The Fine Line Between Fun and Complexity: Creating a Coloring Page for All Skill Levels

The Fine Line Between Fun and Complexity: Creating a Coloring Page for All Skill Levels

Designing a coloring page might sound easy—just draw something cute and call it a day, right?

But if you’ve ever sat down with a coloring book only to realize the lines are either so dense it feels like homework, or so simple it feels like it was meant for your preschool niece (no offense to preschool nieces), you know there’s an art to getting it just right.

For me, finding that balance is part science, part vibes, and part ✨chaotic neutral energy✨. Because I’m not just drawing a pretty picture—I’m creating an experience for the person coloring it.

Let’s talk about that fine line between “This is so fun and relaxing!” and “Why did I think 84 teeny tiny flowers was a good idea??”

Download a bunch of free coloring pages by Serafine Art & Design!

1. Designing for Variety in Skill Levels

Not everyone who picks up a coloring book wants a challenge. Some people want cozy and calming—bigger shapes, less detail, a little creative breathing room. Others? They want the kind of detailed designs that make your eye twitch a little but in a good way.

So I aim to mix both!

When I design a full book, I try to include:

  • A few simple pages with bold, clean lines (great for beginners or a chill session)

  • A handful of intricate ones for my detail-loving colorers

  • And most importantly, a bunch of pages that live somewhere in between

That middle zone is where the magic happens. Enough detail to be interesting. Not so much that your hand cramps halfway through. 💅

Download a bunch of free coloring pages by Serafine Art & Design!

2. Knowing When to Pull Back

Here’s the thing: I have ADHD. Which means when I get really into something (like drawing every leaf on a tree), I go hard. Like, “This page has 300 individual petals” hard.

But when I zoom out and look at it with fresh eyes? Sometimes I have to rein it in.

If I wouldn’t want to color it myself… that’s a red flag. I ask myself:

  • Will this be fun or overwhelming to color?

  • Can the colorist actually see the shapes clearly once it’s printed?

  • Is there enough space for creativity? Where's the fun if I draw every wood texture or blanket pattern for you?

Less can be more. And balance is everything.

Download a bunch of free coloring pages by Serafine Art & Design!

3. Thinking Like a Colorist

Every time I design a page, I imagine someone curled up with a warm drink and their colored pencils. Are they zoning out and relaxing? Are they trying to use a specific color palette? Are they going to post their finished page online?

Thinking about how someone might use the page helps guide my choices:

  • I leave room for shading, blending, and adding your own unique twist to it

  • I try not to put a thousand overlapping tiny lines in the same area

  • I avoid weird shapes that are impossible to color cleanly

Basically, I design with kindness. Because no one wants to rage-quit a coloring book.

Download a bunch of free coloring pages by Serafine Art & Design!

4. It’s Okay If Every Page Isn’t for Everyone

Real talk: not every page will be someone’s favorite—and that’s okay!

By offering a range of styles and complexities in my books, I’m making sure there’s something that speaks to each person flipping through. One person’s overwhelming is another person’s zen.

The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is joy.

Download a bunch of free coloring pages by Serafine Art & Design!

TL;DR: Art Can Be Inclusive and Pretty

Creating pages that are fun and accessible is something I think about a lot. I want people to feel proud of what they color—not frustrated. And I want them to feel invited into the experience, no matter where they are on their creative journey.

So if you’ve ever wondered whether my pages are “too easy” or “too hard,” just know: I made them with both beginners and detail devourers in mind. 🖤

Happy coloring, friends.

 

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