Compared to the other coloring books by Johanna Basford, this one is the most detailed. Some parts are so tiny I don't know how I won't go over the lines (but that's okay!) I just want to give a fair warning for people with arthritis or shakiness. In my opinion this is the most beautiful and stunning book. Usually I find maybe ten pages that I can't wait to color. But with this one I'm excited for them all. If you're looking for a less detailed book I would suggest the jungle.
One thing I've learned is that you need to love what you're coloring. I bought a generic adult coloring book at the grocery store thinking it would be fun. I colored a bit of one page, put it down, never touched it again. I think about coloring Lost Ocean and can't wait.
Its such a calming activity.
One feature about this book is the very long folded page at the end. I didn't think I would like it because I only color in my lap while in bed. But after seeing the details of the two sided pictures I changed my mind. I plan on coloring the entire page and put it up on the wall. Yes its that pretty!
I use gel pens with these books, its just what I prefer. They are bright pretty colors. Mentioned in the Jungle book, the introduction advises colored pencils as the best choice. It says gel pens aren't the best idea because they aren't blendable, plus smudges, and even says don't press too hard. Here's the thing though, I found a 120 gel pen set for very cheap on Amazon. Some colors are blendable but not all. I don't need blending anyways because I have every color I would ever need! Plus they come in neon, pastel, glitter and matalic for making things pop out! I love shading, contrasting, and blending. If you have enough colors nothing can hold you back, I have enough. I let the page dry before closing the book and I'm careful about where to start coloring as not to smudge with my wrist. The gel pens have never seeped through any pages, no matter how hard I press. Plus they don't have to be sharpened every few minutes which could drive me nuts!
I first saw these books at Michael's. They were too expensive for my taste so I happily purchased here for cheaper. My first one was Secret Garden. While I adored the drawings, I disliked the writing and encouragement to get me to draw my own designs. Im very good at drawing but I just want to color. It defeats the purpose and was a waste of paper because I didn't draw my own designs when it prompted me to. So I'm glad that Lost ocean doesn't have this. The Secret Garden also had a maze that really look like its for kids. If you like detailed coloring I definitely recommend this one. But I think once you try one you'll most likely get the whole collection. I hope she comes out with more in the future although it will take me a LONG time to finish one book. I'm a stay at home mom so I'm lucky to get an hour to color. If I had more time on my hands I'd probably be halfway done by now. I'm just happy I find time to do this AT ALL!
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Frequently bought together
$16.00
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
In Stock
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the Publisher
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
1:10
Click to play video
Watch Before Buying - Pros & Cons of This Coloring Book!
Smith House
Videos for this product
0:58
Click to play video
Beautiful coloring books to help with stress
Take Time To Create
Videos for this product
0:14
Click to play video
Lost Ocean: An Inky Adventure and Coloring Book
Merchant Video
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Reviews with images
Another Fantastic Coloring Journey – this time into the Ocean Deep
Johanna Basford is the designer who started my hobby of adult coloring books with her genre defining book, “Secret Garden” and her equally fantastic follow-up “Enchanted Forest”. With her newest book, “Lost Ocean”, she builds upon the stunningly beautiful and extremely intricate designs that I have come to expect from her.The subject of the coloring book is the ocean. There are so many designs, including: sailing ships, mermaids, fish, sea mammals, jellyfish, and shipwrecks and more flora of the deep than I can count, each page is a wonderful experience in coloring. There seems to be about 80 designs to color which is less than in both of her earlier books. The book is also a hunt for hidden items and there is a key for what you are looking for as well as where they can be found. There is a picture of an octopus that reminds me way too much of Homer Simpson. I may have to color its head yellow with white and blue tentacles.The one disappointing thing about this book is the paper. It seemed that the artist and publisher had finally understood the need for thicker and/or better paper. Recent versions of “Secret Garden” had improved paper – so much so, that this note is now included at the top of the page in all italics and with caps “Good news for all SECRET GARDEN fans! All editions of SECRET GARDEN now feature thicker and heavier paper stock, fighting bleed-through from ink pens.” From my point of view, one would think “Lost Ocean” would have the upgraded paper. It does not. In fact, it does not even have the same publisher. The paper is thinner and is worse and not as good as the last book. Maybe that is because of the change in publisher, but the artist and her staff should have verified what grade of paper was being used. The artwork makes up for this but I really wish an artist of this caliber's work was presented in the best possible way.The book (except for a single four page spread design at the back of the book) it is not perforated and almost every marker I have bleeds through. I can use my pencils and my gel pens. As with her previous books, the designs are printed on both sides of the paper.As I know that I love to use my markers, I have already purchased a second copy of the book so I don't have to choose a medium based on what happens to the backside of my page. I don't do this for many books, but I have found that I prefer to do so with Ms. Basford's as I want to color every page. I decided to purchase the UK version of the book as my second copy as I have heard that it uses a heavier weight paper than the US version. As I am disappointed in the paper in the US version, I'm curious to see the difference between the two when it arrives in 2-3 weeks.I was so pleased to find this book and my new, relaxing hobby of coloring. I design needlework for my “day job” but that contains a lot of stress (deadlines, trying to perfect the pattern, etc.) Coloring has become my way of relaxing at the end of a day (with music in the background, too!) I find that it helps me fall asleep with an easier mind.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2016
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2016
There are also many "hidden items" throughout the book, which adds another little level of fun.
I haven't colored this artist's other books (Secret Garden or Enchanted Forest), so I can't speak to how this book compares to those two, but this book has been very enjoyable for me so far.
