DAY TO GIVE THANKS
Colorado artist Axel Geittmann considers the renewed popularity of coloring books as a great creative outlet.
“It starts when we are children, coloring inside and outside the lines. When we get into coloring as adults, it reminds us of that time in our lives,” said Geittmann, who founded a marketing agency and started doing public murals and art as an extracurricular activity.
Geittmann was chosen to illustrate The Denver Post’s Thanksgiving coloring page, where he introduced elements of Colorado flora and fauna to create an engaging experience. The style is reminiscent of his public murals that can be seen around the metro area, including at the Stanley Marketplace.
“Coloring is the great enabler,” he said. “Everyone of every age can do it, and it serves as a gateway drug for people to express themselves; it could lead them to their own original drawings.”
His attitude toward such art was fully realized with one of his popular creations, “The Street Crime Coloring Book,” which includes scenes of drug Axel Geittmann deals, muggings and knife
fights, all ready for artistic exploration. Yes, clearly an adult coloring book.
“It started as satire for a show I was doing with the Jiberish clothing line, and it just took off as its own thing,” Geittmann said. It is available for purchase at I Heart Denver stores and at iheartdenverstore.com. Check out more of his work on Facebook and Instagram, @leadpaintpopsicles.