Coloring Book Review and GIVEAWAY

Today I am part of a TLC Book Tour for a new coloring book called Inkspirations Fruit of the Spirit. There are a few reasons I decided to be a part of this book tour. 1) I wanted to show you how we have enjoyed coloring books. 2) This is a Christian coloring book and I know I have readers that teach at Christians schools, Bible camps or with church groups. 3) I wanted to show you how I have gotten inspiration from coloring books. 4) I know there are creative ways art teachers have used coloring pages in the classroom and I wanted to share with you a couple of unique ideas. Here is the coloring book that I was gifted to review.

 

First, let's talk about the art in the coloring book. The designs are very beautiful, with lots of patterns to color. Each page has Bible verses or sentiments. This would be lovely to use with your own family, a kid's group at church, vacation Bible school or maybe as a free-time option in a Christian school. (Clearly I would not use this in a public or non-religious school setting.) 

Bible Coloring Page (1200x882) 

I could use the elephant image below in my classroom (removing the religious words) by using it as an inspiration for an art project by challenging them to draw their own animal with doodled patterns inside. 

Elephant Coloring Page in Book (1200x770) 

The lettering on these pages are very fun and creative. If I taught in a religious setting, I could use these quote pictures as examples and have the students create their own lettering design of a Bible verse or song. The book shows many examples of different styles of lettering. 

Bird Coloring Page (1200x994) 

One of my ideas this school year is for students to design their own hot air balloons for a bulletin board about "soaring" or "taking off". This hot air balloon is a nice example with decorations and patterns on the inside.

Hot Air Balloon Coloring (1200x900) 

This image reminds me of a quilt or Kente cloth pattern. 

Love Coloring Page (1200x803) 

Here are my two cute kids using these coloring pages. When we color, we go all out. Colored pencils, markers, whatever we have laying around. My daughter Daria gets to use my fancy markers because I know she will be careful with them. Desmond gets the cheaper ones. 

Coloring with Kids (1200x911) 

Here is Daria's page. I think she is quite talented for a 6 year old. But don't all parents?  Desmond lost interest after a few scribbles.

 Daria Coloring Page 

Here is one of my finished pages: 

With God Coloring Page (1200x840) 

Now some of you are probably saying, "Coloring books?? Coloring books are creativity killers!!!" (I have heard art teachers say that before.) You might think that, and you can have your own opinion and I will have mine. I don't subscribe to the belief that coloring books kill creativity. If a child uses a coloring book sometimes and draws on their own plenty too, I think that is fine. My daughter colored in coloring books a LOT when she was 2, 3 and 4. She also drew on her own constantly. She is a very creative little girl and has very good penmanship and ability to draw what she sees. She comes up with all kinds of creative drawings, so I just don't see the correlation between coloring books and un-creative kids. Obviously I don't think an art teachers should just give coloring pages to kids all the time. No way! But at home? For fun? Why not! If you are still skeptical, I wanted to show you these awesome creative artworks put together by using coloring pages (not the ones from this book.) Coloring Book Remix
Amy Carey Stine, an art teacher from Ashburn, VA, shared this lesson on Facebook. With her permission, I am reposting it for you. She said, "After Christmas all my seventh graders wanted to do was color in their new coloring books. If you can't beat them, join them! So, I presented to them, "Coloring Book REMIX." We studied surrealism and Prismacolor technique." They colored in the pictures and then cut them apart to make new collage compositions! Here are her gorgeous results:




Coloring Book Weaving

Jessica, from the Art of Education,  shared an interesting idea of making a coloring book weaving.  You can read all about it here.

Thanks for reading my review of Inkspirations coloring book!


