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Coloring Craze Among Adults
New craze: The popularity of coloring books is on the rise as the adult color-bug spreads
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New craze: The popularity of coloring books is on the rise as the adult color-bug spreads.
Coloring is no longer a children's activity. Many adults now have nurtured their passion for coloring, with some proudly posting their works on social media.
Karina Dwiyani and Harry Dani have picked up coloring as way to spend their leisure time.
'My friends told me about coloring books and posted their pieces in our group, which got me interested,' said Harry.
Karina was inspired the same way, but they got their materials by different means.
Although she knew of foreign published coloring books available online, Harry found one printed in Indonesia at a bookshop. 'It had a cities of tourism in various parts of the world theme,' he said.
A friend suggested that Karina download coloring pages from the internet, where they are lavishly provided for free.
Harry later followed suit because of the larger quantity offered. Besides allowing people to save on costs, downloading such pages offers a wider choice. 'Not all the designs in a book are to my taste,' he said.
Harry and Karina are engrossed in the coloring trend, which some consider 'art therapy'.
Karina said she felt calmer and more relaxed after coloring, a feeling shared by Harry.
'Even though it's not therapy in its true sense, the hobby is beneficial,' said Monty Satiadarma, an art therapy expert and psychologist from Tarumanagara University.
Monty believes coloring is more useful than fiddling with a cell phone. The constant movement and choice of colors for an object can also calm the mind and increase concentration.
'In actual therapy, a patient has to be diagnosed by a specialist to determine a suitable method of therapy,' said the lecturer, who studied art therapy at the Menninger Foundation in the US.
Despite it being used as a marketing gimmick, Monty sees the coloring trend often called art therapy as constructive. 'Some people become more patient, peaceful and feel satisfied with the new skill,' he says.
While enjoying the benefits of coloring, Karina and Harry, who have both studied psychology, agreed that therapy should be handled by an expert. Coloring is an activity Karina can share with her 7-year-old child, who was previously not fond of it.
Harry buys high-end colored pencils, such as those made by Derwent and Lyra Rembrandt, as he is not comfortable with ordinary pencils for children.
Karina has a collection of common brand coloring materials because she shares them with her child.
The two are also engaged in coloring outside their homes during leisure time.
'I usually do it while waiting for my child to finish school. Instead of idling, I'm coloring the design pages,' said the woman, who works as a freelance psychological consultant.
Harry also likes coloring during his down time.
'Sometimes I take my coloring materials and pages with me when I go somewhere,' said Harry, who was once so absorbed in his art that he would frequently stay up late coloring, only to feel sleepy at work the next day. Now he limits coloring to his spare time and during vacation.
Karina and Harry are still interested in the popular coloring trend despite some of their peers having already grown bored with it.
'I still like it and it has a good effect on my child,' said Karina. 'This activity helps a child develop.'
Harry has taken a music course but felt tempted to quit. 'The [expensive] coloring instruments I've bought and the pleasure I get from finishing my works encourages me to keep at it.'
' Photos by JP/Juliana Harsianti
