Liberty Station’s IDW Publishing partners with Smithsonian to produce coloring books

Liberty Station-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 books 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-colored images, the books contain facts and figures from aeronautics experts of the National Air and Space Museum and 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.”

“Dinosaurs: A Smithsonian Coloring Book” is one of IDW Publishing’s new line of coloring books with the Smithsonian Institution.

(Courtesy)

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 airliners 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.”

— Point Loma-OB Monthly staff contributed to this report.