(Amazon affiliate links have been used.)
Check out the whole line of coloring books! They even have a set of “color me” greeting cards! http://www.inkspirations.com/shop/

Inkspirations - Fruit_Of_The_Spirit

Learn more about Inkspirations

at www.inkspirations.com

TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS for Inkspirations:

Each stop will have a coloring book giveaway!
Wednesday, August 10th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
Thursday, August 11th: Just Commonly
Tuesday, August 16th: Black ‘n Gold Girl’s Book Spot
Wednesday, August 17th: Reviews from the Heart
Thursday, August 18th: The Book Chick
Friday, August 19th: Laura’s Reviews
Monday, August 22nd: The Magic All Around Us
Monday, August 22nd: Growing Kids Ministry
Tuesday, August 23rd: Savvy Verse and Wit
Wednesday, August 24th: Susieqlaw’s Blog
Thursday, August 25th: Bibliophilia, Please
Friday, August 26th: Stranded in Chaos
Monday, August 29th: 5 Minutes for Books
Monday, August 29th: Reading is My Superpower
Wednesday, August 31st: A Chick Who Reads
Thursday, September 1st: Book Snob
Friday, September 2nd: Mrs. Mommy Booknerd
Tuesday, September 6th: The Written World
Thursday, September 8th: Ms. Nose in a Book
Saturday, September 10th: Kritter’s Ramblings
Monday, September 12th: View from the Birdhouse
Friday, September 16th: A Bookworm’s World

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment below! One winner will receive this coloring book.


Art is Basic
Facebook
Etsy
Pinterest

23 comments

ARHuelsenbeck said...

It's gorgeous! Coloring is not just for children any more.

Rita Montgomery said...

I love coloring books and have several in my art room for inspiration and design ideas. Thanks for sharing.

Vicky Siegel said...

Love this coloring book! May be able to use it for my confirmation class, too!

Tina said...

This is a beautiful coloring book! Thanks for the opportunity to win it!

Beth Ann said...

I would love to win this coloring book! It would be good for scripture memorization and relaxation time too!

monkey57 said...

I would love to win a coloring book for my classroom. My students use them all the time as a relaxation /calm down tool. Staff also comes to my room for coloring sheets as a stress release.

Unknown said...

It's a lovely book. I would love to add it tum collection of colouring books

Unknown said...

Coloring books definitely do not kill creativity. They can spark ideas and interest as well as sooth your soul.

Crafty Kathy said...

I'm a huge fan of coloring books! I believe they get my creative juices flowing.

Unknown said...

I love coloring books and so do my students!

Dianna said...

I love coloring books! I teach at a Chhristian school and I definitely see how I could use this one!

Anonymous said...

This is a beautiful book! You do such a tremendous job of finding great things to share. Thanks, Marcia!

Lorraine said...

This is an absolutely beautiful book, thank you for sharing how you have colored some of the pages. I find coloring for myself and my students to be very relaxing, calming, and good inspiration for future projects...

Anonymous said...

"GOD is Good" Coloring is a time to relax and enjoy all of the beauty he has given to us. Thanks for sharing.

Kellie Comstock said...

Wow, what a beautiful book! I'd love to win this :)

JO'K said...

What a perfect blend of sensational scriptures, creatively decorated. This would be a fantastic way to share God's word in our Christian School and to the wider community.

Edwina Cherry said...

I love Daria's page.... clearly takes after her Mama! Using colouring books the way you do, the image becomes a springboard for creativity; varying the technique used to colour it and exploring interesting ways of using the chosen medium. So long as complete freedom is given to those using colouring books....after a session at the local library my then 4yr old was happily colouring a print out of a bee; the well-meaning mother sitting opposite admonished her little boy "Tommy bees aren't pink and purple, they are black and yellow!" There in lies the problem with colouring books.....
Edwina Cherry

Lauren said...

I like how relaxing coloring is.

genie holt said...

I used coloring books in my classroom as a choice when students finished their own artwork and needed free time filler. I think you can learn a lot in terms of design and also trying out color combinations. Of course, I sometimes received some criticism. You make very good arguments for using coloring books. I have been subscribed to your art is basic blog for sometime.

Heather J @ TLC Book Tours said...

I have a few coloring books and I really enjoy them. They help me to focus on something enjoyable and relaxing which does great things for my otherwise overactive mind.

Thanks for being a part of the tour for this gorgeous book!

Lorrie Bennett / Lorrie Bennett Studios said...

thank you everyone for the wonderful comments and your fantastic review, Marcia!! I do hope my latest coloring book is enjoyed by everyone. I love seeing Daria and Desmond spending time with the pages, too.

Blessings,
Lorrie
Artist/Inkspirations: Fruit of the Spirit

Jenne said...

This book looks so lovely! :)
mmyheartishere@gmail.com

Marcia Beckett said...
This comment has been removed by the author.