Every book has a story before the story—a journey from spark of inspiration to the moment it lands in your hands. Today, I want to take you behind the scenes of creating my "Birds Coloring Book," sharing the unexpected challenges, delightful discoveries, and creative decisions that shaped this collection of avian art.
The Spark: Why Birds?
It started with a cardinal outside my window during a particularly stressful morning. As I watched this brilliant red bird hop from branch to branch, completely absorbed in its simple bird business, I felt my shoulders drop and my breathing slow. That moment of connection with nature, right in my suburban backyard, planted a seed.
Birds are everywhere, yet we rarely truly see them. They're nature's most accessible ambassadors—you don't need to visit a national park or go on safari. Whether you're in Manhattan or Montana, birds are there, living their parallel lives, offering moments of wonder if we just pause to notice.
I realized that a bird coloring book could bring that same sense of presence and wonder to people anywhere, anytime. Even in a windowless office or during a rainy week, you could connect with the natural world through the meditative act of bringing these creatures to life with color.
Research: More Than Pretty Pictures
Creating accurate, engaging bird illustrations required diving deep into ornithology. I spent three months in what I call my "bird immersion phase":
Field Research:
- Early morning bird watching sessions (5 AM became my new normal)
- Photographing birds in various poses and lighting
- Sketching live birds at local parks and feeders
- Visiting aviaries and bird sanctuaries
Academic Study:
- Consulting field guides and scientific illustrations
- Understanding bird anatomy and proportions
- Learning about plumage patterns and seasonal variations
- Studying habitat and behavioral characteristics
Community Connection:
- Joining local Audubon society meetings
- Interviewing bird watchers about their favorite species
- Collecting stories about meaningful bird encounters
- Understanding what draws people to specific birds
The goal wasn't just accuracy—it was capturing each bird's personality and essence in a way that would inspire colorists to connect with these creatures.
The Selection Process: Curating 50 Birds
Starting with a list of over 200 bird species, narrowing down to 50 was agonizing. Each bird had to earn its place based on multiple criteria:
Diversity Factors:
- Geographic representation (birds from various continents)
- Size variety (from tiny hummingbirds to majestic eagles)
- Color complexity (simple patterns to intricate details)
- Habitat diversity (forest, ocean, desert, urban)
- Cultural significance across different regions
Coloring Considerations:
- Balance of simple and complex designs
- Opportunities for creative color interpretation
- Interesting pattern work and textures
- Varying levels of detail for different skill levels
Emotional Connection:
- Birds with stories and symbolism
- Species that evoke specific emotions or memories
- Familiar favorites and exciting discoveries
- Conservation awareness opportunities
The final 50 became a careful symphony—each bird chosen not just for itself, but for how it contributed to the whole collection.
The Artistic Process: From Sketch to Page
Stage 1: Initial Sketches
Each bird began as multiple rough sketches, exploring different poses and compositions. I'd create 5-10 quick studies before choosing the most dynamic and engaging pose. The goal was capturing not just accuracy, but personality—the cock of a robin's head, the alert stance of a cardinal, the serene float of a swan.
Stage 2: Detailed Drawing
The chosen sketch was then developed into a detailed drawing. This stage took 3-4 hours per bird, carefully working out every feather group, the curve of each wing, the precise angle of tail feathers. I used photo references but never copied directly—each illustration needed to be an interpretation, not a reproduction.
Stage 3: Line Art Creation
Converting detailed drawings into coloring-appropriate line art was perhaps the most challenging phase. The lines needed to be:
- Clear enough to guide coloring
- Detailed enough to be engaging
- Open enough to allow creative interpretation
- Balanced to avoid overwhelming the colorist
This meant countless decisions: Which details to include? Where to simplify? How to suggest texture without overcomplicating?
Stage 4: Testing and Refinement
Each design was test-colored multiple times:
- Once with colored pencils
- Once with markers
- Once with watercolor pencils
- Once by a beginner colorist
- Once by an advanced artist
Based on feedback, I'd refine problem areas—spaces too small for most pencils, details that got lost with markers, sections that confused beginners.
The Unexpected Challenges
The Peacock Problem
The peacock nearly didn't make it into the book. How do you create a peacock design that's detailed enough to be recognizable but not so intricate it becomes frustrating? After seven complete redesigns, I found the balance—focusing on the eye patterns while simplifying the smaller barb details.
The Hummingbird Dilemma
Hummingbirds are tiny. Making one large enough to color meant departing from realistic scale relationships. The solution? Creating a composition with flowers that made the enlarged size feel natural rather than jarring.
The Owl Eyes
Owls are all about those mesmerizing eyes, but in a coloring book, empty circles don't convey that intensity. I developed a subtle line pattern within the eyes that guides shading without predetermined the outcome—colorists can create their own version of that penetrating owl gaze.
The Technical Side: Production Decisions
Paper Quality
After testing 15 different paper types, I chose 70lb bright white paper that could handle various mediums without bleeding. It was a balance between quality and keeping the book affordable.
Binding Choice
Perfect binding allowed the book to lay flatter than traditional binding, making it easier to color near the spine—a small detail that makes a big difference in user experience.
Single-Sided Printing
Though it meant a thicker book, single-sided printing was non-negotiable. Nothing ruins the coloring experience like worrying about bleed-through or losing a design on the back.
Page Order
Birds were arranged to alternate between simple and complex designs, preventing fatigue and maintaining engagement throughout the book.
The Learning Moments
What Surprised Me
- How different birds looked in various lighting (a blue jay at dawn vs. noon)
- The incredible variety within single species (no two cardinals are identical)
- How much personality birds display in their postures
- The emotional responses specific birds triggered in test colorists
What I'd Do Differently
- Include more habitat elements in some designs
- Add a few more beginner-friendly options
- Create companion digital downloads for practice
- Include fun facts about each bird (added in the second edition!)
The Joy Moments
The first time I saw someone coloring one of my birds in a coffee shop—they had no idea I was the creator—I nearly cried. They were completely absorbed, carefully shading a blue jay's wing, lost in that perfect flow state that coloring creates.
Receiving photos from colorists showing their completed pages, each one uniquely interpreted, reminded me why I created this book. One woman colored her cardinal purple in memory of her mother who loved both cardinals and that color. A child turned the peacock into a rainbow celebration. An elderly man meticulously recreated the exact colors of birds from his backyard.
The Conservation Connection
With each book sold, a portion goes to bird conservation efforts. It felt important that a book celebrating birds should also contribute to their protection. We've helped fund habitat restoration, window strike prevention programs, and education initiatives.
Looking Back, Flying Forward
Creating the Birds Coloring Book taught me that every creative project is actually multiple projects—research, art, design, production, and community building. It's been humbling to see how these 50 birds have flown into homes around the world, bringing moments of peace, creativity, and connection with nature.
The cardinal that started it all still visits my window. Now when I see it, I think of all the cardinals being brought to life with color in homes I'll never visit, by hands I'll never shake, bringing joy I'll never witness but deeply feel.
Your Coloring Journey
If you have the Birds Coloring Book, I'd love to know: Which bird did you color first? Which one surprised you? Which one reminded you of a personal memory?
Every colorist brings their own story to these pages. That's the magic—my drawings are just the beginning. The real art happens when you pick up your pencils and make these birds truly fly.
Happy coloring, and may your days be filled with the wonder of wings.