In regards to the pencils used... When we first started looking into this and reading about the different brands and qualities out there, I felt a bit overwhelmed. I ended up going cheap because I didn't feel like there was a need for someone at my level to have $100 pencils. I bought the Cra-Z-Art pack of 72 colored pencils, and I'm very happy with that purchase as well. No duplicate colors, plenty of selection, and low cost.
I haven't attempted blending with solvents yet, so I can't speak very well to how the paper holds up to things like OMS (Odorless Mineral Spirits), but once I get around to trying it out I'll update my review.
I've included a couple pictures. One page I've colored with the pencils mentioned above, a zoomed in image of the same picture, and then some non-colored pages I especially like in this book.
I would easily recommend this to anyone looking at trying out the coloring book thing. It's a good one with a TON of content.
UPDATE:
If you look at the colored-in page, you'll notice the blacks colored with colored pencils is really not that black. I decided to try using those G2 gel pens (since I already had a couple size 10 (or "Bold") on-hand). The ink flowed incredibly smooth on the paper, the paper absorbed it well, and to my pleasant surprise the ink did not bleed through to the other side. I have decided to order a wide array of G2 gel pen colors, and have included some links below to different types.
I've also uploaded an update of the colored-in page after using the gel pens for the black shapes so you can see the difference it made.
I have not, however, tried to see what happens with these pens if you try to blend with solvents, which I will do as soon as I receive the other colors I've ordered.
Links to G2 Gel Pen Sets (all size 07, or "Fine"):
BLACK G2 Gel Pens:
[[ASIN:B00006JNJ8 Pilot G2 Retractable Premium Gel Ink Roller Ball Pens, Extra Fine Point, Black Ink, Dozen Box (31002)]]
ASSORTED COLORS G2 Gel Pens:
[[ASIN:B00N5IO30W Pilot G2 Assorted Colors Gel Pen 20 Count]]
METALLIC ASSORTED COLORS (with WHITE) G2 Gel Pens:
[[ASIN:B00OIM23TC Pilot G2 Metallics Gel Roller Pens, Fine Point, Assorted Color Inks, 8-Pack Pouch (34405)]]
A lot of fun for someone looking to get into advanced coloring books, and has a TON of content.
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2016
This book has been a lot of fun. With the whole coloring books for adults thing taking off, my wife and I decided to try it out. I picked this book up for myself. There's about 35 pages, and they're all double-sided so you've got around 70 pages to color. The paper quality seems very nice. Much better than something like printer paper. It has a cardstock feel to it, and it grabs the pigment from the pencils very well.Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2016
There are also many "hidden items" throughout the book, which adds another little level of fun.
I haven't colored this artist's other books (Secret Garden or Enchanted Forest), so I can't speak to how this book compares to those two, but this book has been very enjoyable for me so far.
In regards to the pencils used... When we first started looking into this and reading about the different brands and qualities out there, I felt a bit overwhelmed. I ended up going cheap because I didn't feel like there was a need for someone at my level to have $100 pencils. I bought the Cra-Z-Art pack of 72 colored pencils, and I'm very happy with that purchase as well. No duplicate colors, plenty of selection, and low cost.
I haven't attempted blending with solvents yet, so I can't speak very well to how the paper holds up to things like OMS (Odorless Mineral Spirits), but once I get around to trying it out I'll update my review.
I've included a couple pictures. One page I've colored with the pencils mentioned above, a zoomed in image of the same picture, and then some non-colored pages I especially like in this book.
I would easily recommend this to anyone looking at trying out the coloring book thing. It's a good one with a TON of content.
UPDATE:
If you look at the colored-in page, you'll notice the blacks colored with colored pencils is really not that black. I decided to try using those G2 gel pens (since I already had a couple size 10 (or "Bold") on-hand). The ink flowed incredibly smooth on the paper, the paper absorbed it well, and to my pleasant surprise the ink did not bleed through to the other side. I have decided to order a wide array of G2 gel pen colors, and have included some links below to different types.
I've also uploaded an update of the colored-in page after using the gel pens for the black shapes so you can see the difference it made.
I have not, however, tried to see what happens with these pens if you try to blend with solvents, which I will do as soon as I receive the other colors I've ordered.
Links to G2 Gel Pen Sets (all size 07, or "Fine"):
BLACK G2 Gel Pens:
[[ASIN:B00006JNJ8 Pilot G2 Retractable Premium Gel Ink Roller Ball Pens, Extra Fine Point, Black Ink, Dozen Box (31002)]]
ASSORTED COLORS G2 Gel Pens:
[[ASIN:B00N5IO30W Pilot G2 Assorted Colors Gel Pen 20 Count]]
METALLIC ASSORTED COLORS (with WHITE) G2 Gel Pens:
[[ASIN:B00OIM23TC Pilot G2 Metallics Gel Roller Pens, Fine Point, Assorted Color Inks, 8-Pack Pouch (34405)]]
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Juliana Torres
Livro lindo
Reviewed in Brazil on July 20, 2023
Juliana Torres
Reviewed in Brazil on July 20, 2023
O defeito é que veio em uma caixa, solto, e poderia ter chegado amassado, que pelo preço, não deveria.
Images in this review
Melissa Dawson
Beautiful book with intricate colouring
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 12, 2024
Melissa Dawson
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 12, 2024
Everything is beautiful from the covers to the story to follow and animals to find.
Images in this review
