NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) - Coloring isn’t for just kids anymore.
Suddenly, the pastime that keeps children content has become a method of relaxation for adults.
Today, craft, hobby and department stores shelves are lined with books whose pages are covered with intricate designs and drawings meant to be filled with the artist’s favorite colors.
The best part? “You don’t have to think about it,” said Marci Retzlaff, the Norfolk Public Library’s youth services assistant. “No matter what you do, it’s pretty.”
Retzlaff, who recently hosted a workshop on coloring at the library. He took up the craft after discovering coloring books in a bookstore in Lincoln. The activity seemed like a good way to relax, so she bought a book and a box of colored pencils - and the rest is history.
Retzlaff is especially taken with the pictures of Swedish Dala horses and has since colored enough pictures to wallpaper her house, she said with a laugh.
Retzlaff isn’t alone in her interest in the new trend.
Adult coloring books are said to be the top-selling books on amazon.com these days, Retzlaff said. There are more than 2,000 types of books available with topics that range from the animals and religious themes to intricate designs and even Harry Potter.
While colored pencils are good to use, gel pens and markers are also options, although markers may bleed through the paper if it’s too thin, she said.
The Norfolk Daily News (https://bit.ly/21XrEwI ) reports that Sandy Hall of Norfolk enjoyed coloring when she was a child and is pleased that it’s now seen as an adult activity.
“I love to choose the colors,” she said while practicing the craft during the workshop at the library.
She, like Retzlaff, has a few of her finished pieces on display in her home.
But there also are other uses for them, Retzlaff said.
For instance, they can be used to wrap gifts or they can be folded into a gift bag. They can be used to cover books, as a bookmark or made into a greeting card.
One of the few drawbacks, Retzlaff said, is the possibility of wrist and hand problems. For that reason, experts suggest doing a few exercises before beginning and putting a piece of triangular-shaped foam on the pen or pencil to relieve stress on the hands, she said.
Marianne Wright of Norfolk started coloring after learning her sister in Denver was doing it.
“I thought it would be fun to do similar activities,” she said.
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Information from: Norfolk Daily News, https://www.norfolkdailynews.com
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