The Newest Hobby Every Adult Needs To Try | HuffPost Post 50

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Adult coloring books are a fairly new phenomenon, but one thats quietly taking the nation by storm. In fact, as of this writing, three of the top eight Amazon Best Sellers are adult coloring books, beating out blockbusters like Anthony Doerrs All the Light We Cannot See and The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins. Thats not all14 of the top 20 books in Amazons Crafts, Hobbies, and Home section are adult coloring books, as well.

"Coloring is a rhythmic, absorbing, and accessible activity and that is why people find it so relaxing," says Debra Matsumoto, the U.S. Press and Marketing Manager at Laurence King, a top publisher of adult coloring books. "It doesn't require much artistic ability or specific talent. It is not expensive. It can be done alone or with others, while still holding on a conversation. It is rewarding because you complete something and then have something to show for your efforts in the end."

Read on for more on adult coloring books, plus our top picks.

For: The Naturalist

Titles: Secret Garden andEnchanted Forest

Artist: Johanna Basford

Thanks to grassroots support, Scottish illustrator Basfords gorgeous compendiums are consistently ranked among the top-selling booksnever mind coloring booksin the country. "The popularity of Secret Gardenand then Enchanted Forest grew by word of mouththe greatest compliment," says Matsumoto. "Everyone from tweens, their mothers, and grandparents are coloring in our books." Outdoorsmen and women will love the focus on leaves, trees, flowers, and nature, while the casual colorer will be absorbed by the detailed patterns and arresting scenes. Basfords next book, Lost Ocean , is due October 27.

Buy the books here: Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest .

For: The Art Enthusiast

Titles: Art Masterpieces to Color and Art Noveau Animal Designs

Artist: Marty Noble

Florida-based artist Noble is one of the most prolific adult coloring book illustrators around, tackling every subject from Medieval Tapestries to traditional Indian designs with characteristic excellence. Art Masterpieces is among her most popular works, giving fans the opportunity to color famous paintings from Van Gogh, Botticelli, Cassatt, and more. Art Nouveau Animal Designs consists of Nobles own, original drawings, based on the illustration-oriented style popular in the early 20th Century. Both books are wonderful opportunities to learn about different eras in art (and relax, too).

Buy the books here: Art Masterpieces to Color and Art Noveau Animal Designs .

For: The Closet Mathematician

Titles: Balance and Centered

Artist: Angie Grace

Symmetry and balance are major themes in Graces beautifully detailed books, offering page after page of pretty, precise circular designs intended to calm stressed colorers. Hundreds of fans have submitted finished works on her Facebook page , and you can see some of Graces own completed art on her website,AngieGrace.com . Bonus: For those looking beyond circles, shes also illustrated dozens of additional pattern-based tomes, all of which are worth a gander.

Buy the books here: Balance andCentered .

For: The World Traveler

Books: Splendid Cities andSecret Paris

Artists: Rosie Goodwin/Alice Chadwick and Zoe de Las Cases

For those looking to get away without paying for a plane ticket, these metro-based coloring books are the way to go. Splendid Citiesevokes international flavor through stylized patterns specific to global destinations, including European architecture and Middle Eastern textiles. De Las Cases works, on the other hand, are less pattern-based and more whimsical, reminiscent of the best childrens illustrations; shes also published books based on New York and Tokyo. Either book is a great buy, however, for those needing a vacation.

Buy the books here: Splendid Cities and Secret Paris .

For: The Animal Lover

Titles: Creative Cats and Owls

Artist: Marjorie Semat

Short, sweet, and inexpensive, these wildly popular and well-reviewed books by Chicago-born artist Semat include 30 illustrations each. Every page is filled with the animals of note, as well as dozens of smaller patternsperfect for artfully whiling the time away. Kids will especially appreciate the cute critters, and the finished products are potentially frame-worthy.

Buy the books here: Creative Cats and Owls .

For: The Naturalist

For: The Art Enthusiast

For: The Closet Mathematician

For: The World Traveler

For: The Animal Lover

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