Coloring is good for the soul
Adults gathered at the West Lafayette Library to color during their event, Keep Calm and Color On, on Thursday, June 8 from 5 – 7 p.m. Beth Scott | Beacon
WEST LAFAYETTE – Adult coloring books have become a popular new trend and the West Lafayette Library incorporated that trend on Thursday evening into their summer reading program, which has a wide variety of events happening now for kids and adults at both libraries in the county.
On Thursday, June 8, adults gathered at the West Lafayette Branch Library with coloring pencils in hand ready to sit down and relax while creating their own coloring journal, or just having good conversation while coloring.
“Coloring can improve your emotional, mental, and even physical health,” said Andrea Schweitzer Smith, branch manager. “In keeping with the summer reading theme of Build a Better World, we’re building ourselves up and relieving stress. This is a good way to exercise our mind and it takes both sides of the brain, the right side, creativity and the left side, logic, to color.”
Participants were welcome to bring their own coloring sheets and utensils, but the library provided crayons, gel markers, coloring sheets, and colored pencils for those who needed them. Snacks were also provided.
“Coloring is a way to meditate,” said Schweitzer Smith. “I hope this can be a fun way for people to get out and make friends.”
Coloring brought back a lot of memories for people who attended.
“It brings back a lot of memories of childhood and going camping,” said Anita Osborne. “I used to color a lot when we went camping.”
Coloring can have a calming effect on a lot of people who enjoy the activity.
“It’s therapeutic,” said Amanda Habrosky. “It’s calming. You can use your imagination.”
There are no rules with coloring and you can let your imagination take over.
“We always thought we had to color in the lines,” said Linda Porteus. “But I think the coloring books today have kind of taken away from creativity. Coloring really is whatever you feel like doing.”
If you missed the coloring activity at the library, be sure to attend the painted rocks workshop which will be July 21 at the branch. From noon to 1:30 p.m., participants will paint rocks to hide all over the county to spread love and kindness.
“It gets people out and moving and away from technology and helps them spread random acts of kindness,” said Schweitzer Smith.
Also coming up at the branch library is a book talk led by Schweitzer Smith. The event will be July 27 and the book discussed will be “Christmas Jars”. At the end, participants will be able to make their own Christmas jars.
Dan Markley will be at the library on Aug. 8 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. to talk about his historical picture exhibit, which will be displayed at the library the month of August.
Summer reading runs now through July 22. Sign up to participate at either the branch library or the main library.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
