Actually Challenging As a Coloring Book
581866
<div id="video-block-RFU0GSIQ8VVYZ" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/C1evWLFXw8S.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81FVEMtxDRS.png" class="video-slate-img-url">&nbsp;Having received many review copies of adult coloring books, I can fairly say that this one is 1) well designed and constructed, and 2) advanced in terms of coloring level. What I mean when I say that it's advanced is that the coloring regions are smaller and demand more precision than is often the case. In addition, simple things such as letterforms always have internal elements that need more coloring.

So is this a good or a bad thing? Well, that all depends on your experience as a colorer and your desire when it sits down to color in some of the cruder, more vile and disgusting expressions in the English language. I appreciate a challenge, myself, so find this coloring book to be pretty great.

If you haven't colored in an adult coloring book, you're in for an uproarious, odd experience as the thing many of us associate with childhood -- coloring -- is debased with profanity of the most egregious kind. And it's awful. And it's awesome.
3407717
Time for the imagination to sore and to use some lovely coloring pencils on this lovely book
1585903
I haven't started coloring this one yet, but it looks like a challenging one which is great for me!!
4474717
Nice detailed coloring pages without being too intricate.
3201033
I'm writing an honest review in exchange for a free copy of this book.

This is a great book if you like to finish a page in one coloring session.  The themes within the food category seem to repeat themselves throughout this book, but I guess there's only so many ways you can create a coloring book with the focus on food.  The majority of the images themselves range from very simple to medium difficulty and all are easy to read.  Personally, I like coloring this type of image, but prefer desserts to seafood like you'll find in this book.
721265
Very nice coloring book, full of details in some cases too much. After awhile you can get tired of coloring in the shapes, but then again that's what gel pens are for. For me using coloring pencils would be very tireing for the hands, since you would have to press hard to bring up the color. The results with the gel pens are beautiful. The designs are tricky when it comes to what colors should go where. It's challenging and the results are rewarding.
3671840
This coloring book has 100 beautiful pages to color, paint or use markers. The pictures have varied in difficulties. This is a good book and can be used by the whole family.
347917
I was given this file to review. I liked this book for what it is - a cross between a line puzzle book and a coloring book. Arm yourself with a sharp pencil and a straight edge and have fun drawing the pattern. Later go back and color it in. They do show you what the pattern is suposed to look like so you at least know where to start. A page from this book would have been great for me when I was a young teenager and had to sit quietly somewhere. It will take a little more concentration than just coloring a design.
4343514
Beautiful pictures, but way to tiny to color if you try to color in all the small places.  At first look, I panicked trying to figure out how I could possibly color in this book because of the teeny, tiny detail.  Then, I watched videos of some artists coloring in Johann's books and realized that I can forget the tiny detail and just color the whole item one color, rather than trying to fill in the small spaces.  Once I wrapped my brain around that, I started coloring and it was just fine.  It seems so silly that I did not think of that, but I am not a creative person and didn't color much as a kid because I did not enjoy it and frankly, I wasn't any good at it.

My husband has the Enchanted Forest book and while I do think that book is much better, I am okay with Lost Ocean.  I do wish that the drawings did not go into the binder as in order to get to that part of the page, you have to break the binder and therefore, the book will not close properly.  I also prefer the paper of the last two books and the book cover; that was a nice touch.

I have been using Fiskars and LolliZ gel pens and Crayola colored pencils and so far and nothing bleeds through, which is a plus.

