Small Victories: A Coloring Book of Little Wins and Miniature Masterpieces Paperback – Coloring Book, November 7, 2023

Johanna Basford's coloring books are my favorite! I'm a beginner and love the smaller size of Small Victories! In all of JB's books the paper quality is top notch, plus the pages are inspired and so much fun to color!I colored the 1st mushroom (see pic) using a color along with A Pictured Purpose on YouTube and love the outcome!

I recently re-discovered Johanna Basford and her coloring books. The only other coloring book I have is the artist’s edition of the Secret Garden. (I wish she made more editions like that)Overall, I’m very pleased with her signature intricate doodles that feel playful yet mature at the same time.However, I think “serious” colorists expect too much from her books. Yes, the paper is on the thinner side. But as I watched some of her YouTube videos, I came away with a better understanding of her intent and process. She uses rather light pressure and her approach is rather unproblematic and unfussy. Her books are meant to be enjoyed by all, but I think especially by the everyman.Using too much pressure on the paper will leave indents on the next page. Using light-medium pencil pressure and gradual layering seems to be the way to go with her coloring pages. (I tend to gravitate towards heavier pressure naturally, but this may not be an issue for others. I’m also not an expert colorist.)Bottom line:I definitely like saturation and I don’t want to feel restricted with coloring, so my solution to the thin paper was ordering tracing paper and good quality drawing paper, so I could transfer her drawings and color to my heart’s content without fear of using too much pressure, and hence ruining the next page.I think this is a reasonable solution, if you’d like to level up your coloring game (like me).

I didnt realize this book is about half a size smaller than the Originals you find at Target (Love this feature considering its a book of SMALL victories). This is so much better bc it's the exact same style of art pages with so many creative illustrations to choose from that are perfectly detailed. It isnt obnoxiously intricate so it wont take you a week to complege a page but can definitely take about a day or 2 to finish n move on before growing too fatigued to complete/grow bored.The book itself is compact enough to fit into a medium size purse. It's about the size of a standard journal ! Truly better than I would've imagined!Overall, 12/10 Recommend as a treat for yourself, family, and friends ♡

Another book by Johanna Basford for lovers of her drawings. Excellent paper, well bound which opens flat once the spine is broken in. Typical drawings, but isn't that why we love her? The drawings are small because the book is smaller (please note size) and require a steady hand for coloring (I prefer Polychromos colored pencils for fine coloring and true, rich colors which will not fade). Might not be for those who just beginning to do adult coloring or have trouble with small detail work, but for experienced colorists it is a great book for coloring in short spurts of time without committing to a larger scale work. Her other books are a great intro to the Basford style, but this is for those who want to color a complete picture in half an hour or take it along a handy size in their bags.

I love Basfords other books, but like a lot of people, some of them can be just a tad overwhelming. I can't tell you how many pages in my other coloring books are filled with a quarter of each page started, and then left for another day. And idk about you but i hate that. It's just not practical to think I'd have enough time to finish one of her other books' pages in 1 sitting. Who has that kinda time? Oh you do? Well then good for you. That's awesome. I, however, do not.BUT...Welcome to the stage, Small Victories! Idk the actual dimensions, but it's bigger than a 5"x7" photo but not too much. So already I'm loving it because it fits in my purse easily. (I'm one of those nerds that loves coloring in restaurants while I wait for my food.) You open the book and notice the pages feel really nice and thick which is perfect for me cause I love using markers. Colored pencils are not my jam at all. I noticed some reviews on the spine of the book being in the way and yes it is, but nothing terrible. Really, when I open my coloring books, and it does specifically say NOT to do this on the first page, but I "force" my books to lay flat on the table so the whole binding issue isn't one I'm dealing with. *I will say that if you do do this, remember that most likely within a short time the pages will just kinda pop out, but it's how I like em, so do your own thing.The pictures are cutesy but not too juvenile for someone, even my age, which is almost 44! Or maybe they are and i just dont seem to care what someone else thinks of my coloring book choices. Haha. (Im already an adult, whipping out a coloring book in random public places so the thoughts of those around me is pretty low on my care-meter.) This book is definitely in the same wheelhouse as other of Basford's books. Some things you'll come across in here are: little cottages, mandala-like florals, dragons, various outdoor organisms and creatures like birds and fish, fruit and ice cream treats, castles, space, feathers, little boats, 3 cute smiling weiner dogs, more cottages, more florals, underwater tea set, cupcakes, more florals, more cottages and castles, a page of insects and moths, more little boats and islands, dinosaurs, a pretty big butterfly, some trucks, various mushrooms and foliage, and then of course more floral arrangements. So...a lot of fun shizz. Even the first couple of intro pages have little doodles here and there as well as both the front and back covers inside and out can be colored! And she put 2 pages at the back as a color palette test page, which is always nice. Ya never know if you're going to start a new color and find your marker is almost dead. A problem i realize i wouldn't have if i used colored pencils, but nooooo. I already went thru that. Not my jam. This book, however, definitely is!! Lastly, the back cover price is $16.00, michaels wanted more, but i grabbed it here on Amazon for like 8 bucks! That's a small victory in and of itself. Definitely recommend this one.

JoAnna Basford has done it again, but smaller! I frankly never finish a Joanna Basford coloring book. There are always images I don’t care for or are too intricate for my taste. This lovely little book is perfect. She has many small items to be colored, some one on a page, some several. It’s a great way to try new supplies out, or just sit for a few minutes and be able to finish a project. Very satisfying. Also, JoAnna always has paper quality that way beyond the standard Amazon coloring book, so you know you are getting a good quality paper as well as artwork.

I love Johanna 's work love the nice. Quick easy colors on great paper