IDW Publishing partners with Smithsonian to produce coloring books

San Diego-based IDW Publishing, an industry leader in comics and graphic novels, has partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to produce a new line of coloring books.

The first out of the gate as a result of the publishing partnership are aimed at fans of aviation and paleontology: “Airplanes: A Smithsonian Coloring Book” and “Dinosaurs: A Smithsonian Coloring Book.”

Besides ready-to-be-colorized images, the books contain facts and figures from the National Air and Space Museum’s aeronautics experts and the paleontology experts from the National Museum of Natural History.

“Coloring books are a unique format that allows for exciting artistic exploration of any topic,” said editor Justin Eisinger, who works with IDW. “Pairing artists with experts from the Smithsonian’s museums allows us to create rich, immersive art for readers of all ages to color while learning about a variety of subjects.”

The 88-page “Airplanes: A Smithsonian Coloring Book” features images — drawn by John Pirtel — that depict “some of the most recognized and revered airplanes from the collection at the National Air and Space Museum,” including “the very first powered aircrafts of the 1900s, revolutionary bombers and jet fighters of the 20th century, supersonic passenger airliner, and many more.”

Also at 88 pages, “Dinosaurs: A Smithsonian Coloring Book” — with drawings by Rachel Curtis — “captures scenes featuring the herbivorous Stegosaurus, the sea-dwelling Hesperornis, the giant sauropod Camarasaurus, the mighty Tyrannosaurus, and many more.”

San Diego’s IDW Publishing has partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to produce a new line of coloring books.

(Courtesy photo)