Disney Mystery Coloring Stained Glass Volume 2: Full Review

Specifications

Title: Coloriages Mystères Disney, Vitraux Tome 2
Illustrator: William Bal
Publisher: Hachette Heroes
Coloring pages: 100
Total pages: 128, solutions included
Size: A4 (21.6 x 1.4 x 30 cm)
Printing: double-sided
Paper: premium quality
Difficulty: large areas, beginner friendly

Note for readers outside France: I could not find this book on Amazon US. You will have to order it from France.

What changed since volume 1

Three differences, and they are exactly the three that made me put volume 1 down.

There are outlines now

This is THE change. In volume 1 there were no black lines at all to separate the areas. With acrylic markers, which cover everything, the finished drawing looked poor: you had to go over it with a black marker at the end, guessing where to put lines so that something would stand out. I tried colored pencils to keep the lines visible, and even then it did not work.

William Bal added the outlines. No more flat drawings: the facets are properly defined, the result holds up on its own, and you can color with whatever you like without planning how to rescue it at the end.

The characters are no longer stained glass

In volume 1, everything was treated as stained glass, including faces and bodies. That is what made the skin of the characters look strange, and I spent my time softening the effect just to keep them readable.

Here, the stained glass stays in the backgrounds and the scenery, but the characters are drawn normally. I think it is the best possible compromise: you keep the bright, graphic feel of the style, and the character still looks like a character.

A few more shades needed

In volume 1 a very short palette was enough. Here you will need a little more. That does not make the book difficult though: the areas are still large, even if they are crossed by a lot of lines.

Which supplies to use

The printing is double-sided, so avoid alcohol markers. That is the only real constraint of this book.

Everything else works: acrylics, colored pencils, regular markers. I colored my Alice page with Tooli Art acrylic markers, and with the outlines of volume 2 they finally deliver what you expect from them on this style.

One thing to know before you start: the white areas are not blank, they contain the numbering lines. You will need a good opaque white marker to cover them properly.

My coloring, step by step

Here is page 44, Alice, from the very first stroke to about three quarters done, with Tooli Art acrylic markers.

What I liked

The artwork is gorgeous.
Much better paper quality than volume 1.
The outlines, which change everything about the final result.
Characters drawn normally inside stained glass scenery.
Large areas, so it stays beginner friendly.

What you should know

Double-sided printing: alcohol markers are best avoided.
The white areas are not blank, you need a good opaque white marker to hide the lines.
You will need slightly more color shades than for volume 1.

The solutions

Final verdict

If you were disappointed by volume 1 like I was, and you are wondering whether you will run into the same problems again, let me tell you: go for it.

This one is a success. The artwork is gorgeous, it is a real pleasure to color, and whether you use acrylics, pencils or markers, you will not regret it. This is the volume that finally gives the stained glass style what it deserved.