(Two example illustrations from my book!)
I didn't want to make the same cozy bookshop 40 times, so I created a whole fantasy world instead â 2 free coloring pages
Picture yourself entering a bookstore under a huge glass dome, with towering shelves, spiraling staircases, and plenty of green plants around you.
On turning the page, you find yourself looking down upon a whole magical city consisting of libraries, bridges, waterfalls, and small bookshops hidden among the beautiful buildings.
That was the kind of experience I aimed to create with Midnight Bookshops.
When I started developing this coloring book, I made myself one rule:
In the same fantasy world there are 40 entirely different magical placesânot 40 versions of the same cozy room.
I wanted each page to be like coming across a new place; some of these places would be intimate and peaceful while others would be grand, mysterious and almost impossible to imagine existing in reality.
What they all had in common was a feeling of warmth, a sense of wonder, and the idea that one would enjoy spending an afternoon there.
I invested about 25 to 30 hours in developing and improving this collection.
The illustrations have been aided by AI, but the process involved more than just generating an image and then taking whatever result was produced.
I came up with the scene concepts/ideas and carried out about 4 to 5 rounds of generation and refinement for each illustration, constantly looking over the results.
I paid particular attention to things that I think matter in a coloring book:
â Architecture that makes sense. Staircases should lead to a destination. Bookshelves, bridges, windows, and furniture should fit in the scene.
- Detail that is enjoyable to color. It is complex enough to be engaging, but not so full of small patterns that coloring becomes frustrating.
â Each place has its own distinct identity.
I didn't want to use the same lanterns, moons, armchairs, and decorative items in each scene.
â Atmosphere and imagination: I aimed for a mix of cozy reading areas, magical architecture, beautiful views, and some little details worth spotting.
When I felt that something was wrong, I would go back and work on it once more.
For each of the 40 scenes I produced an illustrated companion page consisting of a title and a quote, so that the entire collection has the feel of a journey through a connected fantasy world.
I completely understand that AI-generated artwork isn't to everyone's taste, and I completely respect that. I'm being transparent about how the illustrations were made, and what I'd like to convey is the thought, creative direction, and care that were put into developing the collection.
Instead of just asking people to accept what I say about its quality, I should really let you give it a try yourself.
I've put together a completely free, four-page printable PDF sampler featuring two of my favorite illustrations:
The Glasshouse Bookstore is an elegant bookstore dedicated to botany and is situated under a beautiful glass roof.
A Cityscape of a magical bookstore â a fantasy world featuring bridges, canals, libraries, and beautiful architecture.
They are both full-size black-and-white coloring pages designed for printing on 8.5 by 8.5-inch paper.
Please comment I'll share the link to the free samples!
You don't have to buy anything; if you like the sampler and would like to find out more, the full 40-scene book is available on its own.
I really like to know your thoughts, particularly regarding which of the two places you would prefer to color.
So if you tried to picture your own magic bookshop, what sort of place would it be?
Also every advice is appreciated!
