What really helped me was to stop looking at other people's work on online platforms. At first it was fun to get in touch with people who share the same passion and hobby, but in the end I just got overwhelmed by all the pictures that ended up on my timeline. What also frustrated me was this whole system of likes and comments that we have nowadays. Some people got all the attention because they are more 'talented' or simply because they were very active and their posts got pushed by the algorithm. I realised I do this hobby for me and that it doesn't necessarily give me joy if I show my work to others. Now I only follow colouring channels here on KZfaq, because it's relaxing to watch other people colour, it feels more personal because they share stories about themselves and I learn a lot about techniques and supplies. I really enjoy your videos, because I often need a reminder that I need to relax and that my colouring doesn't have to be perfect. You and some other colourists really help me develop a bit more of a loose style of colouring, where not every stroke has to be perfect or where every blend needs to be smooth.

It’s something I’m coming to realise, that I can just use my books for trying things out and that not every page has to be a perfect example, or even completed. Any page has value when you engage your senses and enjoy the process, wherever it leads. Some of my favourite pages from the last two years were where I was letting myself play with my materials to see what happens. I always listen to my waterbrush btw, it’s how I can tell if I need more water, and my blending works much better Thank you for encouraging us!

Yes to all of this, Jackie! I absolutely love how you walked us through how to truly be mindful and in the moment when we color. Such a wonderful reminder! And yes to the inexpensive books to practice in. I encourage people all the time to practice in mandala or pattern books before they risk a Kerby or Johanna page with a new technique they haven't tried. Truly enjoying your channel. I was coloring as I was digesting everything you were sharing. You're amazing! 💖💖💖

Thankyou just what I needed to hear I have quite a few books I'm afraid to ruin with making mistakes silly I know I am going to try your idea ❤H😊

Beautiful flowers 🌸🌻🌼🌺 Thankyou for reminding me about having a book that we don’t feel has to be perfect, maybe for practicing techniques we want to try out. I use colouring as a medicine. It’s a great way to cope with pain as your mind becomes immersed in what you are doing and let’s go off everything else it’s juggling ❤❤❤

I am sure I can dig out a book that I can assign to mindful colouring from my stash. Considering I have so many of them. I used to do it with a book with Japanese themed images that wasn't crazy about but came to a conclusion that I need to still somewhat like the images to enjoy even the most simple colouring. I will dig again. I often find relaxation in putting in watercolour or marker backgrounds or bases - which is why I have so many WIP-s. 😂 I enjoy either silence or audiobook when I'm colouring. I can't have a video on because I prefer to keep my eyes on the page 🤣

wonderful video & topic! So well said and being kind to ourselves and enjoying the fun & therapeutic qualities of our hobby first and foremost is such a wonderful reminder. Also, even this page that you're just putting color on? looks wonderful...which just goes to show that a lot of us overthink & worry about our pages unnecessarily- simple is beautiful

Hi Jackie! Wonderful Advice, from time to time, I love being reminded about 'not everything has to be perfect '. Watching You with the water based markers, I just figured out, I am not getting enough marker on the page and never thought of a water brush.🤔 For Me and looking at Others Pictures, I look at Color, that's what I am drawn to, not how it was applied or if it's perfect. I guess that makes sense! Thank You very much for the Chat!😊💜

Love this idea on a practice book, this vid was a lot of food for thought and I have been struggling with perfectionist and found this helpful thank you

hello jackie! what a great idea to use this book as a practice, reference and experimental coloring book. i Like what you are doing with the craz-ee art marker💜...the paper must be pretty good since you are able to go back over it several times for blending....i like seeing all kinds of supplies used in coloring. since i am a budget buyer its also good to see examples of getting the best out of budget supplies...have a very lovely day! thanks you for sharing what you have learned in coloring....you are so talented!🙋🌅🦩🐦

I'm still totally enthralled watching you colour. Thanks for another great video. 'Tis fantastic to be reminded not to go loopy over what is supposed to be relaxing and fun. Though of course it is nice if the page comes out nicely, I am still persuing my new policy of "fun first" and my new mantra "its a colouring book". I dont know how youd go about it, but I'd love to find out about how some pictures "lead the eye around the page" and others are a confusing mess of colour, also how to go lighter in some places so the "main elements" (is that the right term?) stand out more clearly. Is that contrast? I find even my mandalas are hit and miss for balance and contrast etc., though i always have fun colouring them. Hope you enjoy your book and quiet times.

