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Adult colouring books are said to have a calming and therapeutic effect on the mind
Henna Rakheja
T
he words that you’re reading now are black and are on white paper, but the story that they narrate is about colours, and its re-entry in our lives. If you thought only children feel ecstatic on seeing a pack of crayons or water colours, you’ll be surprised to know that even adults couldn’t hide their joy when some publishers in India recently introduced adult colouring books.
PHOTO: AMAL KS/HT
The book Secret Japan has detachable postcards which can be coloured. Mills & Boon has compiled illustrations of its various covers.
Some might think what’s great about having a colouring book for adults, and how will it be different from children’s colouring books? Udayan Mitra, associate publisher, Penguin Random House India says, “There isn’t a fundamental difference, but adult colouring books are typically built around a theme that might appeal to a general readership, and require more focused, meticulous work in colouring the illustrations, which are more intricate and detailed than children’s colouring books. Some of the
most popular themes have been gardens, seascapes, landscapes, cityscapes, mandalas, etc.” While Penguin has come up with titles such as The Sita Colouring Book by Devdutt Pattanaik and Bagh-e-Bahar (A Mughal Garden); Hachette India has introduced Dream Cities: Colouring for Calm, and Secret Japan; Harper Collins India has brought A Game of Thrones to India whereas Mills and Boons has compiled illustrations of its various covers. “Children are given
colouring books to streamline their fine motor skills,” says Dr Sandeep Govil, senior consultant in psychiatry. For adults, he says colouring books act as a diagnostic tool and are therapeutic. He says, “Depression, anxiety and stress are all due to the chemical imbalance in brain. One can practice colouring too, to set this right. The positive effects of colour therapy are proven.” There are different books for different purposes. Take for instance the Giant Mandalas – a book of 21 poster-sized mandalas for meditation and relaxation. “Colouring books are great relaxing tools, and also practice mindfulness owing to the nature of the books – the fine detailed drawings that
need to be filled in carefully. The process is therapeutic. Whatever be the subject of the colouring book – whether it is foliage or floral patterns – the process of colouring and why people reach out for these books remains the same,” says Poulomi Chatterjee, Editor-inChief and Publisher of Hachette India. However, artist-curator Alka Raghuvanshi feels these colouring books are nothing but “A complete killer of creative impulse.” She says, “A colouring book for adults is dishonest to the art of colouring. If one has to, do it freehand and after practice, eventually one will become better.” Is this why we need books to revive forgotten art? n
henna.rakheja@hindustantimes.com
Adult colouring books are typically built around a theme that might appeal to a general readership, and require more focus
Colouring books are great relaxing tools and also practice mindfulness because of the nature of the book
UDAYAN MITRA, PUBLISHER
POULOMI CHATTERJEE, EDITOR