I’ve always liked to draw and color, but I never thought I was particularly good at it. Like most kids, I doodled in school and enjoyed art in general, but I didn’t see myself as “talented.” I just liked it. And I definitely didn’t set out to create coloring pages—it kind of found me.
It All Started With Sidney
The real spark behind my coloring page journey was my oldest niece, Sidney. She’s 25 now, but when she was little, she was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. I wanted to find a way to connect with her more, and realized that the one thing she always loved was coloring and drawing. Coloring together became our thing.
I started drawing simple sketches—sometimes freehand, sometimes geometric—and mailing them to her on 8.5″ x 11″ card stock. Occasionally, I’d try an animal, even though I wasn’t great at it. It wasn’t about perfection—it was about creating something we could share.
Originals, Copies, and an “Aha!” Moment
About a year later, I visited her and saw my drawings hanging on her wall—untouched. When I asked her mom why Sidney hadn’t colored them, her answer surprised me. Because the drawings were originals, they wanted to preserve them. That’s when it hit me: instead of giving away my original art, I could scan it and make copies. Problem solved—and connection preserved.
A Family-Wide Tradition
By then, I had a whole crew of coloring-age nieces and nephews—three 8-year-olds, a 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3-year-old. So I started scanning my drawings and emailing them to the parents, or printing out batches to share when I visited. It gave me a simple but meaningful way to connect with all of them—no matter where they lived. And that’s really how SketchyJess was born. Not from a grand vision, but from coloring with my family.
Why i keep creating
These pages are more than drawings to me. They’re a way to connect. Whether it’s a quiet moment with a coloring book or a shared art session at the kitchen table, I believe creativity is a powerful tool for bonding. It can also be a great way for anyone to relax.
If you’re looking for printable coloring pages, you’re in the right place! Subscribe to my weekly email here and let the coloring begin!
Thanks for being here! It means a lot. ❤
️Jess
