In a J.K. Rowling type of fairy tale, Johanna Basford unwittingly created the latest worldwide craze for adults - adult coloring books. She was a broke and struggling wallpaper designer when she first brought 'Secret Garden' to the shelves in 2013 with publisher Laurence King. It became a hit with several hundred thousands sold. 'Enchanted Forest' came out in 2014, again with Laurence King, and was received by the public just as enthusiastically.
Now, with 15 million of her two books sold worldwide, Johanna still stresses over public reaction over her work: "I'm always so scared and anxious before publication because when I create these books, they're a work of love and you're sharing your hopes and dreams with the world. It's a bit like asking people to judge your child."
Although many other illustrators have been distributed by competing publishers, none have reached Johanna's range of success. A spokesperson for Penguin Books, which is responsible for the US edition of Johanna's 'Lost Ocean' (2015): "They just didn't take off in the same way Johanna's books did."
Part of the appeal of Johanna's style probably comes from the hidden treasures she weaves into her designs. This added layer involves adults more than the traditional styles that were previously sold as novelty activity books.
"I like the idea that the more you look, the more you see and it's an invitation to people to pause and wonder... When I was designing textiles, I would hide a butterfly or bumblebee in the floral print."
Johanna's own life has a similar charm to it. Born to marine biologist parents and granddaughter to the chief gardener of Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran, Johanna met her husband while the BrewDog co-owner was fishing for herring and mackerel. As a child, she had always loved to draw: "I drew on everything... walls, the furniture, my sister... Now when I catch our daughter drawing on walls and tables, I'll try not to tell her off."
Coloring books for adults is not a craze that will go away any time soon. Thanks to Johanna's work, its benefits have once again been brought to the forefront with adults rediscovering the therapeutic effect of this past-time. Even individuals with specific mental condition such as PTSD and other trauma, and individuals suffering from the emotional and mental aftermath of a cancer condition and treatment can find healing in the pages of a coloring book.
Psychologist Gloria Martinez Ayala explains: "The action involves both logic, by which we color forms, and creativity, when mixing and matching colors. This incorporates the areas of the cerebral cortex involved in vision and fine motor skills (coordination necessary to make small, precise movements)... The relaxation that it provides lowers the activity of the amygdala, a basic part of our brain involved in controlling emotion that is affected by stress."
Dr. Ben Michaelis, also a psychologist, further explains: "Because it's a centering activity, the amygdala, which is the part of the brain that is involved with our fear response, actually gets a bit, a little bit of a rest. It ultimately has a really calming effect over time."
