All The Essentials For The Adult Coloring Aficionado

There's only one absolute must-have for holiday shoppers this winter, whether it's a present for a lucky person on your gift list or a soothing indulgence to get you through a stressful season. Yes: coloring supplies.

Coloring, any HuffPost Arts reader knows, isn't just for kids anymore. It's the chillest, most unintimidating form of creative relaxation out there, and now you don't have to be 8 and under to partake.

But where to begin? We've got you cover-to-covered with absorbing illustrated books and professional-quality art supplies to kick-start your or your loved one's coloring habit.

The Books:

For the manic pixie dream girl

Watson-Guptill

This lovely illustrated storybook by acclaimed South Korean artist Daria Song will capture the imagination of any loved one who adores delicate beauty, a hint of magic, and a timeless story. And coloring.

Find at Amazon.

For the nascent SJW

CreateSpace

If you know someone who's passionate about human rights in every aspect of her life, or maybe someone who could stand to learn a little more about intersectional feminism, this bold book from writer Ijeoma Oluo will allow your loved one to meditate on the nature of equality while coloring inside -- and outside -- the lines.

Find at Amazon.

For the selfie-taker with self-esteem

Random House

Does your sister love her flat-ironed, highlighted bangs? Does your niece adore her corkscrewed curls? Does your friend take any opportunity to check out her locks? Well, who can blame them -- but give their front-facing cameras and mirrors a break and let them relax with a coloring book just as obsessed with pretty hair. No matter your loved one's 'do, there's a mesmerizing illustration in Andrea Pippins' book to celebrate her style.

Find on Amazon.

For the kinky couple

Amorata Press

You may want to keep this one bookmarked for the next bachelorette party you attend, but for your most irreverent, hedonistic friends, this coloring book can pass for a holiday gift, as well. They'll laugh, they'll color, they'll learn something new from the surprisingly detailed illustrations as they wield their crayons.

Find on Amazon.

For the nature lover

Lark Crafts

One of the illustrators who's hit it big with the adult coloring book trend, Millie Marotta creates images with lovely, clean patterns with tiny segments just begging for a freshly sharped pencil. This book includes page after page of wild-eyed birds and creatures wrapped in riotous foliage.

Find on Amazon.

For the healthy spirit

Urban Outfitters

As HuffPost has reported, coloring can help adults reduce stress. But for your friend who spends every morning in yoga and every evening in meditation class, any old coloring book won't do. Free of any distracting themes, full of soothing waves and geometric patterns, this mindfulness-oriented coloring book will pack an extra punch of calm.

Find at Urban Outfitters.

For the pothead

Jared Hoffman

Not everyone uses meditation to unwind. If your loved one prefers something a little more pharmaceutical in nature to promote relaxation, this psychedelic coloring book is now available following a successful Kickstarter. It features bold, imaginative designs specifically for the marijuana enthusiast by a variety of artists, and -- bonus -- comes with a pack of rolling papers.

Find online.

For the rolling stone

Laurence King Publishing

Johanna Basford's lush pen-and-ink designs have taken the adult coloring world by storm, and they're available in a variety of formats. This little booklet of illustrations are well-suited to that friend who always seems to be changing her address or moving to Argentina with that girl he just met. They don't take up much space; each card takes relatively little time to complete; and when it's all colored in, it's the perfect way to drop you a line to say hello.

Find on Amazon.

For comedy buffs

Plume

If coloring for adults seems a little ridiculous to you, or to your friends, this book totally agrees. In fact, there are many aspects of adulthood today that Coloring for Grown-Ups finds tragically absurd, like trying to date and health insurance. Both laughter and coloring are great for stress reduction, so give the most anxious comedy fan you know the gift of lower blood pressure this holiday.

Find on Amazon.

For the sci-fi nerd

Disney

Did you hear there's a new "Star Wars" movie coming out soon? At least that's a rumor that's been going around. For the person in your life who just can't calm down about "The Force Awakens," consider pairing tickets to the movie with this relaxing coloring book. A couple hours coloring in a hypnotic pattern of R2D2s should take that excessive enthusiasm down to normal levels.

Find on Amazon.

For the artist

Laurence King Publishing

Remember Johanna Basford? Yes, this is the artist's edition of one of her coloring books. If you have a friend so gifted at pairing color palettes and staying inside the lines that he may actually want to show people the final results of his work, give him the good stuff. Unlike most adult coloring books, these pages are one-sided and designed to be removed, so that ultimately the user can frame the results and hang them all over her apartment.

Find on Amazon.

The Supplies:

For the total dilettante

Urban Outfitters

Will your friend or family member want to get serious about coloring, or will she just want to take some cute Instagrams of her supplies scattered about on her coffee table? Will he merely scratch away at his coloring book every now and then? This highly photogenic, very basic, none-too-expensive set of pencils in a jar fits the bill.

Find on Urban Outfitters.

For the elegant amateur

CW Pencil Enterprise

These ain't no Crayolas -- Prismalo pencils are the original watercolor pencils, which means coloring options for your creative friend, who can use them as pencils or add a little water for a more painterly effect. These Swiss-made pencils come in an elegant 100th-anniversary case and have enough bold colors to keep a coloring book interesting.

Find at CW Pencil Enterprise.

For the serious hobbyist

Amazon

If you haven't used Prismacolors, you haven't used colored pencils. If you have money to lavish on a coloring newbie, this comprehensive beginning set, the Prismacolor Premier Mixed Media Color Set, includes rich Soft Core pencils for laying down heavy color and Verithin pencils for fine details.

Find on Amazon.

For the primary color pro

Spring

These adorable double-sided Poketo pens make it easy to fill in big areas or small ones. You can get a set in five bold, unmuddied colors or five warm pastels, depending on your loved one's taste, for the coloring fan who prefers to keep the palette simple and uncluttered.

Find on Spring.

For the detail-oriented

Staedtler

These high-quality, German-made pens are acid-free and bleed-resistant -- perfect for the artist you suspect might hang on to their meticulous craftsmanship. Plus, the fine-tip pens allow for the most complicated illustrations to be filled with vibrant color easily.

Find on Amazon.

For the young Monet

Blick

Is your loved one a bit more romantic about the artistic lifestyle? Has he always seen himself poised in front of a canvas, brush in hand? Well, you can make that dream happen for him. This intense, 24-color set of opaque watercolors from Grumbacher will allow any amateur painter to bring the pages of a coloring book to life.

Find on Blick.

But wait, there's more!

Blick

You can't use watercolors without good brushes, and the brush that comes with a set of paints rarely does the trick. Especially for adult coloring books, which specialize in tons of detail and tiny patterns. Make sure your loved one is ready with a set of detail watercolor brushes like these.

Find on Blick.

For more coloring books, check out our past roundup here.

Also on HuffPost:

Outside The Lines, A Coloring Book

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