Colorists beware - Scam Alert

I don’t consider myself a particularly good colorist, but apparently, I’m good enough for someone to steal my work. And I’m not the only one.

Pictured above is a page from ‘Creative Haven – Creative Cats’, colored by Rachel Pinto. The seller took this picture and made it available on t-shirts, sweatshirt, mugs, or wall art. She did not ask Rachel’s permission, nor did she get permission from Marjorie Sarnat who drew the pages of the book, or the publishing house.

The seller promoted Rachel and my work on Facebook stating that this these colorings were available for a limited time only. Unfortunately for the seller, but fortunately for Rachel and me, the prices are rather steep. The cat book only costs $4,61 on Amazon.com, but the seller charges $15,99 for one finished coloring page, plus $5,99 for shipping.

Both Rachel and I have tried to reach the seller via Facebook but she doesn’t respond, other than with more promotional nonsense.

So we contacted the publisher and have made them aware of what this person is doing.

If you have colorings online, you could be her next victim.

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Are we our own worst enemy?

I’m in a slump. Those of you who know me know that I took up coloring in December of last year. Alex, a long time friend drew my attention to this hobby as a way of relaxation and a cure for insomnia.

Relaxation and a cure for insomnia? … that’s all she had to say, I had to try this as I’m frequently stressed and toss and turn for hours in bed.

I got myself a book and some pens and got started. And I found that Alex was right, almost immediately I felt a lot calmer, slept better and found tremendous joy in coloring.

Ten months down the line all that has changed.

Theodore Roosevelt said “Comparison if the thief of joy” and I found this to be quite true. Since starting the coloring hobby I joined three coloring groups on Facebook and when I compare my work to some of the colorings I see I get depressed. Others’ work is so much better than mine.

Some say that coloring is not a competition, and I know that, but I’ve always expected the best of myself. I also know that some colorists are professionally trained and my work can’t be as good as theirs, but I want at least to see an improvement in my colorings.

Alex will shake her head over this and say that I should just color for my own enjoyment, but that’s just it, I don’t find joy in coloring anymore, only frustration.

Someone in the group mentioned that if we could be half as considerate of ourselves as we are of others, we would be happier. And this is true, why do we have to be so hard on ourselves?

This reminded me of what a Canadian ten-pin bowling coach ones said to me … “When we miss a spare we berate ourselves with “How could you miss that!” … “How could you be so stupid!” … and more of such critical words. When a teammate missed a spare we say … “Oh don’t worry about it, you’ll get next time.”

Are we our own worst enemy? 

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Adult Coloring Books by Cynthia Kloeter

Are you coloring yet? While some people consider coloring a kids’ activity, millions of others disagree and have taken to coloring like ducks to water.

Publishers of these books couldn’t be happier and state that these books are flying off the shelves. That they’ve never seen anything like it. While adult coloring has been around for years, in recent months it has exploded into something anyone and everyone wants to be a part of. One publisher stated that one of the books is in its 16^th reprint.

Other artists prefer not to enlist the help of a traditional publisher and self-publish their work. And why not, they have creative freedom and don’t have to share the profits with an agent and a publisher.

One such artist is my friend Cynthia Kloeter and you can find all her coloring books on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_12?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=cynthia+kloeter+coloring+books&sprefix=cynthia+kloe%2Cstripbooks%2C155&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Acynthia+kloeter+coloring+books

Whether you like flowers, eggs, gems or garden designs, Cynthia has you covered.

What many like about Cynthia’s work is the size of her works. Her drawings are big with bold lines, perfect for people who have less than 20/20 vision.

In Cynthia’s own words, about “The Power of Flowers” …

The perfect book to help you relax and heal your soul through the use of relaxing coloring. This book is suitable for all ages and skill levels. The ideal book for art therapy. This book contains 30 easy to color design. They also are perfect for those wishing to enrich their shading & blending skills. Perfect for markers as each design is printed single sided. There is also a Protection Page that can be torn out and used between the pages to prevent marker bleed. Color testing page added at the back of the book. All illustrations are hand drawn.

