Unveiling My First Adult Coloring Book – Indian Folk Art

In 2016 I talked about my desire to create an adult coloring book based on Indian Folk arts in one of the blog posts. I began the journey of creating the Indian folk art coloring book with great enthusiasm, and, in fact, had drawn some illustrations too. Well, it’s another story that some of these illustrations did not even find a place in the coloring book and some got modified to an extent that is almost unrecognizable.

Back then, I wasn’t sure what I would create and how I would go about it. The idea was conceived, and I was confident I could do it. However, the content creation journey picked up the pace, and coloring book creation took a back seat.

Fast forward to seven years; at the start of 2023, I had made it a resolution to publish the adult coloring book. And here I am, holding the book in my hands proudly before 2023 ends.

As an avid art enthusiast, I embarked on a journey to bring to you an art collection that not only celebrates the diverse cultural heritage of India but also provides a therapeutic and creative outlet for adults. This coloring book is a labor of love, born out of extensive research and a genuine passion for preserving and promoting unique Indian folk art. Here’s what went into creating this one-of-a-kind Indian folk art adult coloring book.

The Journey of Creation: Countless hours of research have been poured into curating a selection of mesmerizing designs inspired by various Indian folk art traditions. From the intricate patterns of Madhubani art to the geometric brilliance of Gond art, the simplicity of Warli art, and the vibrant storytelling of Pattachitra art, each page of this coloring book is a homage to the rich artistic legacy of India. After the completion of the first stage of hand-drawing the illustrations, the next step was to vectorize them so that the illustrations could be scaled and printed without losing any quality. In layman’s language, it’s a painstaking process of retracing each illustration on a computer. This allows the illustrations to be resized without compromising their quality (It’s extremely easy to do on an iPad compared to a laptop or desktop that doesn’t have a touchscreen). Given that I have no professional qualification or experience in vectorization, I found this process quite challenging. At times, I just wanted to give up and hire someone who could do it for me. However, finding someone who knows vectorization and also understands the intricacies of Indian folk art was like finding a needle in a haystack. Once the vectorization was done, I then moved on to creating the inside pages and the layout of the book, which was mainly done on Canva. I enjoyed this process thoroughly. It took me several rounds of editing to achieve what I had envisioned. Moving forward, I immersed myself in designing the cover page of the coloring book. (First, I spent many hours learning the basics of designing) You would be surprised to know that I designed three entirely distinct cover page designs, and it was only the third one that truly satisfied my desire to infuse an authentic Indian aesthetic into it. Sharing them below. Tell me which one you liked the most. At this stage, I was ready with the cover page, back cover, and inside pages of the book.

With the soft copy of the entire book ready, I was eager to proceed with the printing of my coloring book, only to discover that I still had to endure a seemingly eternal wait to find the right paper. Thus began the quest for the perfect paper, balancing cost considerations to ensure the coloring book remained affordable while finding a paper suitable for various mediums was also a crucial criterion.
After two months of searching and still not finding a better option, my heart started to sink. The best papers were extremely expensive and were being imported from other countries. Budget-friendly alternatives fell short of meeting the criteria for being labeled “suitable for all mediums. Till now, I had been thinking that the vectorization part was the most challenging, but I was wrong. I reached out to almost all the paper manufacturers and distributors in our country from Akola, Maharashtra to Ankleshwar, Gujarat but in vain. Simultaneously, I was on the lookout for a printer who could bring my dream to life. After exploring the entire Pune paper market, I narrowed down to the paper suggested by one of the printers. It turned out that the printer was willing to print the coloring book according to my requirements without suggesting any changes. With this, the ordeal of finding suitable paper and printer ended and the hope of finally holding my first coloring book rekindled. Two days later, I received a sample copy of the coloring from my printer and it took me on an emotional roller coaster. After two weeks, all the coloring books were printed and bound. The first glimpse of the book gave me a boost of serotonin. The only mistake my printer made was that, despite my repeated reminders, he used perfect binding instead of stitch binding for the coloring books. Due to this the coloring book can’t be laid flat on the surface while coloring. Neverthless, the mistake wasn’t too significant and the most crucial part was that my coloring book was ready to unite the nation, one art at a time 🙂

Why Indian Folk Art? Indian folk art is a treasure trove of culture, tradition, and stories and the subject has always intrigued me. It embodies the essence of different regions, reflecting the diverse heritage of our country. By delving into this coloring book, you not only engage in a relaxing and meditative coloring experience but also immerse yourself in the beauty of these unique art forms.

What Sets Us Apart: What makes the Indian Folk Art Adult Coloring Book truly special is the meticulous attention to detail and authenticity. I worked extremely hard to ensure that each illustration captures the essence of its respective folk art style. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just discovering the joy of coloring, these pages offer a canvas for your creativity to flourish.

Get Your Copy Today: The Indian Folk Art Adult Coloring Book is now available for purchase on my website. Take a moment to browse through the intricate pages, and let the vibrant colors transport you to the heart of India’s artistic heritage. Simply visit designdecoranddisha.com to secure your copy and embark on a colorful journey through the captivating world of Indian folk art.

Share Your Experience: We invite all art enthusiasts to try their hands at coloring these beautiful designs and share their views with us. Your feedback is invaluable as we continue to celebrate and promote the rich tapestry of Indian folk art. Join us on Instagram @designdecoranddisha with the hashtag #coloringandunitingIndia to connect with a community of fellow enthusiasts.

The Indian Folk Art Adult Coloring Book is more than just a coloring book – it’s a celebration of India’s artistic diversity. Dive into the world of Madhubani, Gond, Warli, and Pattachitra art as you unleash your creativity on these pages. Thank you for supporting my passion project. I can’t wait to see the vibrant masterpieces you create!

Love, Luck & Sunshine!!!