While paper-bound physical adult coloring books may be becoming a trend of the past, adult coloring is still as popular as ever. The majority of adult coloring book enthusiasts find cheap or free material online to print and color as opposed to buying physical books from traditional retailers in brick-and-mortar stores.
Yes, adult coloring books are still popular. There is a steady stream of buyers keeping publishers in the business of creating adult coloring content, and there are now seasoned adult coloring artists who have gained popularity online due to their coloring masterpieces.
Sales of adult coloring books are highest in craft stores which is not surprising considering the creative association that consumers make with the coloring process.
Why Adult Coloring Appeals to the Masses?
There are a ton of adults who appreciate art but who are not confident in their artistic ability. Coloring pages give these people a convenient, cheap, and accessible medium to begin to explore their artistic sides. Having defined pictures that turned out well without much planning increases confidence within the adult community regarding artistic endeavors, and coloring continues to gain traction as a popular recreational activity.
Coloring also rides the tides of the moods of society, in that if stressful things are going on in politics or history (like the pandemic), interest spikes. People are always looking for an affordable way to try and unwind while decompressing from the constant news cycle and some of the more distasteful things happening to society, like global warming. Coloring books allows adults an opportunity to turn off that cycle of worry and focus on something that’s designed just for them and their mental well-being.
This need to refresh and escape continues to drive adult coloring even in the absence of traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Stressed adults will always seek an outlet, and while there are still stressors in the world, there will still be people relieving that stress via coloring.
Anatomy Coloring Books and the Dawn of Adult Coloring
Anyone who grew up with a nursing professional has probably seen the anatomical coloring books used by students to memorize human anatomy. A large chunk of individuals who are currently interested in adult coloring have memories of their parents giving them these books to meticulously color well beyond the scribbling phases of childhood.
It’s no surprise that anatomy coloring books have spiked in popularity along with the adult coloring market. This old pastime of children from the 80s and 90s taught people burgeoning into adulthood that coloring is relaxing and fun, and this trend has blossomed into the adult coloring market of today’s world.
Caretakers from the Millennial Generation Kicked Off Coloring
As millennials began having children, at-home caretakers of these kids began realizing that they enjoyed coloring with their offspring. They noted that it provided a sense of relaxation and calmness in a busy day, and they began seeking alternative subject matter outside of the cartoons and characters typically marketed to children. They also found themselves seeking a distraction that pulled them away from smartphones and computers and they found that coloring was an activity that was easy to get absorbed in.
The homegrown and driven millennial search for more coloring book topics began to drive the market for adult-themed coloring books with more complicated stylings. They were also drawn to the affordability of coloring as it could potentially provide hours upon hours of entertainment for less than $20. Coloring started becoming a well-known way to avoid the outside world, such as notifications on cell phones and other distractions that deter 21st-century humans from indulging in self-care.
Coloring is a Wholesome Activity for the Entire Family
Some families hold coloring nights, which is a great way to connect with people of all age ranges. As adults color during these sessions, they are calmer and less focused on what exactly the kids are doing, and amicable conversation and tension-relieving conversations can take place.
Some families choose to color when things get heated. The process of coloring can be so relaxing, that it’s easy to de-escalate heightened emotions and communicate about them before anyone goes to bed angry. As long as family members have squabbles, coloring books will remain popular.
Completed Coloring Pages Make Great Social Media Posts
A surefire way to obtain attention through likes on social media platforms is to share something that’s not only creative but photographs well and inspires others. Selling adult coloring as a mindfulness tool, many social media influencers began sharing their colored creations on platforms like Instagram. This brought coloring to the forefront of people’s minds and inspired many other adults to take up coloring as a hobby.
Online coloring communities are full of individuals who stoke the flames of the coloring craze by sharing tips, reviewing coloring utensils, and through a supportive community that rallies behind and gasses up other adults who share their favorite finished colored drawings.
Themed Coloring Books are More Popular than Ever
Are you head over heels for reruns of Cheers or The Office? Then you’re in luck, there’s a coloring book out there for you. The great thing about being alive today is that niche products are easier to sell, and the online marketplace does a great job of providing specific attractions for certain interests.
Adult coloring books that often come with a pop culture theme are not only popular because of their subject matter, but because it allows adults to step away from the same visual material they used as a child. This makes the experience feel new instead of just being a rebranded pastime.
Having a coloring page with a detailed expletive or a crude yet humorous scene depicted is a popular choice among adult coloring artists and is helping to keep the trend at the forefront of easy artistic expression. It is touted in different corners online that coloring a word that is not professional provides further levels of mindfulness and relaxation while separating the activity from the childhood coloring of times past.
As long as Therapists Still Recommend Coloring, It Will be Popular
A lot of therapists are on board with the coloring trend because it provides an opportunity for decompression and a means of accessing the inner child, which can be really important therapeutic tools. The color choices can also be analyzed and applied to different emotions and behaviors, so many therapists recommend coloring as a means to enhance the therapy of their patients. It’s often prescribed as homework and provides an excellent conversation starter at the beginning of sessions.
Digital Coloring is on the Scene
Even if physical adult coloring starts to fade, digital coloring apps are filling in the gaps. These apps allow you to design and color in a myriad of designs, and there is an app theme out there for every personality. With just a click, people can choose what color they want, and they can easily correct coloring choices that don’t look great.
This is amazing because it’s much cheaper than constantly supplying yourself with new coloring material, and it takes away the expense of buying coloring implements to use on traditional paper. So, like most things that may go the way of art history, coloring will always be important even if it just turns into an influencer for things like digital coloring apps.
Coloring is a stress-relieving hobby that isn’t going anywhere. The wonderful thing about coloring is it is ubiquitous, and the act of coloring can be subject to many situations and themes. There are a thousand different ways to participate in adult coloring as the images that are out there to be colored are as vast as the collective human imagination.
There’s no need for you to stock up on your favorite coloring books just because they don’t dominate the shelves in your local Target, or you don’t know where to find them now that your local Barnes and Noble shut down. Take to the internet and begin searching retail giants like Amazon for some coloring material or shop locally and buy pieces designed by artists on Etsy.
There are so many shops and web pages hosting coloring pages to download. The affordability of coloring and its accessibility across age ranges will always keep it at the forefront of recreational activity.
Check out our list of coloring apps HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did a 17th-century coloring book page look like?
In the 17th century, coloring pages were used as training tools for aspiring artists. They were not designed for creative expression but rather as a color study tool for practicing precise lines and strokes in different artistic mediums.
Can coloring help adults with Autism?
It’s a great outlet for people with depression and anxiety, especially when that is wrapped up with being on the spectrum. Coloring can help autistic people going through sensory overload by tuning out what’s around them, and it can also work as a stimming tool.
How Do Recessions Bolster Coloring?
People begin searching for a means of entertaining themselves that isn’t going to break the bank. Gadgets and video games may go out the window when times are lean, but adult coloring rises as it’s affordable and accessible.
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