My suggestion for those who are having trouble with the small spaces is to, this may seem silly, go to YouTube and watch a few of the artist color (they do it in very fast motion) and you might have a change of heart.
1899427
This book is good if you like to color quite a bit of details.
3848709
It's a lot of fun to color in this coloring book.  Artwork is very well done.  Don't try to color if you're already hungry, though.
948852
The outlining of each picture is very thick. Coloring in the teeny weeny spaces between the thick lines is more stressful than not! Still fun though.
4040917
This puzzle is difficult.  If you want a challenge, then this is a good choice.  I am on my second attempt at this puzzle.  It doesn't help that we lost 7 pieces, as this puzzle is quite challenging as it is.  All pieces are relatively the same shape and sometimes you think a piece fits, but you have to very carefully look at the colors to see it's not a match.  I am determined to finish (less the missing pieces) and have spent hours working on it.  One key factor is realizing that the puzzle is not the full picture of the actual image shown.  So the actual image has an extra layer of beans around it, and thus looking at the puzzle, you can find the puzzle edge pieces a little in from the border on the picture.  Comparing the two has helped immensely.  The next key thing to getting further was putting together all blue jelly beans, as they stand out in the image.  First I completed as many as I could inside the completed frame, and then separately outside the frame.  I took the completed blue sections and used the image to find where they go and placed them inside the puzzle, either attaching where I could or putting in approximate location.  I will continue with the process using remaining green and then remaining pieces with yellow.  I should have few left when that is done.  I am at least half-way done now and many hours into this puzzle.  I will finish, then toss, because I'm annoyed at having missing pieces.  I am only finishing because I am determined to not let a puzzle get the best of me.
2507087
I have been watching the adult coloring book phase closely ever since I saw samples of works on Facebook.  It looked like so much fun that when the opportunity to review "Live Free" came along, I decided to try it out.

Okay.  I don't think this hobby is for me.  It caused me more stress having to make decisions about what colors to use, staying in the lines, etc.  However, just because coloring is not my cup of tea, I can understand why someone would enjoy making beautiful creations out of the detailed drawings prepared by Margaret Feinberg. I loved the Scripture verses and the idea of a coloring book journal.  The journaling page was uniue and allows you to meditate on Scripture while you color to your heart's content.

Some of the pictures are more detailed than others.  Some are easy, while some are more complex.  If you enjoy coloring, this book will keep you entertained for hours.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing  Group, as part of their Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
891358
The "adult coloring books" are all about tiny detail. Now obviously some people like that and actually relax with that. I would prefer pictures a little less complicated and more relaxing.
4660654
I received this adult coloring book today and wanted to go on write out my first impressions and experiences for anyone interested in purchasing this style of creative outlet.  The cover art is beautiful, very vibrant and fun, a fitting precursor to the following geometrically-themed pages, all of which are based on repetitive patterns of geometric shapes, some more intricate than others.  It has 60 pages of black and white imagery, ready for the colorist to fill in, and the variety of patterns throughout the book keep it interesting.

Once I began to color my first selected page (I used colored pencils), I noticed that the image had no margins, which some people may enjoy, but for me personally, it was kind of a bother.  Color has to go all the way to the edges to complete the image, so I had to color off the page in a way, and since I was using colored pencils, it pushes the edges of the page down a little bit--can obviously be straightened back out, but does weaken the edge.  Margins would really put a stop to this problem, and I know nearly all of my other coloring books have them, so I don't think it's just a me-thing as a preference.

Also, these pages are not perforated, so the image goes into the seam of the book (see pictures), making it extremely difficult to color to the inside edge since there kind of isn't one there.  It also made it impossible not to color on the back of the opposite page when trying to get into the crease/seam of the book to cover the pattern with color, but for some, again, this will be no big deal.  Additionally, since there are no perforations, if you want to remove a page to color, paint, share, or display, you will have to rip or cut it out and hope for the best in preserving the pattern and the book itself.  Some perforation in future printing might be a worthy consideration.

Obviously margins and perforation are concerns for nerds like me and probably not a thing to anyone who just uses these books for kicks and doesn't care, so take that bit of info as you do and let's move on.

The last page in this book says it was made in the USA, printed in Kentucky, and had a print date of September 17, 2015, which is the day I ordered it, so I guess this coloring book was hot off the presses--I feel kind of honored to be one of the first to color it, in that case, unless my order simply inspired a new print run, which is still kind of cool.  All in all, I appreciate the creative work that has gone into this book, and I look forward to adding it to my repertoire of adult coloring books, which I currently use for relaxation therapy and as a way to connect with my kids (they color in their books, I color in mine--it works!).  It's a neat book and the designs are really fun; I'd recommend it for anyone just getting into grown-up coloring books or anyone who appreciates simple geometric designs.
1065372
I have really enjoyed this coloring book. I have finally finished all of the pages, and am looking forward to the next. The designs in this book are great for adult coloring fans who like a challenge but aren't into overly hard, impossible pictures. Creative Haven also has some of the best coloring page paper I have found - crisp white, good lines on the copy, printed only on one side, and easy to tear out.