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By Jane Han
DALLAS ― Who says coloring is just for kids?
In the U.S., coloring books designed exclusively for adults are all the rage right now.
The unusual trend is so hot that five out of the top 10 bestselling books in the U.S. are coloring books, according to Amazon, the country's largest online shopping network. And coloring books are considered the primary driver of an impressive boost in sales of print books last year.
Americans are coloring at coffee shops and doctor's offices, hosting coloring meetups and watching YouTube coloring channels as they color away their stresses and anxieties.
''It's a form of therapy,'' says Bill Yeatts, a psychologist based in Dallas. ''By focusing on coloring, people are able to switch off their brains from other stressful thoughts and slip into a moment of quietness and mindfulness.''
There is no solid research that proves the psychological benefits of coloring, but the 12 million coloring books sold last year, a significant jump from the 1 million sold the previous year, show that Americans may be looking for "healing" through this unexpected trend.
"I purchased some coloring books after my mom recently passed. I needed something to calm me down," wrote Vickie Siddle, a colorist on the "Adult Coloring" Facebook Page, which currently has close to 30,000 followers sharing ideas and exchanging coloring pages.
Another user, Kelly Burns Johnson, wrote, "Coloring got me through a recent surgery and I am still coloring after my recovery. It is so calming after a difficult day."
Coloring books for adults, which typically cost less than $10, come in various themes from flowers and intricate patterns to even swear words.
For beginners, YouTube is a good place to get help.
Popular coloring tutorials easily garner more than 200,000 page views as novice colorists seek advice on buying the right coloring tools and creating ideal color combinations.
"I would've never thought of coloring this page like this," wrote Gwen Smith, a fan of a popular YouTube coloring channel run by artist Peta Hewitt. "This is what's great about coloring. The possibilities are endless."
The 15-minute tutorial provides users tips on coloring the bestselling "Enchanted Forest," which features hidden objects and mazes among castles, embellished woods and intricate flowers.
This kind of intricate and meticulous design is what attracts the growing number of coloring fans, but Koreans living in the U.S. don't seem to have jumped on the bandwagon just yet.
"I recently received a coloring book as a gift from a coworker," said Alina Kim, 44, a realtor in Atlanta. "But I get a little overwhelmed every time I open the page. It looks like a lot of work to finish coloring the entire page."
Like Kim, many Koreans generally seem to view coloring as "work" instead of a hobby to enjoy.
Kim Ji-young, 38, who lives in Seattle, said, "It gave me instant stress. Seeing all the tiny patterns makes my head spin."
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