Coloring for grown-ups: how to start, and how to keep going

You don't need talent, a lot of time or a fancy set of pencils to start coloring as a grown-up. You need a page you like, a few colors and fifteen minutes. That's the whole start.

The harder part is keeping it going once the week gets busy. So this guide covers both: how to pick your first book and your first colors, and the small habits that take the book off the shelf and into your week.

Why so many grown-ups color

Everyone has their own reasons. These are the ones we keep coming back to. It's a break with a beginning and an end. Your hands are busy and your phone is somewhere else. And at the end of the evening there's a finished page you made, which is more than most screens can give you.

There's no wrong color and nobody grading you. If the sky ends up pink, the sky is pink.

Pick a first book you'll want to open

Start with what makes you smile, not with what looks impressive. A few things that help on a first book:

• Bigger shapes and bolder lines are easier to finish in one evening. Fuzzy in Love, for example, is drawn with bold lines.
• A theme you love keeps you coming back: cats in Cozy Cat Life, dogs in Cozy Dog Days, fall in Cozy Autumn, little self-care moments in Self-Love Vibes, or something spooky-cute in Spooky Halloween.
• If you like markers, check that the pages are printed on one side. Most of our coloring books are, so ink can't spoil the picture on the back. Cozy Winter and Spooky Christmas are the two exceptions.

Start with three colors

A new box of 24 or 48 pencils can freeze you. Pick three colors you love and use only those on your first page. You'll be surprised how finished it looks.

When you want more, the color wheel helps you choose colors that go together. We explain it in Color theory: how to make colors pop. Using markers or gel pens? Read 5 tips for smooth color with markers and gel pens first.

Set up a corner and a kit

Coloring happens more often when everything is ready. Choose one spot, like the end of the sofa or a table by the window. In the evening, put the lamp on the side opposite your coloring hand, so your hand doesn't shade the page.

Then keep everything in one basket or pencil case, so you can start in ten seconds:

• your coloring book, or a few printed pages;
• colored pencils (a set of 24 is plenty to begin);
• a sharpener and an eraser;
• a sheet of thick paper to slip behind the page if you use markers.

Use time you already have

Don't look for a free afternoon. Look for small pockets that already exist: the second coffee on Sunday morning, the twenty minutes after the kids are in bed, the train home. Pick one and put it in your calendar, like "Coloring, 9 pm". Fifteen minutes counts.

Match the page to the time you have. Fifteen minutes? Color one small motif, or one corner of a bigger scene. A slow Sunday? That's the time for a page full of tiny details.

A page doesn't have to be finished in one sitting. Slip a bookmark in, close the book and come back tomorrow. Some of the nicest pages grow a little at a time, over a whole week.

Color with someone

Coloring is easy to share. Invite a friend over with her own book, or set up a family coloring evening where everyone gets their own page. It works across generations too: a grandma and a grandchild at the same table, swapping pencils and opinions on which green is best.

And if you'd like company from home, join our Facebook group, Special Art - Artwork, where colorists from around the world share their finished pages.

Keep your pages

Write the date in a corner of every page you finish. Tuck one into a card for someone you love, or hang it on the fridge. A few months from now, flipping back through them is half the fun, and you'll see how much your coloring has changed.

Tip: when you stop, put your pencils back in color order. Next time you'll find the right one at a glance, and starting feels even easier.

Your first fifteen minutes

Tonight, pick a page, choose three colors and set a timer for fifteen minutes. Start in one corner and stop when the timer goes off, even if you'd like to keep going. Tomorrow you'll know exactly where to pick up.

Questions about coloring as a grown-up

Are coloring books really for adults?

Yes. Our coloring books are made for teens and adults, with grown-up themes like cozy pets, seasons and little self-care moments. Plenty of grandparents color with their grandkids too.

Pencils or markers?

Colored pencils are the easiest start. If you prefer markers, choose a book printed on one side only and slip a thick sheet behind the page. Most of our coloring books are printed on one side; Cozy Winter and Spooky Christmas are not.

How long does a page take?

From fifteen minutes for a small motif to a few evenings for a page full of details. You don't have to finish in one sitting.

Where can I share my pages?

In our Facebook group, Special Art - Artwork, or on Instagram with @specialart_coloring. We love seeing them.