This is a unique, handmade, Artist Edition coloring book with a hand-colored, embellished, giclee cover with 25 original illustrations printed on BLACK card stock. This Black Magic book was created especially for people who love a coloring challenge and want to push their creativity. It is filled with fanciful birds, flowers, leaves, insects, fish, and animals (see black & white thumbnails).
- 8 1/2" x 11” sketchbook format
- Top spiral binding
- 25 unique designs
- 65 lb acid & lignen-free black cardstock
- Heavy, black, back-board
- Hand-colored giclée cover - each one unique to its owner
- Introduction signed by the artist
The giclee bird on the cover of this book is colored by the artist with a mix of Derwent Lightfast and Caran d'Ache Luminance colored pencils and then embellished with gel and metallic pens. Each cover is uniquely colored, and it is protected by a clear plastic overlay. Inside the book is an introduction page with a few tips about coloring on black cardstock. Each of the 25 illustrations are laser printed on one side of a BLACK acid and lignin-free, quality card stock page - black ink on black paper.
The spiral coil is intentionally located at the top of the book which makes it more convenient to use than a traditional, mass-produced coloring book. The pages flip over, the book lies flat while coloring, and the spiral coil does not get in the way.
BONUS: In addition to the plastic protective sheet over the cover, under the first illustration in the book there is a removable, thick plastic protection sheet that can be gently (but firmly) tugged off of the coil and moved to wherever you like. The tabs of the plastic protective sheet can be gently pressed back onto the coil with the tip of a pen or pencil if you’d like to keep it secured in the book, or the tabs can be trimmed off with scissors so the protection sheet can float freely. This plastic sheet can help protect the page below should any bleed-through occur—especially when using markers or paints, but it also gives you a fairly firm surface to work on.
-----------------------------------------------------
PLEASE NOTE: this is a VERY CHALLENGING coloring book! Magnificent results can be achieved by coloring on dark paper, but it does take some getting used to. I highly recommend a desktop "goose-neck" style lamp so that you can shine the light at an optimal angle to see the black lines on black paper. Colored pencils (and watercolor pencils) work best, but opaque markers, mica paints, as well as metallic and opaque gel pens work very well for adding embellishments. You can test your media on the two blank black pages at the end of the book, and use some of that space to make a color chart if you would like.
Additionally, because the book is bound with a plastic coil, colorists are free to carefully snip off the bent edges of each end of the coil so that the book can be deconstructed. Twist the coil out of the holes if you wish so you can work on individual illustrations (or take them out for framing or gifting). You can also save the coil and twist it back in again (though your pages will no longer be “locked” together). It’s all up to you!
All illustrations in this coloring book were originally sketched in pencil and pen, and then pulled into the ProCreate app on an iPad Pro. I used an Apple pencil to add more details, move the elements around until I got them just right, and then created a final clean line design for both print and digital reproduction. Each illustration took anywhere from 8 to 12 hours to complete … sometimes even longer, and every one of my illustrations are a labor of love.
Many of the illustrations are complex and filled with a lot of small details. A mix of coloring tools is encouraged—don’t be afraid to take your coloring to the next level!
That said, I have to mention some IMPORTANT LEGALESE …..
PLEASE respect the time and effort that went into creating these illustrations (all of my art is officially copyrighted) and do not reproduce the black and white images, or use the images commercially. This coloring book is for your personal enjoyment. Selling any and all items using any of my images in any form is prohibited. Please do not post images from the book online without your coloring them first.
If you want to share your colored creations online, PLEASE DO! But please credit Ruby Charm (aka Susan Carlson) as the artist of the original illustration in addition to yourself as the colorist. As the artist, I retain all copyright protections, rights, and privileges. Thank you for understanding and for supporting an artist! You can reach me here if you have questions: rubycharm@hotmail.com.
You can see my coloring process and samples of my colored work on my web site. I have a post dedicated to coloring on black paper here and another one here.
You can also find my work on Instagram. If you follow me on IG, tag #rubycharmcolors if you post your colored work—I would really love to see it!
——————————————————————————————————————-
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
SHIPPING:
I normally ship using USPS priority or first class with delivery conformation to items shipped in the USA. I will also ship internationally though the cost is high. When you check out, there will be several options available to you including priority. Shipping also includes handling.
**********INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: Any customs fees, taxes, tariffs, duties, etc. that may be incurred at the time of delivery would be at the discretion of your country's tax regulations and are payable by you (the buyer). For any additional information refer to your local customs agency. Returns can not be accepted due to customs fees.
RETURNS
Your book(s) will be wrapped in plastic and sent in a sturdy envelope or box depending on your location and quantity purchased. Even so, you might want to request insurance (priority insured) on your items in case they are damaged by the mail service or lost. I am not responsible for replacing or refunding for items lost or damaged by any postal service.
IF your book has been damaged by the USPS, you will need to file a claim with the US Postal Service.
If you decide, within 2 days of delivery, that you do not like the book, please email rubycharm@hotmail.com with a clear explanation. You can return it to me as long as the book is unused and undamaged. I will refund your money minus a 15% restock fee once I have the book back in same condition as it was sent to you.
Sorry! Shipping is not refundable.
———————————————————————————————————————
Thank you, and happy coloring! :)