Hi, I’m Kayla. I love a good coloring break. It calms my brain. It also gives me a way to show pride that’s simple and sweet. So I picked up The Big Gay Alphabet Coloring Book and brought it with me to a quiet Sunday coffee. You know what? It turned into a small moment of joy I didn’t know I needed. If you want the blow-by-blow of that first afternoon, I laid it all out in I Colored My Way Through a Gay Coloring Book — Here’s How It Went.
What I actually bought
- The Big Gay Alphabet Coloring Book (paperback)
- I also tried a printable Drag Queen coloring pack from an Etsy shop
- Tools I used: Crayola pencils, Prismacolor pencils, Tombow brush pens, and a couple of gel pens
I wanted bold lines, queer themes, and pages I could share with friends. These fit the bill. A quick scroll through Gay Book Reviews also helped me zero in on titles with the kind of bold, affirming vibes I was craving.
First page I colored
I started with a page that had big block letters and a scene with two folks in suits holding hands, with confetti flying. Bright, simple shapes. I used Prismacolor pencils for skin tones and gel pens for the confetti. The pop was so good. My table looked like a small parade.
Later, I did a page with a drag performer in a huge wig and a fan. I shaded the wig with three purples—light, mid, deep. The fan got a sunset blend. Was it extra? Yep. Did it make me grin? Also yes.
Paper talk (the not-so-glam stuff)
The paper in the alphabet book is medium. Not thin like cheap copy paper, but not thick cardstock either.
- Colored pencils: smooth and easy
- Gel pens: fine; no smear after a few seconds
- Water-based brush pens (like Tombow): a tiny bit of ripple, but still okay
- Alcohol markers (Sharpies/Copics): they bled through
Tip: I slipped a piece of cardstock behind each page. It stopped any bleed and gave me a firm base. Also, the pages are one-sided, so if something bleeds, it won’t ruin art on the back. That saved me more than once.
Layout and art style
Most pages use bold lines and big shapes. That helps if you color while chatting with friends or riding a train. A few pages have smaller details—little stars, signs, or lace edges on dresses. Those made my gel pens very happy.
One thing: a couple pages lean very simple. Like, big letter, small scene, lots of white space. Nice for quick wins, less nice if you want a long, cozy session. I mixed those with the denser pages to keep it fun.
Where it shines for me
- It’s joyful. The scenes show love, pride flags, families, friends, and celebration.
- It’s shareable. I colored with my niece at my kitchen table. She took the glitter gel pen and went wild on the balloons. We laughed a lot.
- It’s an easy Pride Month activity. I brought a few pages to a picnic and we passed them around. Strangers added stickers. Someone drew tiny sneakers on a page. Community in crayon—pretty cute.
On days when I’m in more of a browse-and-sip mood, I swap the pencils for a photo-heavy flip through of the gay coffee table books I actually use. Same pride energy, zero sharpening.
What bugged me a bit
- The book doesn’t lie flat. I had to hold the spine down or clip it.
- Alcohol markers bleed. If you love bold marker blends, this paper will fight you.
- A few pages feel too short—done in ten minutes. Great when you’re tired, but I wanted more challenge some nights.
The Etsy drag set (quick note)
The printable set I bought had crisp, high-contrast lines and campy looks—big lashes, fans, and dramatic hands. I printed on 80 lb cardstock at home, and my Copics felt amazing. No bleed, no warping. Downside: printer ink isn’t cheap, and you need a steady hand to avoid gray banding. Still, for marker lovers, printables are a win.
How I actually used it
- Coffee shop mornings: one page, one latte, headphones, done.
- Pride week: I packed pages, tape, and washi. We stuck finished art on our wall before heading out to the parade.
- Stress breaks: 15 minutes after work, one small section at a time. The brain quiets when your hand keeps moving.
Color combos that worked
- Pride flag stripes: gel pen + pencil on top for texture
- Sunset wig: light peach, coral, pink, and a hint of plum at the tips
- Suits: cool gray base, navy shadows, silver gel pen on buttons
Simple moves. Big payoff. And if you’d rather flip panels than fill them, I rounded up a stack of gay manga that really stuck with me for your next chill night in.
And if your idea of unwinding sometimes veers toward adult live-streams instead of colored pencils, the FireCams review walks you through performer diversity, site features, and tipping hacks so you can decide whether a live-cam session deserves a spot in your self-care lineup.
Prefer something even more hands-on? If a soothing massage sounds like the perfect follow-up to a coloring marathon, the Rubmaps Lawrenceville guide breaks down local spa options, etiquette tips, and real-user feedback so you know exactly what to expect before you book.
Who should try it
- New colorists who want bold lines and clear shapes
- Teachers or counselors planning a Pride activity table
- Parents and kids who want a kind, open way to talk about love and family
- Anyone who wants a gentle, happy craft that doesn’t need a lot of setup
If you’re a marker-heavy artist who needs thick paper or spiral binding, you might be happier with printables or a premium art pad.
Small tips from my table
- Put cardstock behind your page. Every time.
- Swatch your pens on the title page corner. Some inks look darker on this paper.
- Start with mid-tones, add shadows later. It stops muddy spots.
- Carry a white gel pen. Tiny highlights make eyes and sequins pop.
Final thoughts
This gay coloring book made space for joy on normal days. It’s not perfect. The paper could be thicker. The spine could chill. But the art feels warm and proud, and the pages took color well enough that I kept going back.
I’m keeping it in my tote for the bus, plus I’ll keep printing a few drag pages on cardstock for marker nights. Both scratch a different itch. Both feel like a small love note to my younger self.
And that’s the whole point, right? Color, breathe, smile—repeat.