Inside or Outside, It Doesn't Matter to Me

I noticed the start of the adult coloring book trend a few years ago, and I mean for audience and not just content.  At first, it was just a few listing under "art" in my store's distributor catalogs; maybe an ad here or there.  Now, there is an entire section dedicated to just coloring books, as well as multiple ads most months.  When I was a kid in grade school, I was always put upon by my teachers for not coloring neatly and inside the lines.  I would frequently use multiple colors next to or on top of each other, with many strokes going over the borders.  I would even continue coloring right to the edge of the paper without considerations of what the proper color should be.  I remember going so far as coloring windows blue to show there was glass in them as well as putting pink fingernails on hands even when they weren't indicated.  Not too many teachers, or other people for that matter, liked my style.  Of course, I calmed down a lot and learned to be a little more traditional in my artwork.  I will try and load a picture soon of one of my paintings soon.   Still, I think that this adult coloring trend has gone too far.  I see multiple magazines dedicated to it every time I go past a newsstand.  At least I think the trend is peaking, or at least it will soon.  I am already seeing the first signs of a new trend (I frequently seem to be a step ahead , at least a slight majority of the time).  Puzzles are coming back in a big way, trust me.  The same calming effect that coloring has is starting to bleed over into puzzles.  I am talking pencil puzzles and not jigsaw type here.  And puzzles also train your brain.  Okay, that last line was weak, so I think I should end this post now  before I get even more stupid sounding.  I still need a good closer.  Next time.