Illustration / Coloring Book
A little coloring-book for my little friend.
![](https://julian-kuhn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hannecito-alebrijes-01-1024x1024.jpg)
![](https://julian-kuhn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hannecito-alebrijes-05-768x1024.jpg)
↑ Photo by Eda Temucin.
I thought it would be the perfect gift. Handcrafted wooden Alebrijes from Alebrijes Blas Oaxaca, Mexico. One already colored, the other still wooden. The former as a reference and inspiration. The latter an open canvas to express creativity.
![](https://julian-kuhn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hannecito-alebrijes-04-683x1024.jpg)
![](https://julian-kuhn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hannecito-alebrijes-02-1024x1024.jpg)
In order to find the right color scheme, I illustrated a little coloring-book. There many whimsical animals and creatures are accompanied by a coyote and the little magical dog from coco.
The idea was clear & the perfect design process already established:
- Freely color all the animals to train hand-eye-coordination & get a feel for color
- Copy the coyote colors into the book, to understand the patterns of alebrijes
- Come up with an own unique color-scheme for the dog
- Paint the wooden dog with acrylics
![](https://julian-kuhn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/insta-alebrijes-04-1024x1024.jpg)
![](https://julian-kuhn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hannecito-alebrijes-02-3zu2-683x1024.jpg)
Turns out this sophisticated process is too much structure for a 2-year old.
So we skipped the plan and enjoyed the process instead.
Sometimes a good intention is the best gift.