A week ago my husband and I gathered up the kids and were out just running errands. He had been feeling under the weather so we stopped in Target to get some Robitussin CF. So we're walking down the aisle and I see the Art supply area. Of course I am automatically drawn to it, so I begin moving towards it, and my daughter follows me. She begins pointing at the random Crayola paints and markers and everything to show me, but unfortunately I wasn't paying attention because I wasn't there for back to school supplies (which Crayola had seemed to take over the entire aisle with), but I was there for a different product.
I saw the Prismacolor colored pencils and they were only $10 for 12, however they didn't have the double ended markers that I'm used to at that Target so I wasn't as eager to come back and spend money. Even though I didn't spend any money something caught my eye in there. It was a 24 count colored pencils set inside a Tin, and right beside it was a 16 count Markers set. Well the pencils were $19.99 and the markers were close in range to that. I was awestruck...Where have they been all my adult life?
So I call Crayola a few days later and I ask them about this in customer service. According to the rep that answered my call, Crayola started doing the more professional colored pencils and markers as well as the lettering set when the trend of "Adult Coloring" broke ground in 2015. In case you don't understand what adult coloring is let me tell you.
About 3 years ago I started to see these infomercials for adult coloring books. Every book had these complicated designs like a kaleidoscope and they came with a set of markers, crayons, pencils...etc, and of course they say "Just call now and you'll receive not one but 2!" You know the usual jargon they say so you can hurry and place an order. Anyway these started trending as a means to calm the nerves at first, because all the testimonials were about how the people went from being stressed to very calm in a matter of seconds. There is something in psychology that is called "mindfulness" and it's when you focus on one thing, to relax. Well...Crayola, Leisure Arts, and many other companies have now taken advantage by jumping on this bandwagon and now they've created what is now called "Adult Coloring" which I say is glorified scholastic coloring. Apparently this Adult Coloring thing is touching in so many places because it emphasizes coloring, Calligraphy, as well as some other professional arts. I have no problem coloring with my kids so it's funny that Crayola decided to do this because I have been using Crayola all my life. My mom is an educator and she swore by Crayola. Crayola knows they are the teachers most preferred brand and actually brag about this in their advertising. So now that they've gotten into the "Adult Coloring" trend, it seems to me that we have unfinished business.
Now they say that their colored pencils are used for blending which is actually impressive to me as a Fashion Illustrator. I've had experience with other brands, and already I've tried one of the adult coloring brands outside of Crayola and it seems that they are not meant for layering and blending. These things are important in Fashion Illustration, especially when you are talking about clothes with patterns, coloring in skin, and all those things that are important in the rendering process.
Anyway I haven't tried any of these products, and I'd love to just to give it a review since I'm so familiar with Crayola. However if you'd like to purchase anything from Crayola they have an option for you to subscribe to their emails and in turn you receive a 10% off discount. With your subscription you do get some emails with coupons! I have already subscribed and when I get my hands on some cash I'm going to put my 10% discount into affect. So whether you are "Adult Coloring" or using for Scholastic reasons you can get your discount when you click on the link.
If you would like to purchase the Hand Lettering Tools and Tutorials Kit. It includes the Markers, Colored Pencils and The Creative Lettering Inspiration Pad. It also comes with some tutorials on how to do creative lettering (calligraphy). Just click the link below the picture. It's originally priced at $42.97, however with your 10% off discount, you only pay 38.67. They have free shipping on orders $50 and above so it may be smart to buy two just so you can avoid the shipping costs.
Hand Lettering Tools & Tutorials Kit
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