Let's Play!...Free Coloring Page and a Giveaway

Like many of you, my first introduction to the Wonderful World of Art was through coloring books and a box of crayons. The smell of wax still triggers fond memories of endless hours spent filling in black and white outlines with colors of my choice. Was Wilma Flintstone going to have her normal Red Orange hair or would she like to try Goldenrod for a change? Did Huckleberry Hound really want to be go through life being Sky Blue or would he like to try Periwinkle on for size?

Flash forward more than a few decades. My inner child is deliriously happy that I can now create my very own coloring pages in the comfort of my home-- thanks to my printer/scanner and my computer! I sometimes use these black and white pages when I am working on a new illustration or design to work out color choices. Here's what I do:

First I make a pencil sketch on graph paper (I'm hopeless when it comes to keeping things straight, perpendicular, parallel, etc., so the grid helps me a lot).

Once I'm happy with the drawing, I use tracing paper and a pencil to transfer the design to good quality paper . Next, I carefully draw over my pencil transfer with a Sakura Pigma Micron Pen, and once I'm sure the ink is dry, I erase the pencil lines.

Then I can scan my finished black and white image into my computer. I print copies of it onto heavy paper-- as many as I like! Voila! It's just like having my own coloring book pages.

Now the age-old question: What colors should I use? With my watercolor paints, I try out various colors with quick washes of color.Version A

Sometimes I scan my "paint sketch" back into my computer, then use Adobe Photoshop to add or subtract different colors.

In this version, I used the bucket feature and tried out different shades of blue in the sky...

Version B

Which version do you like better? Tell me in the comments section at the end of this post and you will be entered into a drawing for a $20 gift certificate to my Etsy Shop.Comments will also be accepted at an identical post on The Hive.

Better yet, SHOW me what color combination you like best! Just click on the image below, then click again to enlarge it, then save it to your computer. You might want to use Photoshop to color it in, or you could print it out on paper and use markers, colored pencils, paint, or CRAYONS! Then send me a jpeg image of your color scheme that I can share on this blog (you'll find my email link at www.SusanFaye.net). If you do, you'll receive a second entry in the giveaway to double your chances! (Note--you can snap a photo of your colored creation if you don't have a scanner and send it to me that way).


The giveaway will end in one week on Sunday, May 29, when I draw one name at random at 7:00 p.m. PST.

Please make sure that I have a way to contact you if you are the winner, such as a link to your blog or e-mail address (you may send info directly to my email if you don't want to make your contact info public).

If you visit www.susanfaye.net , you will find an email link. Also, if you encounter trouble with the Comments feature, you may send your entry directly to my email .

[Please remember that the coloring page is for personal use and amusement only. May not be used for any commercial purpose or reproduced on the internet.]

Okay, now go get creative! Ready, set, GO!