Colorist Spotlight: Jessica Rogers

Jessica Rogers

Meet Coloring Enthusiast Jessica Rogers

This week we continue our colorists spotlight series with Jessica Rogers. I am so enjoying getting to know more about the colorists who bring coloring line art to life, and I hope that you are too! So read on to meet Jessica and in the process I hope you will discover some new techniques, artists, books, tips, and ideas for coloring.

(Responses have only been slightly edited for spelling and grammar. Click any picture to open it larger and see a slideshow. -Sue)

When did you get into coloring and what were the circumstances that led you to it?

Colored by Jessica Rogers. Line art by Squidoodle

I have been coloring since I was old enough to hold a crayon and scribble! I was even coloring in the adult coloring books before it became the latest trend.

Why do you color? What are the benefits of coloring for you?

I color for enjoyment, but also because it helps calm the anxiety and depression I have. If I am starting to panic, coloring is a distraction that helps pull me away from the panic and back to normal.

What are your favorite media to color with (pencils, markers, etc.)? Do you have a particular favorite type or brand or coloring tools?

Well, when I first started the adult coloring books, I was mostly just using colored pencils (Crayola and Rose Art) but I’ve always had a horrible habit no matter how hard I try not to that I push down really hard when I color and write. I didn’t like the way my pictures would look when I was done. I switched to markers for a bit….. but then I got into using gel pens! I would have to say they are my favorite, but as this trend has picked up, I have learned from other coloring enthusiasts about new tools and recently got myself some Prismacolor blending pencils, so I have been using my colored pencils with that again. It just depends on the picture. Sometimes I will use all my resources of coloring tools I have on a single picture.

What are the top 3 coloring tools you would not want to be without?

1. My gel pens
2. A pencil sharpener
3. My blender pencil

What are some of your favorite coloring books, artists, and styles of coloring art?

This one is tough because I love so many artists and styles. I enjoy finding books that have a variety of different types of pictures to color. If you were to look at my Amazon wish list you would see how many different varieties I have on it! The Adult Coloring Book Treasury with multiple artists is the top priority item on my list. Some of the artists off the top of my head are, Sue Chastain, Cristin Frey, Kim Flodin, Alice Best Jackson…. but there are soooooooooooooooooo many more!

Colored by Jessica Rogers, Line art by Cristin Frey

Colored by Jessica Rogers, Line art by CristinApril’s Art

What do you look for when choosing a book or piece to color?

Living on a very low income makes me choose the number of pages compared to the price a lot. I like to take the pictures out and hang them around the house, so I dislike double-sided page books (they feel like a waste to me). I also love being able to see all the pictures in the book first… so at a store that’s easy, but not always online. I love being able to see book review videos, and have found some artists that will post videos to show their books too. I wish everyone did that!

What’s your favorite place to color? Do you have any coloring rituals?

I’d have to say my favorite place to color is when my friends and I get together once a week for a coloring club we made. Our local libraries started having them once a month for two hours, but that wasn’t enough for us. We made one for every Wednesday and it lasts 3 hours. I like to listen to music when I am coloring at home, or will have the TV on for background noise. I feel weird coloring if it is completely silent. I have all of my supplies set up for mobile because of coloring club, but most of the time I just sit on the couch with my legs curled up in a pretzel shape and color away.

Would you share a favorite color palette?

I don’t really have one. I just grab a color and start and then whatever color speaks to me, I grab and go. I do follow the rainbow colors a lot. I always say to myself Roy G Biv when I am coloring!

What tip or piece of advice would you give to someone just getting into coloring?

Don’t worry about your coloring level skill, just relax, color, and have fun!

“Furry Friends” OrnaMENTALs design by Sue Chastain, colored by Jessica Rogers. From the Cute Critters Coloring Page Bundle

What coloring groups, websites, or resources do you recommend?

I counted over 20 coloring groups, and then some of them are just pages instead of groups, but those are harder for me to remember and find…. I have all my coloring groups on my favorites list!

Here is a coloring group my friend and I made:

The Coloring Book Club

And here are some other coloring groups I am in:

Jessica is 32 and lives in Coos Bay Oregon. From Jessica: “I would like to say thank you to all the artists for all the hard work, time and effort they put into creating all of this enjoyment for us colorists! ♡”