Colouring is for anyone.
The Ottawa Colouring Book for Anyone came after a wave of adult colouring books hit the market. I recognized that these colouring books were quite detailed and required a lot of time to colour. While this is a style that would appeal to some, I wanted a book that had images that had less detail, and that could be simpler (or not!) and quicker to colour. I decided that I would create my own book, but never did so until the fateful day when the idea of making this into a fundraiser towards mental health for the community arose. At that point the notion became a must, feeling like an 'it was meant to be', not a contemplation, and we were on fire! Six weeks later, we printed the first book.
One could say that I created the colouring book, but in some ways it feels like it found me. I have always had a passion for both art and matters mental health. I am also a bit of a recluse. You have to leave that place a bit to promote a colouring book, however. From year one, the connections that began to be made through the colouring book, all the different artists, the people who came out to the book launch... it felt like a community surrounding the colouring book began to grow. Truly a blessing, the ties that have come. That remains true to this day.
If it sounds like a pretty good time to you, well, you are right, it absolutely is! Every year the book takes its own direction, and we just try to keep up! The best part is that not only do we have a great deal of fun, but we also support the absolutely necessary combination of mental health, youth, and art.
The project also serves to encourage folk to have some fun with drawing, and colouring, both for the self and towards a worthy cause.
The proceeds from the sales have supported many organizations over the past few years, including A.R.T. in Action Ottawa, C.H.E.O. YouthNet Pens & Paint program, and the Cultural Arts Studio.
For more info and to stay up-to-date, join the OCBFA Facebook group.
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Christine Kumchy
Executive Director, Founder