FEATURE
The idea of a grownup hunkering down with a set of crayons and a colouring book for an evening filled with artistic adventure comes across as somewhat strange to those still unfamiliar with the world of adult colouring books. This fast-emerging genre has taken the publishing industry by storm, with major players like Penguin Random House, bringing out a raft of colouring books for adults on themes ranging from literature to mythology.
A visit to your nearest bookstore will help elucidate the trend a little more clearly. It's likely that you'll find a whole properly stacked section devoted to adult colouring books.
“Adult colouring books have been an international trend for a little over a year now, and yes, they have become very popular in India as well,” says Udayan Mitra, associate publisher, Penguin Random House India.
One indication of that popularity is the number of mainstream publishers commissioning and releasing colouring books for adults.
A represenative of Simon & Schuster India tells Guardian 20, “Recently, we have seen an increase demand for adult colouring books and it's growing still. Many stores have also realised the same and have devoted sections to such books.”
Very recently, Aleph Book Company launched a colouring-book adaptation of Khalil Gibran's The Prophet, featuring illustrations by Sujaya Batra. “I was 16 when I first read The Prophet by Khalil Gibran,” Batra says, “and the depth of his wisdom struck HS AP GR NO MO This Is Frank Lloyd Wright brings his projects and persona into vivid focus. Wit and visual punch have been the hallmarks of the This Is series to date; the first architectural title in the series will give readers an up-close look at Wright’s progress from difficult childhood, to struggling apprenticeship, to early success, through mid-life setbacks and on to latelife comeback.