Kabuki Coloring Pages: What to Know Before You Download, and How to Choose a Set
If you are looking for kabuki-themed coloring pages, you will quickly notice how striking the subject is: bold face paint, dramatic poses and richly patterned costumes. It also raises a practical question. What exactly do you receive, and how do you choose between the sets on offer?
This article introduces the kabuki coloring sets with color samples from the Mori no Akari Series, explains how the download edition works, and lists the points worth checking before you buy.
Why kabuki makes such a good coloring subject
Kabuki is a traditional Japanese stage art. It suits coloring because its visual features are so distinct.
- Kumadori: the stylized face paint used in kabuki. The lines, usually in red or blue, are visually dramatic.
- Mie: a pose in which the actor freezes for a moment to express heightened emotion.
- Hanamichi: the passage that runs through the audience to the stage.
- Costumes: large patterns and strong color contrasts.
For terminology, the Japan Arts Council's kabuki resources are a good reference: Kumadori makeup, Mie and Hanamichi. These pages are in Japanese.
These characteristics give you plenty to think about when you study a line drawing or plan a palette. Bright and bold, or muted and elegant: the choice is yours, and that freedom is part of the pleasure of coloring.
What the download edition is
The Mori no Akari Series offers kabuki coloring sets with color samples in its online store. The product names in the store appear in Japanese.
- Format: digital data. You print the pages yourself. Nothing is shipped to you.
- Contents of Set 01: 3 line-art pages and 3 matching colored-pencil samples, 6 images in total.
- Size: digital data at 8.5 × 11 inches.
- How to enjoy it: print the pages and color them yourself.
▶ Print it yourself: Kabuki Coloring Download Edition, Set 01
A note about printed copies
The same store also sells a printed edition of kabuki sets, but at the time of writing its shipping settings cover Japan only. This article therefore focuses on the download edition, which can be enjoyed wherever you can print. If you live outside Japan, please check the store's current shipping information before ordering any physical item.
Is the download edition right for you?
You want to start right away and can print at home
The download edition fits well. There is no waiting for delivery; if you have a printer, you can begin as soon as you have the files. Please check the product page for the terms of use, including how the files may be printed and used. The quality of the print depends on your printer and paper.
You want to choose the paper yourself
Because you print at home or at a print shop, you can choose the paper, which is a real advantage. Details such as paper size and file format are listed on the product page, so please check them along with the price before buying.
You like the idea of giving a handmade gift
You can print the pages and present them with your own wrapping. Please remember that the item you buy is data, not a physical product.
Look at the contents, not only the number
Each set number has its own product page. Do not choose by number alone. Compare the pictures and the contents. If you have a particular scene in mind, check the images on the product page first.
How to use a coloring page with color samples
A coloring set with samples contains finished examples as well as line art to color. Here are a few ways to use them:
- Follow the sample's palette so you can move forward without hesitation.
- Match only the kumadori lines and costume patterns to the sample, and choose the background freely.
- Deliberately use different colors from the sample and make the page your own.
Kabuki is a subject where color contrast changes the whole impression. Many people find it easier to judge the balance if they begin with large areas and add fine patterns last. This is one common approach, not a rule.
Frequently asked questions
Does a set include samples?
Set 01 of the download edition includes 3 colored-pencil samples and 3 line-art pages. For any other set, please check the breakdown on its product page.
Do I have to buy several sets together?
No. Sets 01 to 12 are separate products, so you can choose just the ones you like.
Is it suitable if I am new to coloring?
Because samples are included, they can help when you are unsure which colors to use. The fineness of the lines differs from picture to picture, so look at the images on the product page to check whether a picture seems comfortable to color.
What should I color with?
Colored pencils, pens or anything else you like. Since paper and tools do not always get along, try a test stroke on a margin before you start coloring a printed page.
Checklist before you buy
- Is it the download edition?
- Does the product name say "with color samples"?
- How many pages are in the set?
- Have you looked at the pictures on the product page?
- Have you checked the paper size, file format and notes?
Summary
- Kabuki coloring sets are available as a download edition that you print yourself.
- The printed edition currently ships within Japan only, so this article links the download edition.
- The same set number can differ between formats, so always read the product page.
- Check specifications and price on the product page before buying.
We hope you enjoy bringing kumadori, mie and all the splendor of kabuki to life in your own colors.