A COLORING PAGE FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES

I've been participating in this years Inktober and so far, it's been a lot of fun. If you don't know what Inktober is, let me tell you a little about it. It's a month long challenge, held in October (hence Inktober), started by illustrator, Jake Parker, to encourage artists and illustrators to practice their inking skills. Some artists are doing this challenge digitally, but I have chosen to due it the old fashioned way... by hand.

This is Day 7's Inktober illustration. I have chosen to turn this one into a coloring page for the little ones in your life. Enjoy!

ANOTHER COLORING PAGE FROM ME TO YOU

This was one of my very first illustrations I ever completed at UVU. It was an assignment for my Illustration 1 class. Wow! It seems so long ago! A professor from the English Department at UVU was creating online ESL readers for anyone who was interested in learning English. My teacher thought it would be great to help him out with some illustrations. Our class accepted the project and chose to illustrate two books. Each student illustrated one page out of one of the books. The book I was assigned was about kittens. I don't remember the story exactly I just remember that my page was, "Kittens get sick."

After looking back at some of my old works, I realized this would make a great coloring page, so I decided to ink it up. Here ya go!

I hope, that by posting my original illustration, I haven't swayed you to use the colors I personally chose. I would LOVE to see the creativity of your kids. Maybe in their version each cat would have polka dots or stripes. Maybe the kittens are sick with chicken pocks. Maybe they will be colored blue because they are sad. I don't think I could even come close to imagining what your kids can come up with but I would sure like to see their works when their done. Scan them in, when their finished, and email them my way. Maybe I'll post some up on my blog!

For those that are having a difficult time trying to figure out how to print these, here's some directions for you to follow.

SAVING AND PRINTING DIRECTIONS: (This is how I would go about printing from my IMac. It may be a little different on your computer, but I hope this, at least, helps some.)

1. On your computer, create a file, title it Coloring Pages, and save it on your desktop or somewhere convenient.
2. On my blog, click on a coloring page to enlarge and isolate it.
3. Right click on the image and choose "SAVE IMAGE AS"
4. Rename the page, if you would like, or just keep it as it is.
5. Choose to save it to the file on your computer which you had previously created.
6. Click "SAVE"
7. Now the coloring page is saved on your computer and in your file. Open your file and then click on the coloring page you would like to print to open it as well.
8. Go to the top of your monitor, scroll down under "FILE" to "PRINT". I've created my coloring pages so that they can each be printed at 100%. No need to reduce the size. They fit perfectly on an 8.5 x11 sheet of paper.
9. You may need to rotate the paper from portrait to landscape depending on the page you are printing. Click "PRINT"
10. You should now have a coloring page to enjoy with your children. Have FUN!!!

PAYING IT FORWARD

As I review my life, it is clear for me to see that I have been greatly blessed by many wonderful people who have encouraged and supported me throughout my life as I have endeavored to accomplish my goals- whether personal or professional. When I have been discouraged, frustrated, even lost or ready to give up, there has always been someone to come into my life who would lend a listening ear or share some great wisdom which would, eventually, help me get back on track. I believe these people to be a great gift to me and indeed very precious. I have wondered how I could ever give back to them as much as they have given me and I have wondered if it was even possible.

There's a commercial on TV, and I can't remember what it's advertising, that shows one person doing something kind for someone as another observes the good deed. Then the commercial continues with the observer doing something kind for someone else as another person observes that good deed. And it continues with each observer becoming the giver or doer of some other kindness. While I watched this commercial it reminded me of the idea of 'paying it forward'. Thoughts of what I could do to pay forward the acts of kindness which have been shown me started to flow.

I thought of my talents and abilities and the priorities I have placed over certain things in my life and which I felt I had in common with the people around me. It then became clear that there was at least one thing I could do right now to pay it forward. Family is my first and foremost priority in my life as, I'm sure, it is to others. Even though my children are grown, they are still so very important to me and I believe that others' children are just as important to them. So, my paying forward is a gift to the children- our greatest gift and our first and foremost priority. I've decided to create coloring pages that I will place on my blog, from time to time, for you to print and share with your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc. It's just a simple act of kindness from me to you but I hope you and your children will enjoy them.

And here's the first one!

And one other thing... I would LOVE for you to send this page back to me, after it's been colored! I'll then choose some to post back up on my blog. Kids will get a kick out of that! Won't they just love seeing their works of art on the computer screen?! Fun, fun, fun!!!