Colorist Spotlight: Lisa Frey

Lisa Frey

Meet Coloring Enthusiast Lisa Frey

Since beginning this coloring book adventure last summer, I have gotten to know so many wonderful people. I thought it would fun and interesting to put the spotlight on the colorists who bring OrnaMENTALs (and other) coloring pages to life with their imagination and creativity. Each week, I will post an interview with a different coloring enthusiast in the hope that you will discover some new techniques, artists, books, tips, and ideas for coloring.

To kick off this series, I am starting with Lisa Frey. Lisa was one of the first colorists to get really excited over my designs when I first started producing coloring pages, and I’m so happy I can now call her a friend. Meet Lisa…

(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?

Bloomandala colored by Lisa Frey

I started coloring last September.  I have been home due to medical issues and not able to work.  I was bored, in pain, and stressed.  Somebody recommended that I try coloring as a way to deal with the stress, keep me busy, and distract me from my pain.  It has definitely worked… and I am addicted to it.

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

I color because it relaxes me and distracts me from my pain.  It keeps me busy as well.  Besides these benefits, one benefit I was not expecting was/is meeting Sue and the many other artists and colorists that I am now friends with and speak to on a daily basis.

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

Colored by Lisa

My absolute favorite mediums are gel pens.  The brand I like best so far are called Tekwriters that were purchased at Costco.  I have other brands of gel pens that I like too.  However, gel pens are not great with all pictures, especially if there are larger spaces to color.  In that case, I like using Sharpies, because I have so many of them, in many different colors.

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

The top 3 coloring tools that I could not be without are my coloring pages/books from Sue, gel pens, and markers (preferably Sharpies).

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

I love Sue’s work, so definitely the Ornamentals/Minimentals books.  I also like JennyLuanArt, Scribo Creative (Maria Castro) and  Cristin Frey.  I love mandalas and black backgrounds best.  I have so many books, it is hard to choose my favorite ones, but I love OrnaMENTALs Volumes 1 and 2 by Sue, and Midnight Mandalas Volume 1 by Penny Farthing.

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

I can usually tell in seconds if I will like a piece or not.  It has to be fun, and somewhat challenging.  I like lots of details but also enjoy holiday pieces and themed pieces as well. I am usually drawn to patterns (tessellations), mandalas, or kaleidoscope type designs.

A Day at the Beach, OrnaMENTALs #0020, Colored by Lisa Frey.

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

I keep my coloring supplies in a couple of different thirty-one tote bags.  I don’t have them in a stationary place, as I like to be able to take things with me if I am going to a dr. appointment or won’t be home to color, or if I want to color in a different room.  It also makes it easier for me to move things around my small apartment.  I also have a small little bag that I use to take a book and supplies to if I am leaving my apartment and plan on coloring.  If I printed a page out (I print out my pages on Staples brand cover stock paper, not card stock. Cover stock is very similar to the type of paper found in the coloring books I own), I color it on a good, sturdy clipboard.  I use large artist rubber bands (bought at Blicks) to secure the page to the  board so that the corners don’t get bent.  If I am coloring in a book (I don’t rip the pages out), I color on my lap board.  I usually color on my couch or in bed.  I usually color while watching TV or on the computer.  I usually have 2-5 pages the I am working on at a time. I keep all of my finished pieces that I printed out in a  large binder in sheet protectors.

Would you share a favorite color palette?

Colored by Lisa

I love to color using rainbow colors.  Often, if I can’t choose a color scheme I like, I just make it rainbow colors.  My favorite color  is purple, so often I use lots of purples and pinks in my coloring.

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

Coloring is fun and relaxing. Don’t stress yourself out over a color, or if you think if it looks okay, etc.  Just relax, and enjoy coloring the piece you are working on and don’t take it so seriously.  There will be pieces that come out amazing, and others that don’t.  But that’s okay.  Just remember your own reasons for starting to color in the first place.  Join lots of coloring groups, and get to know the artists and other colorists as well.  Sign up for the artists free newsletters, as they all send out free pages for you to print and color.  One last piece of advice is to make sure you follow copyright laws. When sharing your piece of colored art, always cite your source, and give the artist credit. Just because you see a picture on your computer, it doesn’t mean the artist gave permission for it to be there.  Unless an artist gave permission for their uncolored piece of art to be shared in a group, online, or on Pinterest, it is STEALING and you can get in serious trouble for it.

“Love Chain” colored by Lisa Frey in what I like to call her “Rainbow Magic” style.

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

There are so many Facebook groups, it is hard to pick a few.  Obviously I like suziqcreations. I also like JennyLuanArt, Maria Castro at scribocreative, Cristin Frey (no relation, BTW), Penny Farthing Graphics, Dover Publications, and the following Facebook groups as well: The Cracked Crayon, The Best Independent Coloring Books For Adults, Young At Heart Coloring, and so many more.  Again, sign up for newsletters for free coloring pages to print.

Lisa is 41 and lives on Long Island, in New York.

Thank you for taking the time to answer this interview, Lisa!

We'd be tickled if you would share this!

Pinterest

Facebook

Twitter

Tumblr

Linkedin

Reddit

StumbleUpon

email