Melanin Affirmation Art: Turning Coloring Pages Into Wall Pieces

Print on 160–200 gsm

Standard 80 gsm copy paper buckles under markers and looks thin in a frame. Anything from 160 to 200 gsm holds ink, stays flat and reads as art paper behind glass.

Limit yourself to three colours plus a metallic

Framed work reads best with restraint. Pick two skin tones, one accent for fabric and a gold or copper gel pen for jewellery and edges. The metallic is what makes it look intentional.

Pair the portrait with words in your own hand

Write a short affirmation under the portrait in the mount border — four or five words, your handwriting. It personalises the piece far more than a printed font would.

• Soft, present-tense phrasing works best.
• Keep it under six words so it does not compete with the portrait.
• Use the same metallic pen as the jewellery to tie it together.

If you would rather skip the printing

Some of the same artwork is available already printed on posters, canvases and apparel through our print-on-demand stores, if you want the finished object without the frame run.