Photo by Edward Gallivan / Special to the Leader
RIANNA SEELIG
Staff Writer
Fact: Most college students are stressed out of their minds. Between school, work, family, friends and extracurricular activities, it seems like there is no room for downtime in everyday life. However, a new trend may be making peace a bit more possible.
Adult coloring books have become a global sensation. Young adults and adults everywhere are turning to the calming pastime for solace. As the market grows, a greater array of products become available.
Johanna Basford, a Scottish illustrator dealing mainly in black and white pen- and pencil-based creations, is leading the revolution with coloring books such as “Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt & Coloring Book,” “Lost Ocean: An Inky Adventure & Coloring Book” and “Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest & Coloring Book.”
Basford’s books, according to Amazon, have sold over 16 million copies worldwide, and continue to top Bestseller lists on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and the New York Times. On her Instagram page, Basford said “I’m on a mission to make the world a happier and more creative place through coloring.”
So, can coloring actually make the world a better place? Psychologists say yes, stating coloring is creating a culture of adults who are not only more creative, but who are also able to channel and express emotions such as stress or anxiety in healthier ways.
According to an article by The Huffington Post, coloring “generates wellness, quietness and also stimulates brain areas related to motor skills, the senses and creativity.”
Samantha Mazzalonga, a junior dance and psychology double major, looks to coloring for stress-relief and brief escapism from daily responsibilities.
“It relieves stress,” she said, “because I forget my problems while I’m coloring, and I put all of my energy and focus on that.”
Coloring is also an activity that is commonly associated with childhood. This will often cause adults to avoid the activity because of its connotations. However, it may be that a sense of childlike calm is what adults are desperately in search of.
Jenn Klimeck, a senior sociology major, finds that reconnecting with tendencies associated with childhood is one of the best aspects of coloring.
“Coloring lets me forget my obligations and relive my childhood for a bit before focusing on school again,” she said.
Perhaps what adults need is an opportunity to take on a child-like persona for an hour or two. Childhood does connote a certain sense of simplicity, a time free from obligations or worry. Why not partake in a hobby that connects you with feelings such as this in times of high stress?
Charlotte Passero, a junior accounting and finance major, also looks to coloring to give her a sense of freedom unique to childhood.
“Coloring is fun and it relieves stress,” she said. “It makes me feel like a kid with no obligations again.”
As the popularity of adult coloring books increases, the creativity of illustrators becomes more and more versatile. There seems to be adult coloring books for most fandoms (the collective name for fans of a specific book, show, film, etc.).
On Oct. 27, a Game of Thrones coloring book was released and quickly became a New York Times Bestseller. On the same day, an Outlander coloring book was released that also made it to the Bestseller list. Most recently, a Harry Potter coloring book was released and has remained on the Bestseller list for the New York Times, Barnes and Noble and Amazon since early November.
There’s clearly a coloring book out there for everyone, no matter your age. For those who are experiencing constant stress and need a brief escape: color ‘til you’re calm.