I really need to hear this today !!! So much truth in what you are saying sister I need to learn to not be a perfectionist! And have fun I try not to compare my self with others but it’s so hard !!!! I feel I’m not good enough and wish I was 😢so I have been not getting on instagram as much it can be to over whelming . Big hugs love you and your videos ❤

Hi Jackie appreciate what you shared.I am slowly learning to let go of perfectionism in colouring . Have been learning about mindfulness in many areas as well. 😊💜

I think some of the problem is social media. You have to be really careful where you post your stuff if you are sensitive to what other people may say. Too often it turns into a "brag fest" where professionally trained artists show off their abilities (often turning a coloring page into an entirely repainted work, which completely defeats the purpose of a coloring book).. or a toxic environment of everything being criticized or picked apart just because it can. Art is extremely subjective, and much of it is in the eye of the beholder. There is no right way to art. I've seen more than a few very talented colorists tear apart their own work and it just breaks my heart. If you want to share with a group, find one where people look for the good instead of the bad. Playing with your supplies.. not trying to create anything in particular just enjoying experimenting or messing around with them is very beneficial and I would encourage anyone to do it on a regular basis. Too often we are afraid of "wasting" supplies.. the only purpose they have in existing is to bring you joy, and and if that is occurring they are never wasted.

Hi Jackie! Thank you sooo much for this video! You are such a sweetheart! Although i enjoy colouring i also have problems to colour in my beauties….i have also a couple of books wich i am not attached to so they are my practice ones. Maybe a tip for others: i colour mandalas in between the other pages.They are easy and it comes out always nice, so it is something to be proud of. I like to color mandalas with pastel chalk pencils. I color a little and fade it out and use glitterpens to color some parts and the lines. I pick up a nice colour palette from the internet and go for it! Thank you for talk about this! ❤️

The majority of time I have a video or tv program going while I’m coloring. I’m now starting to have periods of coloring with just a quiet background. This is so peaceful and calming. For some time I’ve been listening to and reading authors on non duality which includes a form of mindfulness. Otherwise I’m either going over my past mistakes or worrying about the future and not fully being present.

THIS!!! Is exactly what I needed to hear today. 🥹 Having retired from a profession where I was the ultimate perfectionist it’s very hard to give myself leave to be anything less in anything I do. A very devastating bereavement 5 years ago left my mental health in tatters and I chose colouring 6 months ago as something to help soothe and relax me but it’s so frustrating sometimes to see such beautiful images produced all over Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and KZfaq that I’m not able to produce yet. However your philosophy is perfect, I need to keep reminding myself I’m just learning and just have to keep practicing and maybe one day I will be where I want to be? The only thing I might add that that I’ve discovered is that I absolutely do not have to show my colourings to anyone if I’m not too happy with them? I can just file them away as a learning experience and move on to the next. I’ve even allowed myself to completely abandon a couple of pages that I’ve disliked quite quickly. Thanks a million for what you are doing Jackie, building confidence, especially in fairly new colourists is not something I have found many other KZfaqrs doing. I will be a long time fan of yours and be sure to promote your channel wherever I can. 🥰

Loved this video. I have a book similar to the one you are working on and I have been loathe to ruin it. I got it out tonight and tried to do color along with you but had problems! I am using ohuhu dual brush markers and the result I got was streaky. Do you sugget I get nibs rather than brush as you seemed to apply them rather like a crayon rather than a brush. But maybe I am wrong!

What are you using to color…I love your channel

Really enjoyed your video....makes a lot of sense...and what book is this please....and did you get those marks from Amazon and how many came in the pack ? Please

I enjoy colouring but can only follow tutorials as my ‘perfectionism’ prevents me from colouring by myself as its not good enough, my colours are all wrong etc etc It stopped me from colouring a few years ago and now it's a tutorial/colour along or I don't colour 🥺