Coloring has become really popular for adults lately. I picked it up again a few years ago along with drawing and marker painting. Coloring and drawing patterns both feel really healing for my mind.

Pages to color abound in the Web and in printed books. Animal designs are really popular. Last night, I colored the lion mandala (from www.999coloringpages.com). Tonight, I colored the flatback sea turtle page in Jonni Good’s Endangered Animals Color and Learn Book. This book has coloring pages and information pages about 18 animals. I looked for photos of the flatback sea turtle, and then decided I didn’t have to make realistic color choices. If I want a realistic turtle, I can print the page again! The coloring pages come in an e-book that is free. You can also buy it in paperback on Amazon for $8.98.

I like the information pages in the book too.  I already knew that all seven species of sea turtle are endangered and that plastic trash floating around in the oceans is very dangerous for turtles. I learned that the flatback sea turtle ranges around Australia. No, flatbacks are not Tuscan red and pink.

I just pre-ordered a brand new cat-themed coloring book from BZTAT, an artist I like who is passionate about cats and about the power of the human-animal bond. Color Me Cats will ship on Aug.31. I’ll be sure to share one of my first colored pages when I get the book.

I picked up  Designs by Frank Lloyd Wright and Stained Glass Window Designs by Frank Lloyd Wright when I visited Taliesin this summer, but I haven’t started coloring yet. I’m hung up on getting the color relationships “right” in these pages. To get over myself, I think I’ll photocopy the pages before I color. That way, I can color with whatever colors I want and not worry that I don’t have Wright’s colors in my palette. Maybe I should add cats to the pages… I hatched a lot of cat-friendly furniture ideas at Taliesin. I was surprised at how many of the design features of that amazing house seemed purrfect.