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IAmA Coloring Book Artist AMA or AMTDAA (Ask me to draw almost anything!)
Hi, my name is Leah and I'm the creator of buffalo box, a digital download, set your own price, coloring book! I have been drawing in general for about ten years and also worked as instructor at my local elementary school art club. I just released my first coloring book which is available for free. Check it out here.
I am also getting ready to launch my second in a series of monthly, set your own price, coloring books on the first of November! You can order on my website here.
I'm taking your requests for quarter page mini coloring pictures for you or someone you know to color. I only ask that the requests contain no NSFW material, or copyrighted content like sports logos or video game characters, and I try not to do coloring pictures of actual people because when it doesn't look exactly as you expected people tend to get upset. Other then that, I'll draw pretty much anything!
Also, feel free to ask me anything about drawing technique, creating coloring books, or anything else!
My Proof: http://i.imgur.com/aLsY97N.jpg
EDIT: For the purposes of speed, I'm not doing any digital clean up. So some of the images may look a little rougher then they would in the coloring books found on my site.
EDIT2: Wow, I didn't expect such a strong response! Thank you everyone! I'm just gonna throw a kettle on and take a short break. I plan on staying up and fulfilling as many of these requests as I can!
EDIT 3: I'm back
EDIT 4: I'm gonna grab some dinner. I'll be back soon. 7:45 PST
EDIT 5: I'm back
EDIT 6: okay that's it for me. It's 1 AM and I'm pooped. Thanks everyone !
buffalobox17 karma
Then you'll have a joy-expotion to know that my October coloring book is in PDF format and free to download on my website.
ferrariman9998 karma
You are awesome! Saved to my desktop to print later. My inner child is very excited at the moment. I'll also have to locate some sidewalk chalk tomorrow.
gazzawhite18 karma
What's your favourite dinosaur to draw? Also, could you please draw said dinosaur?
buffalobox44 karma
John Hammond: You may have us, but you'll never get off the island!
Raptor: [with a well spoken English accent] I beg to differ. You see, the other Raptors and I have constructed a crude suspension bridge to Venezuela. Once there, I shall lie low and assume odd jobs under the name "Mr Pilkington." But perhaps I've said too much...
[smokes a pipe]
buffalobox2 karma
No of course not, but I was planning on cleaning it up and reposting all the images if you wanted to save yourself the trouble. Either way, no worries.
placedeclichy15 karma
Even as an adult, I LOVE coloring books and use them to de-stress, so thanks for the work you do!!
If possible, could you draw a unicorn opening a wine bottle with its horn?
HaleyDara14 karma
This is fascinating!! I never thought about the fact that somebody has to draw all that stuff. Do you work from home or an office? And my request is a raven and an owl sitting together :)
buffalobox7 karma
I work from home but I'd like to move into an office one day and just draw 8-10 hours a day distracted. I think I could do great things with an environment like that.
And sure, let me whip that up for you.
MdShakesphere13 karma
Could you draw me a penguin? And if possible could it have a bowtie? If not thats cool and many thanks in advance
adambkj11 karma
What is your favorite drawing that you have ever done? Not necessarily the best, just your favorite.
buffalobox33 karma
Slightly NSFW
I finished this one not too long ago and because I'm a girl threw some filters on it lol. I was really happy with the way it came out and it was lots of fun to draw.
buffalobox7 karma
It depends on how much detail is involved. For example, i try to draw for different skill levels. A drawing with less details for a novice coloring enthusiast might be something like a horse in the foreground with maybe a little bit of grass under him and some clouds and sun. Something like that would take me about an hour starting with sketching and ending with light digital clean up.
A more advanced picture like a battle scene with fighting and lots going on in the background might take me three to four hours. Six if it's something I've never attempted before which I love to do. And that again is starting with the pencil and ending with some light digital cleaning.
nimieties8 karma
Can I get a miniature dachshund doing.. well anything? You're awesome for offering this kind of thing. How did you get started in that industry? Is there a decent sized market for digital download coloring books?
buffalobox7 karma
I still don't know if there is a market. I guess I'm gonna find out. I haven't made any sales yet, but over 1600 people have downloaded my free October coloring book so that's a pretty good start I'd say!
And yes, let me work on that for you next!
