All About Senior Activities — Coloring

All About Senior Activities — Coloring

Seniors certainly have plenty of options when it comes to developing hobbies and interests — from technical pursuits, such as tinkering with electronic devices, to creative hobbies related to art and craft. One hobby that many seniors enjoy is coloring.

Coloring is typically done using paper pre-printed with an image or pattern (a coloring sheet), which can be filled in with colored pencils or other drawing tools. While many may feel that coloring is only suitable for children, it actually offers several benefits for adults and seniors alike.

Benefits of Coloring

• A meditative calming effect on the brain — Some research has found that the brain of someone engaged in coloring experiences a reduction in stress similar to that seen during meditation. When meditating, the brain enters a relaxed state by focusing only on the present moment, which blocks the endless stream of thoughts we often experience. The result is a sense of calm that eases the brain from the pressures of daily life.
• Reduced stress and anxiety — A study by the Department of Psychology at Knox College, USA, found that coloring lowers stress levels in people experiencing pressure and anxiety. Coloring requires repeatedly performing a task that demands precision, which redirects the mind away from anxiety and toward focus on the activity itself.
• Building creativity — While working on a coloring project, the mind and heart can channel creativity through choosing colors and coloring methods. Every coloring creation is an opportunity to express one's artistic spirit.
• Improving fine motor skills — Holding and moving a colored pencil precisely enough to fill in areas of a drawing neatly requires fine motor control of the hands. Coloring naturally trains this skill, which is useful in daily life.
• Improving attention to detail — Attention to detail is naturally required to complete a coloring project neatly, so this ability is trained in the process as well.

Basic Coloring Techniques

Experienced artists use many methods to shape texture and color when working on a colored pencil creation. Here are five basic techniques commonly applied:

• Back and Forth Stroke — The simplest and most common way to color with a pencil, often taught in childhood. The pencil tip is moved back and forth across the paper in one continuous motion without lifting it from the surface. Color intensity can be adjusted through pressure — the harder the pressure, the darker the color. This method works best for filling in areas with a flat, solid appearance.
• Scumbling — Another simple method many may recognize from childhood, in which color is applied through continuous circular motions without lifting the pencil from the paper. Color intensity can also be adjusted through pressure, and this method is likewise well suited for a flat, solid finish.
• Stippling — A technique in which color is applied as small dots on the paper. Color intensity can be adjusted by varying the spacing between dots — the closer together the dots, the more intense the color appears. Beyond dot spacing, the sharpness of the pencil used also affects the appearance of the color.
• Hatching — A technique in which color is applied as individual lines, each drawn one at a time in the same direction. Color intensity can be adjusted by varying the spacing between lines — the closer together the lines, the more intense the color appears.
• Cross-Hatching — A technique in which color is applied as parallel lines, then layered with additional parallel lines at a different angle. This method is useful for creating a sense of shadow or texture in an image.

Coloring Sheets

Coloring sheet collections in book form are widely available in stores. Online, an even wider range of patterns and images can be found. As a starting point, you can visit and download a selection of coloring sheets from RUKUN Senior Living's Activity Corner page.

Enjoy your coloring activity!