Whether you’re a man or a woman, 21 or 81, an accomplished colorist, a beginner, or looking for an original present (Christmas is coming up) … have a look at Cynthia’s work and you too might find peace and relaxation in coloring.

These are some of her finished creations …

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Should we be allowed to criticize?

LILAC FLOWERS BY: PRIS DAVID

Most coloring groups on Facebook have a strict “No criticism” policy. The rules often state “If you don’t have anything good to say, move on.” But is that really such a good idea? If we are not allowed to receive criticism, how will we ever get better?

While I by no means imply that we should be allowed to tear each other’s work apart, constructive criticism might turn an enthusiastic artist into a good artist, and a good artist into a great one.

Most people know their own limitations. By looking at other’s work they know that their work is not up to par. They can see that others are better and often wonder ... how did they do that?

This is where constructive criticism might be helpful. Mentioning where the coloring artist went wrong, or what could be improved upon, might not only be well received but appreciated.

For instance. Some two weeks or three weeks ago I noticed a particularly striking image of blue flowers in this group. The coloring brought about a string of likes and comments of people falling over themselves to express how extraordinary this coloring was. 

BLUE FLOWERS BY: PRIS DAVID

My first reaction was ... I might as well give up. The artist, Pris David, commented “No, don’t do that. Keep practicing and you’ll be able to do this too.” Yeah right, like that was gonna happen.

So I emailed Pris and she started giving me some tips. I tried what she explained and ... it didn’t work. I tried again and again, but no, no luck.
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Next Pris provided, in addition to more advice, a picture of what to do and what not to do. I tried again and ... hm, while I could see a tiny bit of improvement, my efforts still didn’t even come close to what she was showing me.

So Pris took it one step further and sent me a video.
I must have watched that video ten times, and not just looked at it, but studied it, along with the pictures she provided. And yes, eventually what she had explained, showed me with drawings and now with this video started to make sense.

So I tried again, sent her the result of my work, she delivered feedback and I tried again, and again, and again.
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Today I’m happy to say that I’m getting there. I’m still nowhere near as good as Pris is, but if I can improve this much in two weeks, the future looks promising.

The blue flowers I colored earlier this year, the blue and pink ones were done last week.
Better, right?

JANUARY 2016

JUNE 2016

Is it legal to sell adult colorings

Coloring by Pris David

Adult coloring has turned into a rage. Publishers of such books state that they’ve never seen anything like it. Some coloring books are on their sixth or even tenth reprinting. Suppliers of pens, pencils and chalks are equally happy that adults all over the world have taken such an interest in this hobby.

While some people color just for fun, others are so talented that their work is fit to be framed and put on a wall. Which led to a question on Facebook yesterday ... is it legal to sell adult colorings?
I did a bit of research on this and found the following:

"You may use the designs and illustrations for graphics and crafts applications, free and without special permission provided that you include no more than four in the same publication or project."

My personal opinion is ... when in doubt, contact the publisher of the coloring book and ask.
It’s not like the coloring artist is going to make thousands of dollars from selling some pictures.

One designer, let’s call her Annie, stated “Bottom line, respect the artists. They work very hard to create the coloring books we use. That is their bread and butter. Would you want someone taking from your income you support your family with? Not to mention, yes, the artist can sue you.”

Annie has a point, but her reasoning may not be the best one. Suppose someone sees a framed coloring and wants one too. She might rush to the nearest bookstore and buy Annie’s book so she can color too. Or she might ask the original coloring artist to color one for her. One thing might lead to another and the coloring artist might buy more and more of Annie’s books.

Another artist, let’s call her Brenda, wrote ... “I email free weekly illustrations. You can color and sell them if you want.” If Brenda ever decides to bundle her drawings in a book, guess who will make the most sales? Annie who doesn’t want to share, or Brenda who markets her work with free drawings?

Another person, let’s call her Olive, commented ... “Just trying to understand. If I paid the artist for the book, then it’s mine to alter and do what I want. I've already paid the artist.”

I agree with this. If I buy a plate, I can serve dinner on it or smash it to pieces. It’s mine to do with as I please.

Then last night I got to thinking ...

If I buy a design for a sweater in the knitting shop, and knit that sweater, can I legally sell it?

