As adult coloring books become more and more popular, so do the corresponding book clubs. The new groups allow adults to meet new people with similar interests while coloring.
By Sophie Reardon
When Kelly Aline Stone bought her first coloring book in January and found herself devoting her free time to completing a page, she wondered if there was a way to make her new hobby a little less antisocial. She went on Meetup.com to see if there were any adult coloring groups and discovered one in Minnesota, but she couldn’t find one in D.C. So Stone set out to create her own coloring book club. Within its first few months, D.C. Metro Area Coloring for Adults attracted more than 100 members.
“It was really cool to see it so successful, to see that that many people were interested,” Stone says.
Adult coloring books are the latest must-have, and the corresponding book clubs are on the rise in the D.C. area. They blend the maturity of a traditional book club with the youthful playfulness of a childhood activity.
D.C. Metro Area Coloring for Adults meets at various locations. The colorists, as they call themselves, paint the town, meeting at bakeries, restaurants, museums and other sites all across NoVA and D.C. Their meetups, however, often consist of more than just coloring. For example, in May, the group went for an 8-mile hike on the Potomac Heritage Trail, stopping to color along the way.
There are about a dozen members who regularly attend the events, Stone says, and attendance is usually between five and 20 people. Members range from college-age students to a woman in her 70s. There is no charge to partake in the meetings, unless you want to buy food or drinks. Most members bring their own coloring books, but Stone always has extra supplies for newbies.
One of the meetings with the highest attendance was “Coloring at Jazz in the Garden” in May. Stone attributes the event’s success to the sunny evening and a venue with good music, food and drinks.
The events on Saturday mornings held at local cafes and restaurants are also popular. “It’s a nice, relaxing thing to do,” Stone says.
As the club gathers at the designated venues, they catch up with their fellow colorists and introduce themselves to new members. Most of the conversation, however, revolves around coloring: the books being used, preferred mediums and the like. The Secret Garden by Johanna Basford is a fan-favorite coloring book, and colored pencil is the most popular medium, however, Stone says each member picks both books and mediums unique to his or her personality and preference.
“I’m not a super talented artist,” she says. “I didn’t even care for coloring as a child—I find it very relaxing [now] though. I tend to like geometric patterns that are calming and repetitive and not too complex, but there are other people who really enjoy the process of [coloring] a really complex picture.”
Most of the participants, however, attend the club for similar reasons: They, too, find coloring to be relaxing. One of the members, Stone says, uses it as a way to control her anxiety. But most of all, members enjoy partaking in a common activity with others.
“It’s really nice to be able to find people who are doing the same thing and do that common activity,” she says. “Even if it’s not a very interactive activity, it’s something you’re doing together.” It’s also a good way to take a break without looking at a screen, Stone notes.
Coloring is an easy hobby to pick up—you don’t have to invest in a $20 coloring book. Instead, start by going online and printing a few free coloring pages. Buy some affordable colored pencils from the drugstore and get started.
“See if you like the process. See if it’s relaxing for you,” Stone says.
There are more adult coloring books across the D.C. area. Adult Coloring Corner, which has 160 members, convenes on the second Thursday of every month at the Takoma Park Neighborhood Library. Members of Oodles of Doodles, which is based in Herndon, had its first meeting at Glory Days Grill in early March. The organizers encouraged attendees to bring their own coloring supplies, but they also provided some for those in need. Tickets were $20 and included one alcoholic beverage, unlimited refills on select non-alcoholic beverages, goodie bags and prizes.
