Quarantined at home and running out of things to keep your kids busy? Just finished binge-watching the third repeat of your favorite TV show on Netflix? News channels blaring about COVID-19 got your nerves on edge and filled with anxiety?
Well, turn off the TV, pour yourself a soothing drink (if it contains alcohol, parents, no worries, I won’t say a thing) and print out some of these gorgeous (and free!) botanical-themed coloring pages offered by Johanna Basford. Just don’t expect to color within those lines if you have one alcoholic drink too many!
All of these links originate from theguardian.com.
If you want to see more of Johanna’s beautiful coloring pages, her site offers many free downloads that can also be printed.
I am a huge fan of Johanna’s work and have all of her coloring books. Her designs are intricate and whimsical and each page is bursting with visual delights that will keep you happily coloring for hours. I do have to admit, however, I don’t actually color inside them. I just like to collect her coloring books to enjoy the beautiful linework and artistry (yep, I’m a weird one…). For me, it’s almost like taking a peek into another artist’s sketchbook and observing their style and drawing techniques. And in my mind, the more the plants, the better!
Below is a list of all of her books that are predominantly botanical-themed.
One of her very first coloring books that also serves as a treasure hunt! Hidden within her black-and-white designs are all kinds of creatures and curiosities to find while you color! The detail in this first book is very intricate and there are some pages where you are invited to do some of your own doodles. Some of her coloring page spreads may actually be quite small, so meticulous, detail-oriented personalities will love it!However, if you don’t like fine detail or your eyes get tired easily, you may want to try another book.
Bring all your magical, inky fairytales to life when coloring in “The Enchanted Forest!” This book features owls, unicorns, hot air balloons, birdhouses, and a magic castle, with detachable pages that will allow you to frame your work and hang it on a wall. The details in this book can be incredibly fine, and if that’s not your cup of tea, I would recommend some of her other coloring books below.
Discover a lush, tropical world of flora and fauna in this coloring book. Like all of her other books, Magical Jungle is filled with sensational illustrations and linework. You’ll also find all kinds of critters, like elephants, monkeys, tigers and birds…and of course–what we all love here– lots of plants! The designs are less intricate than some of her previous books, which may be helpful to those who get eye strain or may get frustrated with the tiny details.
If you love flowers, this coloring book is for you! Every page is bursting with glorious blooms just waiting for your pencils and pens. It does have some similarities to the “Secret Garden” coloring book; and while it has a nice amount of detail, overall, the designs are a bit less intricate and complex. The paper is nice and thick and can possibly be used with very light washes of watercolor.
While the previous publications are purely coloring books, this one is more of a coloring “storybook.” It features the adventures of a young girl named Ivy in the the magical world of Enchantia. Despite the deviation from her usual coloring book format, Johanna’s work is still clearly recognizable and the designs are as fantastically illustrated as the other coloring books. It’s especially great because it can serve a dual purpose; your children can color it and you can read it to them!
And if you want to learn how to make your own coloring book drawings filled with botanical goodness, this is her beautiful and easy-to-understand guidebook! Now, you will likely not be a master coloring book artist after you work through it, but you will learn a lot about drawing techniques and how to doodle some cute pictures. There are lots of tutorials on how to draw plants and other critters, like butterflies, shells, birds and fish.
So, are you hooked on her gorgeous designs yet? Yes? Well, print off some of her coloring pages, break out the colored pencils, gel pens and markers (but not alcohol markers), and have fun!
Always Keep Creating,
Heather (a.k.a. The Botanical Chick)
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