Colouring in books for adults are the latest phenomenon to hit bookstores throughout the country leading to a shortage.
Adults colouring in pictures for relaxation started in France about 18 months ago as the concept of Mindfulness took hold and seems to have arrived here about three months ago.
Mindfulness, has its roots in Buddhism and is about actively focusing attention on the present without judging it.
Timaru counsellor and Mindfulness facilitator Christine Macfarlane said colouring in, in a busy world with high anxiety, activates the right creative side of the brain.
"It allows you to have space to be, instead of do."
Temuka kindergarten teacher Haylee Darling started colouring in after researching Mindfulness about a year ago.
"I enjoyed the result. It's a simple pleasure."
Depending on how stressed she was will determine how long she will fill In the shapes in her book with coloured pencils.
"Usually for five to 10 minutes or half an hour. "
People may scoff but it was a "fabulous" thing to do, she said.
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"I highly recommend it."
Like many adults who have taken up colouring in, sourcing the books was challenging.
"I'm on a waiting list for one."
Whitcoulls national book manager Joan Mackenzie said the demand was "massive" and the company's suppliers had struggled to keep up.
"It's the biggest phenomenon I have seen since Harry Potter."
The Timaru store was selling between 10 and 20 of the books a day and had a waiting list. Mackenzie expects the Timaru branch to sell about 1000 between now and Christmas.
One of the most sought-after adult books was by Scottish illustrator Johanna Basford who has published intricate picture outlines within pictures. For example, an outline of a fox may have forest flora shaped within its body and puzzles with clues imbedded visually as a narrative. Some New Zealand artists were starting to create books but it would be a while before they were produced. Children's colouring in books were selling by default when the ones the adults wanted were unavailable, Mackenzie said.
Though more women were interested in the pastime than men, Mackenzie knew of the chief executive of a large company who was encouraging all his staff to colour in for relaxation regardless of gender.
"These things do have a life cycle so I think it will be around and dominant into 2016," Mackenzie said.
Source
Adults colouring in pictures for relaxation started in France about 18 months ago as the concept of Mindfulness took hold and seems to have arrived here about three months ago.
Mindfulness, has its roots in Buddhism and is about actively focusing attention on the present without judging it.
Timaru counsellor and Mindfulness facilitator Christine Macfarlane said colouring in, in a busy world with high anxiety, activates the right creative side of the brain.
"It allows you to have space to be, instead of do."
Temuka kindergarten teacher Haylee Darling started colouring in after researching Mindfulness about a year ago.
"I enjoyed the result. It's a simple pleasure."
Depending on how stressed she was will determine how long she will fill In the shapes in her book with coloured pencils.
"Usually for five to 10 minutes or half an hour. "
People may scoff but it was a "fabulous" thing to do, she said.
Ad Feedback
"I highly recommend it."
Like many adults who have taken up colouring in, sourcing the books was challenging.
"I'm on a waiting list for one."
Whitcoulls national book manager Joan Mackenzie said the demand was "massive" and the company's suppliers had struggled to keep up.
"It's the biggest phenomenon I have seen since Harry Potter."
The Timaru store was selling between 10 and 20 of the books a day and had a waiting list. Mackenzie expects the Timaru branch to sell about 1000 between now and Christmas.
One of the most sought-after adult books was by Scottish illustrator Johanna Basford who has published intricate picture outlines within pictures. For example, an outline of a fox may have forest flora shaped within its body and puzzles with clues imbedded visually as a narrative. Some New Zealand artists were starting to create books but it would be a while before they were produced. Children's colouring in books were selling by default when the ones the adults wanted were unavailable, Mackenzie said.
Though more women were interested in the pastime than men, Mackenzie knew of the chief executive of a large company who was encouraging all his staff to colour in for relaxation regardless of gender.
"These things do have a life cycle so I think it will be around and dominant into 2016," Mackenzie said.
Source
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