Review of Gnomes Homes In a Jar

[Sandra Smith 18]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Gnomes Homes In a Jar" by Big Initial Studios.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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<r><r><r>Adult coloring is a hot hobby, growing exponentially over the last few years with no end in sight. While there is no shortage of adult coloring books, most colorists ecstatically welcome new volumes into their collections. There's nothing better than fresh coloring supplies for a colorist! Because I personally enjoy adult coloring, I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to review an adult coloring book. On the cover of <I><s><I><s><I><s><I><s></s></s></s></s>Gnomes Homes In a Jar<e><e><e><e></e></I></e></I></e></I></e></I> by Big Initial Studios (copyright by Steven A. Ridder) is an adorable little country cottage and peaceful stream, all confined in a tall mason jar. Colored to perfection, it offers an example of the possibilities waiting within. Intrigued at first sight, I hopped onto Amazon.com to look at the inside pages. A virtual flip-through of the coloring pages proved this would be a fun endeavor.<br/><br/><br/>
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The book is nicely sized at 8.5 by 11 inches with a paperback cover. The interior pages are fairly white, standard Amazon paper. The homes, as well as the jars and lids, all vary in size, shape, and style. Some designs even escape to the outside of the jar! Full of natural elements, the line art also varies from thick to thin and from black to light gray. Most pages contain a high degree of detail, with many small spaces to fill. Grayscale makes an appearance and likewise varies from page to page. Some of the designs feature a single residence, while others resemble little cities with multiple dwellings. Rustic country cottages, mushroom-enveloped abodes, Japanese-inspired hideaways, or underwater sea dwellings – there is a home for every gnome.<br/><br/><br/>
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<I><s><I><s><I><s><I><s></s></s></s></s>Gnomes Homes In a Jar<e><e><e><e></e></I></e></I></e></I></e></I> contains 51 adorable images, which are printed on only one side of the page. This is an advantage because wet media, such as markers or watercolors, may bleed through the thin paper and ruin the opposite side. Both oil-based and wax-based colored pencils laid down smoothly on the paper, and I am pleased with the results. I love the abundance of natural elements that are featured in the designs. Also, the 51 unique inspirational messages on the opposite side of each design are a nice uplifting touch; the words complement and balance the intricate details of the images to bring you a peaceful and joyful coloring experience.<br/><br/><br/>
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While there are many positives to this book, there are some disappointments as well. The pages are Amazon standard paper, which is a thinner, lower-quality paper when compared to more expensive, high-end adult coloring books. Testing mainly three types of colored pencils (Faber Castell Polychromos oil-based, Prismacolor Premier wax-based, Derwent Inktense and Graphitint watercolor pencils, and Caran d'Ache Museum and Supracolor II watercolor pencils), I found that the paper gladly accepted layering of the oil-based and wax-based pencils. However, applying the watercolor pencils caused the paper to permanently buckle, regardless of the different techniques I used. It seems that most markers and even some highlighters will also bleed through the paper. I also find it odd that it is difficult to erase even small bits of lightly applied colored pencil from the paper. Because the images are super cute, a thicker paper is needed to match the quality of the artwork. Additionally, this would allow for more wet media and enhance the overall appeal of the book.<br/><br/><br/>
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The design concept and images are adorable. One minor punctuation flaw in the text does not distract from the inspiration of the messages. Overall, I had a fun and successful coloring experience and will definitely color more pages in this book. I deducted one star due to the thinness of the paper, which somewhat limits your choice of coloring media. For these reasons, I rate <I><s><I><s><I><s><I><s></s></s></s></s>Gnomes Homes In a Jar<e><e><e><e></e></I></e></I></e></I></e></I> <B><s><B><s><B><s><B><s></s></s></s></s>4 out of 5 stars<e><e><e><e></e></B></e></B></e></B></e></B>.<br/><br/><br/>
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I recommend this book to both new and seasoned adult coloring enthusiasts. Anyone who loves coloring cute, intricate designs brimming with nature will want to add <I><s><I><s><I><s><I><s></s></s></s></s>Gnomes Homes In a Jar<e><e><e><e></e></I></e></I></e></I></e></I> to their coloring collection. If you are not intimidated by small details and revel in the challenge of applying color to tiny images, you will love the designs in this book. If you welcome assistance with shading, then you will most likely find the varying amounts of grayscale helpful. This book would probably not suit those who shy away from details and grayscale. Likewise, it may not be a good fit for those who prefer to use mixed or wet media, such as markers, paints, or watercolor. However, colorists who mainly use dry media (colored pencils, pastels, gel pens, etc.) will find hours of relaxation and successful coloring in this book.</r></r></r>

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Gnomes Homes In a Jar
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