grey 50%, for exemple.

 

Q:What are your plans for the future?

I am considering sites as Etsy, RedBubble, Artistocracy and such to sell pieces with my own drawings but this is some steps away.

As an artist, you can expect ink drawings and patterns I am working on and sketching, some drawings inspired by photos I am collecting….

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As colourist, I am not sure yet, but I’ll probably choose between Hanna Karlzonand Kerby Rosanes, Denise Klette, since I haven’t coloured any of their books yet.

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Q: And last but not least, where can we find your artwork?

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For now, I only show them on Instagram.
I have Pinterest account (same username as IG) where I pin everything I like and inspires me.

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/christinasmm/?etslf=1184&eq=christinasmm

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinasmm/

 

 

 

The post Interview with Christina Simon appeared first on colorplaner.