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featured artist

Lauren Beck

found in:

Flower Child • Mercury in Retrograde

Plant Lady • Witchy Woman

In my childhood, I was obsessed with Disney, especially with films like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, so I really honed my skills simply by copying the art style and mimicking the characters. At that time, I was convinced I'd be an illustrator for Disney when I grew up!

Discover Crayola All Grown Up

"Be the weirdo who dares to enjoy.”

-  Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear (my favorite book!)

Who was your creative inspiration or mentor?

I had a love for beautifully illustrated children’s books, and my favorites were by Jan Brett, who wrote and illustrated The Mitten. When I was in fourth grade, I wrote Jan Brett a fan letter telling her how much I wanted to be a professional illustrator. Jan wrote me back, encouraging me to pursue my dreams, and it gave me so much confidence to hear that from an adult! Later in life, I got to meet Jan and tell her how she inspired me, which felt like a full-circle moment.

In my lifetime, I’ve had many excellent art instructors, and I am endlessly thankful for this good foundation of skills and encouragement. My public school district had an excellent visual arts program, and the art room was my happy place! My high school art teachers were my heroes, and they had a life-changing impact on me as a teenager. I decided to pursue art education because of them.

And finally, my parents have always instilled a curiosity and appreciation for artistic expression, no matter what the medium. I’m endlessly grateful that I grew up in a household that celebrated art and my own individuality!

Which Creative Moment are you most proud of?

It's hard to pick out one specific creative moment, so I'll say that my favorite is a general Creative Moment when I step back, look at what I just made, and think, "yeah, that one felt like ME."
 
It can be difficult for me to connect with every single artwork I make, because as an illustrator I feel I make work for others to connect with - but I love when I sneak in little parts of myself into my art that makes it really personal, and a lot of times I do that intuitively!

What challenges have you faced as an artist?    

When I was a young mom with small kids, I actually completely stopped making art for almost a decade! At the time, I thought it was important to only focus on being a really good mom, and I was too busy and stressed to even notice that I was missing out on all the benefits that art provides.

It wasn't until my kids were a little older and I became bored at my administrative job that I picked up a pencil, started doodling, and something truly re-awakened ! I was super rusty, so I had to work through making very bad art and being a beginner again, which was hard. But I persisted and started to notice small improvements, and I’m so glad I pushed through the uncomfortable feeling!

Did you ever think about stopping?

I never ever imagined it would lead to where I am today, illustrating for coloring books and eventually teaching others to embrace their own creativity. Sometimes, I feel sadness and embarrassment about the lapse in my art practice during that time, but now I try to embrace it as a part of my story. It was a lesson I had to learn, proving the value that art provides in my life!

What got you back into creating?

Honestly, I started to notice I wasn’t myself without art and creativity. I was giving so much as a mom, but not feeling worthy of taking time to give back to myself. All I had to do was pick up a pencil and a piece of paper to start drawing again, but somehow that was really hard because it seemed silly and unproductive.

I had to remember what I truly loved as a child, which was drawing, and I had to gather up enough courage to dust off an old sketchbook and begin! A lot of what I made was embarrassing, but I kept secretly drawing and stuck with it, until I started to feel connected to that part of myself again. I kept going because I noticed a shift in my mental health, and I realized that taking time to connect with that side of myself was worthwhile.

How does your creativity impact those around you?

My favorite thing is to make art that inspires others, and that doesn’t always mean creating a piece of art to hang on your wall. I’ve found that my creativity is best used when serving others, either as an art educator in my studio, creating online resources like drawing pages that teach others, or in my coloring pages that allow others to make it their own.

I’m lucky to make friends in my community through my art! I believe that by openly sharing my creative journey, it impacts how others see themselves and gives them permission to think, “what art could I make if I tried, too?”

What made you the most excited for this Crayola Project?

Working on coloring books has been so rewarding for me, though it is challenging to create a collection of pages that I know will be produced in the mass market! The pressure was on to draw images that folks would enjoy and be excited to color in. Keeping ideas fresh and concepts cohesive is tricky, and a lot goes into the planning and execution of it (it’s not just drawing!).

These particular Crayola coloring books had themes that I connected with, so the ideas flowed naturally, and I got to experience the “yeah, that one felt like ME,” moments I so enjoy. Drawing compositions for a new medium, alcohol markers, was a brand new challenge, which I loved to take on.

