My favorite type of coloring book to color in are the more complicated ones. I think that’s what first drew me to Johanna Basford’s books were her inky treasure hunts on each page. She has so many gorgeous details hiding throughout the pages. But since our Queen has caused the coloring sensation many other illustrators have started creating amazing intricate, complicated coloring books for adults to color in. A curated list of my favorites is below.
No list of complicated coloring could skip the amazing illustrator Kerby Rosanes. His newest book launched April of 2017 and it as spectacular as his first two.
Mythomorphia: An Extreme Coloring and Search Challenge by Kerby Rosanes
Click to Order on Amazon: US UK Canada or Book Depository
Bennet Klein has come to the top of the newest sensational illustrators with both fine line illustrations and grayscale drawings that are both wildly unique and intricately detailed. His latest book is Dragons.
Colour my Sketchbook – DRAGONS
All of the Bennett Klein Books are listed here.
The Bicycle Coloring Book: Journey to the Edge of the World
This unique coloring book is one-sided other than bottom left corner of each facing page which holds a small cat illustration that when you flip the pages works like a flip-book. The other side of the page features gorgeous images of the adventures of a bicycle and a cat as they roam through town and countrysides.
The Bicycle Coloring Book follows the fantastic journey of a bicycle exploring an unknown world without its rider. Bursting with intricate illustrations that evoke both Japanese anime and Western street art, the beautiful scenes cry out to be colored in amazing detail. As you color don’t forget to look out for the bicycle’s cute companion (there are a few pages I still haven’t found him in yet) and the illustration details that form a cleverly designed flip book. A stunning gift book that will appeal to lovers of cycling and urban art, as well as to committed coloring-in fans. You can see my current WIP (Work in Progress) From The Bicycle Book here
Bicycle Coloring Book on Amazon US ~ UK ~ Canada ~ Book Depository
It seems as if the most complicated coloring books are from artists and illustrators outside of the United States.
Fantasia Adult Coloring Book by Nicholas F. Chandrawienata
This gorgeous detailed complicated coloring book just became available to the US/UK market, just take a look at some of the pages on Instagram here. This second edition contains 60 unique hand-drawn illustrations printed on both sides of the perforated pages. It is also spiral bound on 100-pound thick paper stock. The second edition is reported to be much better than the first, the designs are not quite as tiny and the paper is nicer quality.
Click to Order on Amazon US ~ UK
Tim Jeffs Coloring Books
Tim Jeffs now has to intricately detailed coloring books on the market now. I have the first one and the interesting difference of this book than most is that it open on the top, so no worries about where your hand rests or if you are right or left handed.
Jeffs began experimenting with animal art during his free time. As his sketchbook filled with complex illustrations of creatures large and small, he realized he had found a powerful art form.
Once he decides upon a subject, a thirty-plus-hour process unfolds. Jeffs first researches the animal’s habits, habitats, conservation status, and physical appearance. Using pen and ink and colored pencils, he channels his findings and artistic passion into creating an animal portrait on Bristol board. “Then,” the artist says, “I cover the subject with a styled pattern of my own creation. It’s almost like creating a mosaic of lines, shapes, or colors. Not so much photorealism but more of an impressionistic approach that creates a realistic view.” It’s the alchemy of science and creative license.
Intricate Ink – Animals in Detail Coloring Book
Tim’s second book
Intricate Ink – Animals in Detail Volume 2 Coloring Book
Gullivers New Travels
Illustrated by James Gulliver Hancock (You can’t help but notice the middle name!) He has written several books on “how to draw” books and this book looks really fun to explore. This was always one of my favorite stories as a child.
The Mysterious Library: A Coloring Book Journey Into Fables
by Korean illustrator Eunji Park
62 pages of gorgeous unique illustrations where the artist tells the visual story of a young girl who stumbles into a library, gets locked in tight and then finds herself the main character of the storybook world. The story goes on to show the young girl adventuring some very well know stories, including: Little Red Riding Hood, Gingerbread Man, Pinnochio, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Thumbelina, Swan Lake, Florence Nightingale, the Sandman, Princess and the Pea, Aladdin, The Red Shoes, The Pied Piper, Town Musicians of Bremen, The Snow Queen, and Alice in Wonderland. The Rapunzel wants me
Click to Order on Amazon US ~ UK Canada Book Depository
Kanoku Egadu is a gorgeous book that Chris Cheng has been coloring in lately. Menuet de Bonheur Colouring Book by Kanoko Egadu or Rhapsody in the Forest II.
Japanese coloring books have a very distinctive style with loads of minute details that are just aching to have color applied to them.
“The Day we Finally Meet” a Korean Coloring book has adorable forest animal scenes to enjoy here.
Daria Song was my first foray into complicated coloring and her books are so magical.
Luscious thick paper printed with pictures on both sides of the paper telling a story.
Time Garden A Magical Journey and Coloring Book
In all of Daria’s books, you get to travel along with her to her childhood imagination and then out into the pages that her talented hands create and illustrate. This first book “The Time Garden
Order Online from Amazon US ~ UK ~ Canada ~ Book Depository
The Time Chamber: A Magical Story and Coloring Book
Korean artist Daria Song’s sequel to The Time Garden takes readers on a visual journey into a magical nighttime world seen through the eyes of that same little ginger girl.
This second book in best-selling Korean artist Daria Song’s
Click to order on Amazon US ~ UK ~ Canada ~ Book Depository
“The Night Voyage: A Magical Adventure and Coloring Book by Daria Song”
Her third book takes you on a magical journey filled with gifts and adventure
Romantic Country – The Third Tale – A Fantasy Coloring Book
Illustrated by Eriy in a unique way by using toothpicks to draw the illustrations. Inside are pages and pages of provincial delights for you to bring to life through coloring: magical forests filled with fairies, delightful town squares bustling with people, whimsical village scenes, charming castles with towers―and so much more, sure to delight people of all ages.
Romantic Country – The Second Tale
Romantic Country – The First Tale
Click to Order Amazon US Amazon UK Amazon Canada Book Depository
I would love some of these. But, what’s hard for me is that I like to color everything digitally from my iPad. I see so many coloring books I want that are ONLY paperback. It’s hard to find many great ebooks. I’ve looked and looked for ones from Johanna Basford. There are a few PDF sample pages online of hers. But, her books are only paperback. If anyone knows of somewhere that has a good selection of adult coloring PDF collections or ebooks, please reply. I already know about Kindle and Etsy.
I would explore Etsy! many illustrators have digital versions of their books there. Johanna Basford has a few exclusive one’s on the Canon app but it’s only for Canon Copier customers.