We are all affected by what is happening around the world right now, with this new virus. As it is such new virus, there is still a lot of answers we don´t have, but it´s hard to not feel scared and anxious (at least for me), about the future right now. I think that we all need something comforting and well-known and calming right now, and for me that is coloring (of course). I don´t have much energy for big coloring projects right now, but I have my coloring books close to me, in my sofa, so I can color a little every day. That helps me to calm down, especially before going to bed (when I try to NOT check for news on my phone or the TV).
The coloring community have always been a happy place for me, and I´m so glad to see that people are taking care of each other a bit extra these days. I wish I had the energy to livestream, doing a lot of Podcast-episodes, and hosting color alongs on Instagram right now, but I hardly manage to keep the energy up for my ”ordinary life”, so that have to wait until I feel a bit better.
BUT I want to spread some of the love, and ”togetherness” that is coming our way in the community right now. Here are som great initiatives right now!
Many of our beloved illustrators have offered us freebies right now (I wish my printer worked!)
Johanna Basford has 20 (!) beautiful pictures for download right now! She writes on her page: ”Being creative is so good for our mental health and now more than ever, we need a few little tricks to help us through these difficult days.” Click on the picture of the Fairy house to go to Johanna´s page, where you find all of her freebies!
Millie Marotta writes this in her latest post on Instagram: ”Hello friends, in these strange and uncertain times it’s all too easy for worry and anxiety to creep in and grab a firm hold. Doing something creative can have wonderfully positive effects on your mental health, helping to ease those anxieties. For that reason, I’ve gathered together a whole bunch of colouring pages from my books, available for you and anyone you know, to download for free.”
Molly Harrison has posted this wonderful picture, from Mystical Fantasy Coloring Book. as a free download in her Facebook-group (scroll down on her page to find it, link to her group if you click the picture below!)
Susan Carlson (@rubycharmcolors) also offers us a free picture to download right now, and writes this on Instagram: ”I’ve got a free gift for anyone who needs (or knows someone who needs) something creative and positive to focus on during these frustrating and uncertain times.
Another cute freebie from @romi_lerda_art (Click the link in her Instagram-bio to find the picture!):
More freebies for us, kindly offered by @nadiiadesign (Link to the free pages in her Instagram bio!)
Heather Valentines @colourofloveart is also giving away a free coloring page right now. Go and read her post on Instagram for mor information!
And Sammie (@colourandchatwithsammie) has two really great iniatives right now, for the coloring community, as we all can need cosy distractions right now. One is coloring challenges we all are invited to do, between april 2020 and april 2021 (!) One is a Coloring Community Movie night (starting with Jurassic Park). Sammie will reveal more information about this event soon!
https://www.instagram.com/colourandchatwithsammie/
If you miss my podcast: I did an interview for my podcast many weeks ago, and I am slowly editing it, so hopefully I will be able to upload it soon.
Take care, and keep spreading love (and calmness), we all need that more than ever!