Tips & Tricks

Follow these tips and tricks for a relaxing creative experience.

  • Absolutely! We've put together these quick tips to help get you started with Crayola Alcohol-Based Markers:

    • Test colors on scrap paper or on the included swatch card(s) before applying to your artwork.

    • For the best blending experience, choose two or three markers within the same color family that share similar intensity and tonal value. Start with the darker color, then laydown the lighter color next to it. Use the lighter color’s brush end to blend and soften where the two colors meet. 

    • Practice layering and blending techniques on simple shapes before tackling detailed art. 

    • Uncoated paper works best.

    Visit www.crayola.com/AllGrownUp to explore the full collection.

     

  • Yes! Blending is one of the biggest advantages of alcohol-based markers. There are several ways:

    Choose two or three markers within the same color family that share similar intensity and tonal value. Start with the darker color, then laydown the lighter color next to it. Use the lighter color’s brush end to blend and soften where the two colors meet. 

    Alternatively, use a colorless blender marker: Helps soften edges and create smooth transitions. Use where two colors meet to blend together (included in the Crayola 40ct, 60ct, and 120ct sets). It can also be used to lighten darker areas or add highlights, operating similarly to how an eraser works. 

    Layer similar shades: Start with light tones and gradually add darker ones. Allow ink to dry before adding the next layer. 

    Work while wet: Blending is easiest when ink is fresh on the page.

    Visit www.crayola.com/AllGrownUp to explore the full collection.

  • Popular themes for adult coloring books often focus on relaxation, creativity, or detailed artwork. Many adults enjoy designs that feel calming or immersive, with themes that encourage mindfulness and creative expression. 

    Common adult coloring themes include nature and florals, intricate patterns and mandalas, inspirational or uplifting designs, and cozy, comforting scenes. Soft, relaxing styles like Cute Cozy Coloring Pages have become especially popular for unwinding and stress relief. 

    You can explore a wide variety of styles and themes designed specifically for adults by browsing adult coloring pages and art tools from Crayola. 

    Crayola All Grown Up celebrates creativity for adults with art tools and inspiration designed to make creative time feel relaxing, expressive, and fun. 

     

  • There’s no wrong choice when it comes to coloring; it’s all about creativity and experimenting with different combinations of tools, paper types, and coloring themes. 

    If a specific tool is recommended for use on a Crayola Adult Coloring Book for best results, you will find details on the coloring book cover.  

    All Grown Up Coloring Books have paper types that have been optimized for specific tools, taking the guesswork out. When specific tools are referenced, it doesn’t mean other tools won’t produce colorful, display-worthy results, too. Coloring is a creative experiment waiting for you to try! 

    Crayola All Grown Up celebrates creativity for adults with art tools and inspiration designed to make creative time feel relaxing, expressive, and fun. 

  • Absolutely! Alcohol-based Markers work best on paper, but are versatile tools for many creative projects, including:

    • Illustrations and comic art: Ideal for smooth shading and vibrant colors.

    • Card making and scrapbooking: Adds professional-quality color to handmade crafts.

    • Calligraphy and lettering: Great for bold, colorful designs.

    • Mixed media art: Works well with pencils, pens, and even watercolors for layered effects.

    • DIY projects: Customize items like gift tags, planner pages, home décor and decorative accents.

    Just be sure to protect your work surface, and test on inconspicuous areas first to ensure you are satisfied with the outcome on the material. Crayola Alcohol-based Markers contain colorants that may stain and are permanent on most surfaces. 

    Visit www.crayola.com/AllGrownUp to explore the full collection.

  • Adult coloring pages often reflect themes from everyday life or hobbies and range from simple, open line art to more detailed illustrations with intricate patterns and smaller spaces to color. Adult pages are frequently created to support relaxation, mindfulness, and creative expression, whereas kids pages emphasize fun, learning, and motor skill development. 

    You can explore a wide range of adult coloring pages designed specifically for more detailed and creative coloring on Crayola.com. 

    Crayola All Grown Up celebrates creativity for adults with art tools and inspiration designed to make creative time feel relaxing, expressive, and fun. 

Experience Crayola All Grown Up

Coloring Books

A special collection of coloring books created with nostalgia and relaxation in mind.

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Alcohol Markers

Built to provide adults with the flexibility and creativity desired by new and advanced users.

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All Grown Up

Everything All Grown Up, matched alcohol marker and book sets, acrylic markers, and resources to help foster adult creativity.

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