From cartoon characters, to superheroes, fairies, holiday themes, animals, and even Disney-themes, coloring books have provided children with endless hours of fun for centuries. Now, coloring is no longer just for those ages ten and under.

The Calming Colors Adult Coloring Club began meeting in November at the Ashland Public Library. Shelley Clements, who works in Adult Programs at the library, coordinated the club as a fun way for the community to bond and create artwork together.

“I think that [coloring] is something different,” said Clements. “As adults we have not colored for years. It is very enjoyable and it is fun to put colors together to see how your picture is going to turn out,” said Clements.

Clements acknowledged how she became inspired to start the Calming Colors.

“I did a lot of research about what other libraries were doing and I [also] went to Amazon to see what was being marketed to adults,” Clements explained. “Coloring books kept popping up, and I could tell that this was going to be popular [and] I kept hearing more and more about it.”

Denise Grimm, one of the numerous women in the club, views coloring as a form of relaxation and an escape from the chaos of everyday life. She described how coloring is not just a hobby for young children, but an enjoyable activity for adults as well.

“The materials are much more portable, there is a lot of variety,” said Grimm. “It is not all of the same [type of] thing. Everybody can choose the design that they like and admire other people’s work.”

Barbara Barnes, another member in the Calming Colors club, has been coloring as an adult for over 20 years. Her passion for this hobby has led to her gain recognition for her impeccable talent. Barnes’ work has been featured on the back of a coloring book for a coloring company as well as in a weekly newsletter in her apartment complex. She expressed just how much she loves coloring and how it has become a part of her daily regime.

“You can definitely get lost in coloring,” Barnes explained. “I am not an artist, but I love to make drawings come to life. I know I can get lost in the midst of it, and it will be four hours later and I will have forgotten to eat,” Barnes explained. “To me, that is the most calming and stress-relieving hobby.”

Grimm noted her preferred medium for coloring, and how certain shading tools do not do her picture justice.

“I use [colored] pencils,” said Grimm. “I hate the smell of crayons and I do not like the streakiness that the markers [tend] to make,” said Grimm.

Barnes described how she is very open to the idea of trying different coloring mediums, and how she gets a lot of inspiration from other people as well as online posts.

“I started out [using] colored pencils years ago. This last year, I started using markers. I also use gel pens and color scenery backgrounds and the sky with pastels,” Barnes described. “You get a lot of tips online and from other people on how to substitute [a color]. Someone even made a suggestion to use eye-shadows.”

Grimm discussed how coloring is actively becoming more and more popular, as coloring books are available for purchase in almost every major retail store.

“You see [coloring] books all over the place- at Barnes and Noble, JoAnne’s, Target, and almost any place that you walk into,” said Grimm. “[Coloring] seems to be like something that is catching on.”

Barnes explained how one does not need to use the correct shades or colors when immersing themselves into their artwork. The more quirky or unique a coloring book picture becomes, the better.

“If you make a mistake, it can be a bit stressful because it is not easy to fix- [although] you can [purposefully] make it look like it belongs there,” said Barnes. “There are no [real] rules of coloring.”

If one does not have a coloring book or forgets to bring one, there are coloring books available for use as well as coloring supplies. The club meets for about an hour and a half twice a month on the second floor of the Ashland Public Library. Morning and evening times are offered for convenience purposes. All individuals are encouraged to come and de-stress and relive this favorite childhood pastime.