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Check Out Chicago's Most Iconic Buildings, In Coloring Book Form

By David Matthews | February 10, 2016 5:51am | Updated on February 10, 2016 1:43pm
 The book by an Evanston artists includes 13 illustrations of some of Chicago's best-known buildings. 
Chicago Architecture Coloring Book
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CHICAGO — Kids and those who enjoy acting like one can find art therapy in a new coloring book. 

Its subject? Chicago buildings.

The "Chicago Architecture Coloring Book" published last week and is available for $8 on Etsy. Designed by a former Trader Joe's graphic artist, the book includes 13 illustrations of some of the city's best known spots from the John Hancock Center to the Chicago Theatre. 

"It's something like a meditative tool," said Travis Clement, the book's author.

Clement, of Evanston, said it took him only a few weeks to pull photos of his subjects and outline them with a fine-point Sharpie pen.

"I go full blast going three or four pages a day," he said. 


The famous clock outside the former Marshall Field's store on State Street is one drawing. [Etsy/SproutedScribbles]

The book will also sold by Foursided stores in Lakeview and Andersonville.

"We like his books because his style is easy to color for young and old, they are nicely rendered, and also because we just like him," Todd Mack, Foursided's owner, said via e-mail. "Coloring books are a hot button right now so we were thrilled to have a Chicago-themed coloring book that was well done. Easy choice."

RELATED: It's National Coloring Book Day: Guess Who's Celebrating? Grown-Ups

Coloring books have trended more popular among adults in recent years as grown-ups praise their calming value. Clement has published four such books since former colleagues at Trader Joe's convinced him to do one seven years ago. All of them are focused on cities. 

But what about the buildings? Does Clement have a favorite?

"I’m really inspired by the more historic architecture with the more detailed work," he says. "It seems they spent weeks and weeks doing floral decorations. That seems like something they gloss over with the newer stuff, like the Trump building."

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