Perhaps you have heard of Johanna Basford, the Scottish illustrator whose coloring book for adults, Secret Garden, has sold more than a million copies since it was released in 2013. A quick peek at the websites for Amazon and Barnes and Noble indicates that the book is temporarily out of stock online, but Ms. Basford has assured Facebook followers that more copies are coming. Coloring is such a relaxing "analog" activity - a healthy, creative way to unwind and de-stress in a digital world. One woman wrote on Ms. Basford's Facebook page, "It stops me worrying about the cancer." A look at Ms. Basford's pen-and-ink pictures may help explain why . . .
"The Top-Selling Books on Amazon Right Now Aren't for Reading" by Lauren Piro.
Good Housekeeping (April 7, 2015).
Good Housekeeping (April 7, 2015).
“The artwork was inspired by Brodick Castle Gardens on the Isle of Arran, on the West Coast of Scotland,” Johanna said. “My grandfather was the head gardener there, so we spent every summer and Christmas there. The formal rose gardens of the castle, the Bavarian summer house, and the lily-studded ponds were wonderful places to play as a child . . . a great place to cultivate a wild imagination!” ("Over One Million People Bought Her Gorgeous Coloring Book For Grown Ups" by Sammy Nickalls, Hello Giggles [3/24/25]).
Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Image via Pinterest,
Instagram image by tracylovely via Good Housekeeping.
"The Top-Selling Books on Amazon Right Now Aren't for Reading" by Lauren Piro.
Good Housekeeping (April 7, 2015).
Bavarian Summer House, Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Image via Pinterest.
Like many castles, Scotland's Brodick Castle has its ghosts stories - sightings of a "gray lady" and tales of a white hart that appears whenever a Hamilton clan chief is about to die . . .
Image courtesy Johanna Basford and Laurence King via BuzzFeed.
"Meet the Woman Who Sold a Million Copies of her Coloring Book for Adults" by Rachel Zarrell.
BuzzFeed (March 19, 2015).
"If you go down to the woods today you'll see a special new addition - three lovely toadstool seats made by Fergus, Ken and Andy, our very talented Estate Team!"
Garden of Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Image and text via Facebook page of NTS Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park (May 19, 2014).
"Basford's elaborately rendered illustrations include hidden elements like 'a rogue butterfly, a tiny beetle or an elusive white rabbit,' she says, to add mystery and whimsy to the drawings."
Image courtesy of Johanna Basford/Laurence King via Slate.
Slate (April 7, 2015).
"The Bronze Age roundhouse" at Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Image via Pinterest.
Image courtesy Johanna Basford and Laurence King via BuzzFeed.
"Meet the Woman Who Sold a Million Copies of her Coloring Book for Adults" by Rachel Zarrell.
BuzzFeed (March 19, 2015).
Lavender in the Garden of Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Image via Facebook page of NTS Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park (August 18, 2014)
Coloring by "Karen."
Image via Facebook page of illustrator Johanna Basford (February 24, 2015).
Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Image via Facebook page of NTS Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park (May 14, 2014)
Garden of Brodick Castle, Scotland.
Image and text via Facebook page of NTS Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park.
Image via Johanna Basford's Facebook page.
Garden of Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
"The Top-Selling Books on Amazon Right Now Aren't for Reading" by Lauren Piro.
Good Housekeeping (April 7, 2015).
Garden of Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Image via Facebook page of NTS Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park (April 2, 2015).
Coloring by "Claudia."
Image via Facebook page of illustrator Johanna Basford (February 10, 2015).
"Blue sky, yellow daffs and the red brown stone of the Castle - today there's a feast of colour around the property and a spring in everyone's step as we enjoy the sun!"
Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Image and text via Facebook page of NTS Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park (May 16, 2014).
Garden trails, Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Image via Facebook page of NTS Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park (June 8, 2014).
Image courtesy Johanna Basford and Laurence King via BuzzFeed.
"Meet the Woman Who Sold a Million Copies of her Coloring Book for Adults" by Rachel Zarrell.
BuzzFeed (March 19, 2015).
"It looks set to be another gorgeous day here on Arran. This plant the dog's tooth violet (Erythronium dens-canis) is a such a charming thing and is popping up all over parts of the garden."
Garden of Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Image and text via Facebook page of NTS Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park (April 9, 2015.)
"The Top-Selling Books on Amazon Right Now Aren't for Reading" by Lauren Piro.
Good Housekeeping (April 7, 2015).
"Illustrator Johanna Basford is based in Aberdeen, Scotland."
Image courtesy of Johanna Basford/Laurence King.
Slate (April 7, 2015).
Image courtesy Johanna Basford and Laurence King via BuzzFeed.
"Meet the Woman Who Sold a Million Copies of her Coloring Book for Adults" by Rachel Zarrell.
BuzzFeed (March 19, 2015).
Image courtesy Johanna Basford and Laurence King via BuzzFeed.
"Meet the Woman Who Sold a Million Copies of her Coloring Book for Adults" by Rachel Zarrell.
BuzzFeed (March 19, 2015).
Ms. Basford's second coloring book, Enchanted Forest, was released in February 2015. Readers must find eight symbols that are hidden throughout the book to solve the coloring puzzle on a pull-out poster at the end of the book.
Image courtesy Johanna Basford and Laurence King via BuzzFeed.
"Meet the Woman Who Sold a Million Copies of her Coloring Book for Adults" by Rachel Zarrell.
BuzzFeed (March 19, 2015).
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