JUNE 2020 FAN OF THE MONTH WINNERS

"It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside."

— Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib

Eternal sunshine, fresh fruits, and bright red roses, there are endless things to love about June. 

As we bid farewell to this magical month, we hope that our June Fan of the Month contest brought you happy times and summer vibes!🌞🍉🍍🌹

For this month’s challenge, we asked our beloved Colorettes and Color Studs to color in their favorite ColorIt summer-themed coloring page and upload it here. 

At the end of the month, the ColorIt team will choose three (3) submissions based on the set criteria and three (3) more random picks to keep things fun. 

The 6 talented winners will then receive a $25 gift card from ColorIt. You can even double your prize amount if you color the page using any of our coloring mediums. 

Are you excited to know who made it to our list this month? Check out our Fan of the Month winners and get to know them with our exclusive interviews below:

DIANA KNOTH

When did you first pick up a coloring book?

My daughter had given me a coloring book a few years back. I didn't get into coloring seriously until about 6 months ago when I discovered gel pens.

Describe your perfect coloring atmosphere.

Relaxing in my living room on the couch with my legs up and listening to the TV in the background.

Tell us about your creative process when you get ready to color.

I choose a picture and which coloring implements I want to us. I start at the center of a picture and work outward. Color selection is a process as I progress in a picture.

How has coloring changed or added to your life?

I find coloring a great creative outlet that is relaxing and a stress reducer. Helps get me into a state of mindfulness.

What advice would you give someone who isn't confident about their coloring technique? 

I have found videos on You tube helpful in learning coloring techniques.

What's your favorite ColorIt book?

So far I would say the Mandalas.

What title would you like to see in the future?

Purebred Dogs, landscapes

Is there anything else you want to share about your love of coloring?

This picture I used markers which I had just bought to try. I enjoy learning to use different coloring implements.

When did you first pick up a coloring book?

I've been coloring since I can remember! Been using colorit for a couple years now.

Describe your perfect coloring atmosphere.

In the living room with the TV going.

Tell us about your creative process when you get ready to color.

I just like trying to make the pages look realistic.

How has coloring changed or added to your life?

It's a great stress reliever and pass time.

What advice would you give someone who isn't confident about their coloring technique?

Just to have fun and relax.

What's your favorite ColorIt book?

Blissful Scenes

What title would you like to see in the future?

I think a color by number would be neat!

VERONICA MILLER

 When did you first pick up a coloring book?

I had been coloring in other branded coloring books, about a year ago; however, I did not have any books by colorit. I looked over the selection of themes, and I liked the fact that it was spiral bound at the top, so it would lay flat and be easy to reposition at different angles. I had a difficult time choosing which book I wanted. I bought my first Colorit® coloring books, Blissful Scenes and Colors of Nature, on May 4th, 2020.

Describe your perfect coloring atmosphere.
My perfect coloring atmosphere is typically alone in a quiet room, (except for my cat, Ari), with enough space to spread out all of the pens, markers,
and pencils that I use.

Tell us about your creative process when you get ready to color.

The creative process I use when I get ready to color is: Look at the picture, as a whole, and then look at every little detail to find details that appear to be hidden
In those details, I try to decide what time of day, or what the environment would most likely be. I begin to imagine different colors, and their complementary colors, that I might use I begin coloring using markers; chisel tip for large areas, trying not to overlap in the area being colored, and brush tips to color in very small and detailed areas When the picture is colored in with marker, I begin using pencil to conceal any marker overlap, and accent, blend, or contrast objects to make them eye-catching. I am more of a realist, so I go for a three-dimensional effect in my coloring – utilizing white, or lighter shades of a color, for
areas bathed in light; and utilizing different levels of grey, or darker shades of a color, for areas shaded or in shadow.

How has coloring changed or added to your life?
I’ve had a difficult time over the last four years, especially this last eight months, or so. I have experienced some significant losses, one of which was my adult daughter, in February, about three weeks before her 33rd birthday. Coloring has helped channel some of the energy being sapped with the grieving process, and channeling it into a creative, beautiful thing. My next picture will be of a young lady with a ukulele, from the Tropical Scenes coloring book. It brings to mind a picture of my daughter when her boyfriend had taken her to Hawaii. In the picture I have of her there, it seems she was in her element and happiest moments.

What advice would you give someone who isn’t confident about their coloring technique?

My advice to anyone who isn’t confident about their coloring technique is…HAVE FUN! You don’t have to be a professional artist to have fun with these books, so don’t feel pressured to color like one! Have fun in the creative process of choosing favorite colors and applying them to a scene that really “speaks” to you. As the layers of color are laid down, you may find that something doesn’t seem to be working. Switch to a different part of the picture and work toward the part that has been difficult to render. It may turn out better than you had expected; or maybe, what you’ve created is going exceptionally well. So, run with it, practice different techniques, and develop what works best for you to create pieces that will be truly worthy of a frame!

What’s your favorite Colorit® book?

So far, my favorite Colorit® book has to be Colors of Nature. I love the natural world – scenes, animals, birds, flowers, etc. It is a rare exception that I prefer people or faces in the pictures I want to color. I love pictures or scenes that enable me to utilize the full spectrum of color. I like a challenge in the use of blending, as in the different colors in a sunrise or sunset.

What title would you like to see in the future?
The titles of Colorit® that I would like to see in the future would probably be along the lines of a book devoted completely to one animal but there would be a good variety in the images - horses, big cats; maybe stained glass or kaleidoscope designs; or scenic National Parks and their wildlife, would be awesome. The Native American themed book was sold out, before I could purchase it. I would like to see that one back in stock.

Is there anything else you want to share about your love of coloring?
In the short time I have been coloring in the Colorit® coloring books, I have amassed a collection of nine books. It’s a rare day, now, that I color in any other of my other books. I believe the books I have now should be enough to hold me over until something new comes out!

RENEE BENEVENTE

When did you first pick up a coloring book?

I bought my first Colorit book in April I believe, but as for coloring adult books I just started early this year. 

Describe your perfect coloring atmosphere.

I prefer to color when I’m alone in my room on my desk or on my dinning table where I’m not bothered. I prefer quiet or just have one of my favorite shows running on the tv in the background. 

Tell us about your creative process when you get ready to color.

Normally I would just choose an image from my books and stare at it for a while trying to imagine the colors I wanna use for it. I would have all my supplies laid out on my desk weather it maybe markers, pens, pencils, or watercolor pens. Then get comfortable and start coloring. 

How has coloring changed or added to your life?

Coloring has really helped with my anxiety and stress levels. Whenever I’m coloring I escape into a place where I am not bothered by anything. It’s my safe haven and happy place. 

What advice would you give someone who isn’t confident about their coloring technique?

Nothing is ever perfect. In my last interview I mentioned just keep trying and don’t give up, even a little mistake can turn into something pretty. Use your imagination and go above and beyond your comfort zone to explore more. 

What’s your favorite ColorIt book?

Colors of Nature is my favorite but recently I have been coloring more in both Mandala level 2 and 3. 

What title would you like to see in the future?

I would like see another colors of nature book with more nature sceneries.  
Is there anything else you want to share about your love of coloring? Coloring has helped me grow my creativity for sure. Since I started coloring I surprised myself in what I was creating with these books. I unlocked a talent I never knew I had. 

AND HERE ARE THE OTHER WINNERS:

JENNIFER BAKER

KRISTEN ROBERTS

Kristen is giving us the golden hour feels in her finished drawing.

Thank you for submitting your entries. Til the next Fan of the Month! 🦋