What's so bad about coloring inside the lines? It seems that the trend now is to applaud those who recklessly color with abandon and pity those who contain themselves within the lines. I don't know who first told me to stay inside the lines--probably my big sister--but I obeyed and I was very good at it. Occasionally creativity compelled me outside those lines when I decided that Minnie Mouse needed some flowers at her feet or that the little pony needed a pond and some hills in the background, but it was always very calculated and intentional.
The other day I decided to revive my youth with a coloring book and some crayons from the store. I set Flora down to watch me color. (She was fascinated, but she kept trying to convince me that those colorful sticks would serve a better purpose inside her mouth.) It was very relaxing to color again. But suddenly my fingers got a little too wild and a small loop of purple stretched just outside that little black line. I felt the instant guilt of ruining the perfect picture that I was working on. I can't help it. Call me a perfectionist or a control-freak, but I still like coloring inside the lines. I'm sure that small fact could explain a lot about me.
Regardless of your coloring habits around "the lines", I highly recommend spending $3 to experience the joys of coloring again. However, I do not recommend Crayola Glitter Crayons. They're pretty in theory, but not in functionality.
NOT outside of the lines works when you do those incredibly perfect french manicures. Another vote against Crayola Glitter crayons. If you only bring one box of American colors to a third-world country, don't get fancy.
ReplyDeletei love the idea of going back to what made you happy when you were little. i think i'll go get a big chief tablet with a jumbo pencil and write my name over and over, and then go work a light bright!
ReplyDeleteThe subject of coloring outside the lines makes me a little bitter too. i'm glad you could rediscover your love for Crayola. :)
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