ThatSteeve8 karma
Astounding talent! Especially when considering the speed you're pumping them out!
Oh right.. A question.. Do you realize how awesome you are?
buffalobox16 karma
Sometimes I forget... then I read your comment and I go... "Oh yeah!" ;D
tabbyh7 karma
Is there any particular animal or theme you enjoy drawing the most?
My boys would get a kick out of it if you could please draw two little monsters or puppies or puppy monsters trick or treating. :P
buffalobox5 karma
I've always been a cliche horse girl. I loved horses when I was a kid and I love them now. It's probably the thing I draw the fastest and rarely need any source material.
And yeah, of course I can.
buffalobox6 karma
Well, I've been a freelance graphic designer for about a decade. I've worked on a lot of people's projects and did very little of what I love. What I love is to see people really enjoying coloring. Coloring is so basic and anybody can do it. You don't have to know how to draw or even be the best. You just have to love it. When I was a kid I used to color all the time and as grew older I gave it up until I started working in a call center. Then I picked it back up and realized, hey this is something I still love doing. I know other people must still love it to but when I searched online I couldn't really find a good quality source of original coloring book art. So I made this!
I'll get started on your cat, thank you for your question.
jtl944 karma
That's really cool. You actually make me want to do some coloring, which isn't something I have done in a long time.
Thanks in advance for the cat and thank you for answering.
The_chordmaster6 karma
You should make a coloring book out of all of these reddit requests.
buffalobox11 karma
Haha. Actually I had an idea of doing a coloring contest for redditors tomorrow using these after I cleaned them up a bit.
Ultimate_Cocktease154 karma
Think you could draw a black kitty peeking out from behind a jack-olatern And how long've you been in the set your own price colouring books and what's the competition like in that business?
buffalobox7 karma
How long have I been in the set your own price colouring book business?
What day is it? Haha. I literally just launched the site. The original concept for the site was going to be a box of month shipping site similar to bark box. But when I looked into the prices of shipping and materials, each of the boxes was going to end up costing like 15 bucks. With the advice of fellow redditors, I abandoned that idea for something that everyone could enjoy no matter what their budget looked like.
As far as competition, I don't think I have any at the moment. And if I do, I welcome it. More coloring for everyone!
Let me get started on your picture.
OhMyMoogle4 karma
Did you practice a lot to get good at drawing things or do you just have natural talent? (or both)
And can you draw my dog and his best friend being pals.
buffalobox4 karma
I hope I do such little handsomes justice.
I had some talent as a kid which led to interest. But I draw a minimum of 15 minutes a day all the way up to 12 hours a day everyday for as long as I can remember.
buffalobox29 karma
http://i.imgur.com/LInHigI.jpg
For the record, that's not an apple... it's an Asian pear. Please don't sue me.
zarie913 karma
Can you draw me a monkey? I love monkeys. Btw, you're awesome for these drawings.
Billie-Ice2 karma
So great to see artist ama! I'd love to see an awkwardly adorable honey badger. :3
Bat_turd2 karma
Genuine question for you. You are good at illustrating, so why graphic design as a career? :)
buffalobox7 karma
I just go where the money takes me. I need money to pay rent, bills, food so if I see a post or an ad saying that I can make a few bucks here and a few bucks there creating logos or t-shirt designs, or whatever, that's what I do. Honestly, my dream would be just being allowed to draw without hunting. For enough job offers to come to me where I could concentrate only on creating art rather then creating opportunities.
Also thank you for the question and compliment!
HolmesSherlockHolmes2 karma
You're still doing them? You're awesome!
Drawing: The cutest freaking thing you can draw.
Question: How hard is it to get into the "professional drawer" business?
(Note: answering the question may get you a new competitor.)
buffalobox3 karma
It's as hard as any job where you have to find your own satisfaction for doing a job with little reward. People can be mean. People can be nice. But you just have to love doing it. Don't do it because you wanna be rich.
And yeah I'll try that.
ima_sickfuck1 karma
Just wanted to say this is one of the coolest & most inspirational AMAs I've seen/read. Best of luck to you in your career
rumirama1 karma
Could you please draw a lion fighting a dragon? Thanks for doing this AMA!
ferrariman99924 karma
I don't know about all of you folks, but I'm just excited to print these pics out and find my crayon set.
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