This season seems determined to turn us all into couch-bound artists, doesn’t it? With colds and sniffles spreading everywhere, first among the kids, then among us parents, our home turned into a bit of a recovery zone. Instead of fighting it, I decided to embrace the slower pace and take a creative break. Armed with a roll of tissue paper and a cup of tea, I reached for a set of colored pencils that had been patiently waiting in my drawer for their debut.
Without a particular plan, I started sketching whatever came to mind. I love flowers — they can be quite simple, making them perfect for practice. Out of this random doodling emerged a pretty simple tulip. I wasn’t quite happy with its placement, so I transferred it onto a new sheet, centering it properly on the page.
I remembered my earlier experiments with neurographic art and decided to add soft, rounded lines around the tulip, creating a pattern reminiscent of stained glass. Each field became a tiny canvas where I could mix colors and create soft, luminous transitions.
Playing with colors
As I filled in each segment, I treated them like small pieces of glass. Bit by bit, I played with the colors. It was like putting together a colorful puzzle, but with colored pencils and paper.
Since this was just a test piece, I grabbed a regular printer paper, something I often use for quick sketches. However, I quickly realized that these BIC Intensity colored pencils, with their fairly hard cores, required a stronger hand to achieve vibrant colors. The thin paper couldn’t handle the pressure, causing it to warp and crease. Still, this spontaneous art session turned out to be a relaxing and much-needed break from being sick.
From sketch to coloring pages
What started as a simple pencil test turned into something I really liked. So much so that I decided to turn it into printable coloring pages!
- I created two versions:
- A bold and easy coloring page, perfect for younger children or those who prefer bolder designs that work well with markers.
- A stained glass-style tulip coloring page, for those who enjoy shading and experimenting with gradients.
These coloring pages can be colored with pencils, markers, or even paints, allowing for plenty of creative freedom. You can download them for free from my website and create your own unique color versions. I hope coloring them brings you as much joy as drawing them brought me — especially if you’re also battling a cold!