If I bake a cake following the recipe someone posted online, can I sell that cake?

If I buy chocolate and melt it down to make Easter eggs, can I sell those eggs?

What about Bible phrases people sell on online. I found this particular tile on Zazzle. Did the seller obtain the rights to use this phrase from the author?

What about this pillow quoting John 14:27. Did John give permission to use his creativity for commercial purposes?

Let’s take this even further.

Vincent Van Gogh is considered one of the greatest painters, yet he never sold a painting in his life. These days though, his paintings are so expensive that only the super rich or museums can afford his works.

If we follow the provenance of Van Gogh “Starry Night” we discovered that the master GAVE this painting to his brother Theo. From there the painting traveled to several owners, increasing in value over time. Today Starry Night is worth over $100 million.

Incredible, isn’t it. Is it ethical for anyone to make millions on an artist who died in poverty?
​​
My message to designers ... if you make $10,000 from your coloring books, why begrudge someone $10 for selling a coloring. 

Adult Coloring - Kathy Garner

Kathy Garner is a rather interesting individual. She’s a professional nurse, but also a part-time dance instructor. Now this combination has its perks … should anyone get hurt during dancing, help is immediately on hand.

If that isn’t enough, Kathy is also a makeup artist and of course a coloring enthusiast. She only started coloring six weeks ago, to help her cope with stress as she says.

Coloring helps her clear her mind after a hard day of coping with the problems of various patients.

Kathy is originally from the Philippines, but currently resides in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and six year old son.

Adult Colorings - Elisanne MacHardy-Mead

Elisanne lives in the country in East Tennessee with her two dogs, Skippy, a Jack Russell Terrier and Sugar Britches, a labramutt. Sugar Britches helping with coloring Skippy taking a break Elisanne is a professional jewelry artist using teeny tiny seed beads to create wearable art. ​ She has been an artist for as long as she can remember and has always had some form of creative expression going on. She draws and paints or creates art through cooking and gardening. Elisanne can be contacted at: elisannemead@gmail.com As for Elisanne's colorings, see for yourself ... Buy adult colorings by various artists at: http://adultcolorings.weebly.com/

Adult Coloring - Dora Johnson

Dora Johnson doesn't like talking about herself, In one little sentence she shares that she's been together with Jim for 22 years and married to the man for 15.

But ask her about her pets, and you’ll get a fountain of information.
Her niece found a turtle in the garden and Dora gave him a home.

Another day she found a cat sitting on the engine of the car, and he too was invited in.
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Apparently word got around in cat world, because a short time later two kittens came wandering into her yard and joined the family along with a cat that had to be rehoused from her brother’s place.

When Dora isn’t taking care of the cats and the turtle, she goes to school where she recently graduated with an Associates degree and continues studying for a Bachelors degree. She enjoys reading, building freaky style bicycles, going for rides with her bicycle group through Michigan and Canada, does afghan crocheting and of course coloring.

When looking at Dora’s coloring, I’ve come to the conclusion that she has a) an abundance of patience, and b) very good eyesight. Not to mention talent to make these stunning creations.
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Just look at her colorings …
 

Buy adult colorings by various artists at:

http://adultcolorings.weebly.com/

Adult Coloring by Andrea Wolf

Let nobody say that they don’t have time for adult coloring. Meet Andrea Wolf. Andrea is 53 years old, a wife, a mother and a grandmother. She’s the proud owner of 3 cats (one of them called Mr. Pants), a granddog and an assortment of fish.

For over 20 years, Andrea was in the dental field, but one fine day she called it quits and switched to working in a gift shop.

In addition to photography, adult coloring is her passion and she specializes in Mandalas.  In Andrea’s own words …

Buddhist monks have been creating the Mandalas for years now and a few years back when I was studying Buddhism, I bought a book to color. No one I knew about these books and it wasn't anything that the main stream audience was aware of. It was a way to help Buddhist meditate and help with the meaning of "Letting Go." They would draw the Mandalas and color them and then burn them.

I am very grateful that Andrea didn’t burn her Mandalas as they are an explosion of color and beauty.

Adult coloring for sale at  

http://adultcolorings.weebly.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

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