Peace of Mind Organizing

Coloring for Peace

4 July 2016

Continuing with the theme I started last week about adult coloring, I wanted to highlight an amazing coloring book I think you should know about. (And don’t forget I’m doing a giveaway this week for a set of Smead Coloring Folders!)

One of the positive things that came out of the protests and subsequent vandalism that occurred in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, as well as in my own Tower Grove neighborhood, was the art painted on plywood boards that covered broken storefronts. The community came together to paint messages of peace, unity and love. It was truly inspiring.

My friend and client, Carol Swartout Klein, a native of Ferguson, was inspired by that art and created an award-wining children’s story book, Painting for Peace in Ferguson that came out in 2015.

This year, she partnered with artist Robert O’Neil to create a coloring book based on the painting for peace art, Painting for Peace – A Coloring Book for All Ages. I saw her recently and she gave me a copy.

The coloring book, like all good coloring books, is appealing from an aesthetic standpoint. I found it hard to choose the first page to color because there were so many great options. But it’s also really moving. Color photos of the actual paintings that inspired the coloring pages are printed on the inside front and back cover, and the coloring book includes profiles of some of the original artists with an explanation of the art. Coloring pages are on the right side and complimentary inspirational quotations are on the left. It’s printed on high-quality paper and is appropriate for both adults and kids.

Here’s the cover of the book:

Here’s the first picture I colored from the book. I used primarily Koh-I-Noor Tri-Tone colored pencils.

This coloring book, and the children’s book before it, convey important messages of peace, love and hope. I encourage you to purchase either or both books. Your purchase not only spreads a message, it benefits youth, art education and economic recovery programs in the affected areas.

Tagged with: coloring, crafts

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