Hello adult coloring fans! Today we have an interview with a lovely lady that can always put a smile on anyone face! When you see how much work and effort is put in those little coloring masterpieces who would not love that unique style of hers. Meet Morena Vajak from Croatia!
Q: First of all tell us little something about yourself.
My name is Morena Vajak, I live in Osijek, which is a small town in Croatia. My hobbies are obviously colouring, but also gaming and reading books. I work as an English and German teacher at a local elementary school.
Q: How did you start to color? When did this attraction begin?
I’ve always been artsy, always drawing, sketching, painting. Ever since I can remember. I had some more serious tries in painting with dry pastel 10-15 years ago, but abandoned this hobby (hopefully not permanently) due to the lack of space and time. I discovered the world of adult colouring books in May 2015 and haven’t stopped doing it ever since.
Q: Do you use coloring as a small getaway from the real world?
Definitely. Just as painting, music, reading, watching movies, all of these are small escapes from the harsh reality that surround us. However, engaging in arts of any sort also makes you more able to understand the world around you in a deeper way. It’s a paradox, but that’s what art will do to you. You will become more awakened and more spiritual. You start seeing and hearing more than you used to.
Q: How do you prepare before coloring?
It depends, which medium I am planning to use, which book or artwork I’m going to colour in, if it’s a limited palette, a challenge, or a totally free choice, something that speaks to me. But the first thing I will do is choose the pencils I want to use and sharpen them. It’s like a short meditation before diving in. Sometimes I do a very thorough research on light and shadow, shape and colour of specific objects I want to colour. I don’t mind doing my homework! I don’t listen to music while colouring, I prefer my own head to play some inner music during the process.
Q: What inspires you to create so beautiful coloring pages?
Thank you for calling them beautiful 
Everything inspires me. Anything can trigger observation, not only gorgeous flowers or a stunning building. It can really be a simple thing, like the way my coffee mug is casting a shadow or a reflection in it – just to name a very mundane example. If you know how to look, everything inspires you.
Q: Describe your coloring pages in three little words
That’s not very easy! But let me try: light, shadow, shape…
Q: What are your favorite supplies for coloring? Do you always use the same or you like to experiment with it?
I have several good sets of coloured pencils. My absolute favourites are Prismacolor Premiers, Faber-Castell Polychromos and a couple of other brands, but I also love my Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils. I love to experiment with watercolour too, when I have the chance to colour on appropriate paper. Faber-Castell’s Pitt artist brush pens are my good friends too.
Q: Do you have special techniques and color mixes that you’d like to share with us? Any tips and tricks?
Well, it’s not easy to describe techniques. Let’s just say I prefer a light hand, I like to blend with a coloured pencil rather than a blending pencil or other blenders, I layer a lot to get the depth and new colours. Also, what I would advise to any colourist: don’t be afraid to use black. It gives dimension and shape to the objects in your picture. There is no shadow without light and vice versa. Go dark, it gives depth.
Q: We think you did a really great job with “castle” from Zemlja Snova by Tomislav Tomić. How did you come up with the idea to make that picture?
Thank you for your compliment. When I first flipped through this magnificent book, the picture of the castle became imprinted in my brain. I ached to colour it as soon as possible! I love architecture because it gives me a chance to engage in what I love most – giving shape to objects. Also, I thought this castle was so well drawn that I simply had to bring it to life. I hope I managed to do that. I only know I enjoyed every second while colouring it. Tomislav’s castles are beautiful beyond words. And Zemlja Snova is filled with castles! To me it really is the Land of Dreams.
Q: If you could choose only one of your finished coloring page which one would it be? And why?
If I could choose only one? That’s not easy, that’s like asking which of your children you would choose! Well, jokes aside, I would choose Tomislav’s castle. This picture speaks to me on so many levels and I am happy with how I coloured it. Which does not happen very often
Q: Do you have a favorite coloring book author? How did he/she earn your admirations?
Again, choosing among so many is difficult. I love Tomislav Tomić’s work, but I also love Klara Markova, Eriy, Daria Song, Kinuko Y. Craft, Macoto Takahashi, Good Wives and Warriors, Rita Berman, Maria Trolle, Nicholas F. Chandrawienata, Ruth Sanderson,Rachel Reinert, Svetlana Malysheva, Clara Yang and so so many others to whom I would like to apologize for not naming them here.
Q: In your opinion, why does your coloring pages appeal so much to adult coloring book fans?
Like any other creative hobby,(painting, knitting, writing, any kind of craft), it pushes our limits and enhances our imagination. And it can seriously help us alleviate the stress and problems we all go through in our everyday lives. Also, you can see the result of your work and it remains there forever.
Q: What drives the adult coloring trend according to your experience?
First of all, I don’t think it’s a trend anymore. It has become a legitimate hobby like any other I named above.
Q: What would like to see more in adult coloring book world?
Nowadays you can find just about anything you are looking for in the thousands of colouring books that already exist. More and more are released every single day. What I would love to see as soon as possible is a new book by Tomislav Tomić. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Q: What are your plans for the future?
To be honest, I don’t have any specific plans for the future except to try and make more time for colouring and creating art generally. Maybe reviving my old hobby – painting with dry and soft pastel. I would really love to do that.
Q: And last but not least, where can we find your artwork?
You can find me on Instagram and Facebook:
https://www.instagram.com/morena_vajak/
https://www.facebook.com/morenas.colouring.room/
Thank you for the interview. I would only like to add one thing, for some new colourists: never be afraid to try anything you want. Explore and experiment, don’t think about the final results. Enjoy the journey!
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