Grown Up Coloring Pages for Adults

• Botanical pages: peony and fern wreaths, wildflower meadows and a greenhouse with every pot drawn in
• Patterned animals: an owl, a fox, an elephant and a koi fish with feathers, fur and scales turned into repeating shapes
• Landscapes and villages: a harbor town with stacked houses, a cabin on a mountain lake and a street of narrow shopfronts
• Stained-glass designs: birds and tulips split by bold lead lines, which look good in marker
• Geometric and kaleidoscope pages: tiled stars, interlocking circles and designs that repeat in six or eight wedges
• Quiet interiors: a library wall with a ladder, a kitchen shelf of jars and a window seat with a garden view

Colored pencils are the easiest place to start. A set of 24 to 48 gives you enough shades to blend, and a sharp point reaches the small spaces. Work in light layers and build up color instead of pressing hard on the first pass. Fine-tip markers and gel pens give a brighter, flatter look and suit the stained-glass and geometric pages.

Paper matters more than most people expect. Standard printer paper is fine for pencils. For markers, print on cardstock or presentation paper and slide a spare sheet underneath to catch any bleed. Our guide to how to color with colored pencils covers layering and blending step by step.

Most adults who color say the same thing: it gives their hands something to do while their mind slows down. There's no score and no wrong answer. You can finish a page in one sitting or leave it on the table for a week and add a little each night. If you're new to it, our article on coloring for adults explains how to begin and what to buy first.