Street Art, 53 Countries, and a Little Peace: My New Adult Coloring Book
The world is your canvas. Make it colorful.
I’ve traveled through 53 countries so far, and if there’s one thing that has remained consistent throughout my travels and life abroad, it’s my fascination with street art and graffiti.
Wherever I go, I’m looking at walls.
Down narrow alleyways, around unexpected corners, beneath bridges, and along streets that most tourists probably wouldn’t think twice about. Some of my favorite discoveries have happened simply because I took a different turn and stumbled upon something extraordinary.
For years, I’ve documented these discoveries through my travel photography blog, Tokidoki Nomad. Street art has always been one of my favorite ways to experience a city. It’s spontaneous, political, humorous, rebellious, beautiful, and sometimes completely baffling. It tells stories that don’t always make it into guidebooks.
And after years of photographing murals and graffiti around the world, I started thinking about how I could share that inspiration in a different way.
That’s how Street Art and Murals of the World: An Adult Coloring Book came about.
Two Passions, One Book
There’s another part of my background that influenced this project.
I have a Master of Education in Counseling and Guidance Psychology from Clemson University. I’ve always been interested in how people navigate stress, find balance, and create moments of calm in their everyday lives.
And let’s face it, the world doesn’t exactly make slowing down easy.
Coloring isn’t therapy, and I wouldn’t pretend that picking up a colored pencil is going to solve life’s problems. But I do believe there’s value in giving ourselves permission to disconnect from our screens, focus on something creative, and simply enjoy the process without worrying about the outcome.
Some research suggests that coloring may help with relaxation and feelings of stress, although everyone’s experience is different.
For me, the appeal is also in the freedom of it.
There are no rules about what color a building should be. No requirement to stay realistic. No pressure to create a masterpiece.
A purple sky over Berlin? Why not?
A bright orange building in Paris? Go for it.
Street artists have never been particularly interested in following the rules anyway.
Bringing the Streets of the World to Your Table
My new book features 50 original coloring illustrations inspired by street art, murals, and urban creativity from around the world.
The illustrations draw on the places, artistic styles, and visual experiences that have made my travels so memorable.
It’s a way to experience a little of that global creativity from wherever you happen to be.
The book is an 8.5 × 11-inch paperback, with single-sided coloring pages so you have room to experiment with your own ideas.
Whether you’re someone who loves graffiti, someone who dreams of traveling, or someone who simply enjoys spending a quiet afternoon coloring, I hope you’ll find something here that speaks to you.
From Tokidoki Nomad to a New Creative Series
This book is also the beginning of The Tokidoki Nomad Adult Coloring Book Series.
After 53 countries—and counting—I certainly haven’t run out of places, stories, or inspiration.
I’ve spent a significant part of my life moving between countries, teaching, photographing, exploring, and learning from the places and people around me. Creating books inspired by those experiences feels like a natural extension of that journey.
And I like the idea of taking something as public, unpredictable, and energetic as street art and turning it into something personal and reflective.
A mural belongs to the street. But once you start coloring one of these illustrations, it becomes your own interpretation.
That’s the fun of it.
A Little Art. A Little Travel. A Little Peace.
I created this book because I wanted to bring together things that have mattered to me throughout my life: travel, creativity, cultural exploration, and an appreciation for those moments when we allow ourselves to slow down.
Nothing complicated. Nothing overly serious.
Just 50 opportunities to pick up some colors, explore a little of the world, and make something your own.
Street Art and Murals of the World: An Adult Coloring Book is available now on Amazon.
Paperback | 8.5 × 11 inches | 50 illustrations | $7.77 USD
And if you’re new to Tokidoki Nomad, have a look around the blog. You’ll find years of street art, graffiti, and travel photography from cities around the world—the inspiration behind this latest project.
Here’s to more countries, more walls, more art, and whatever comes next.
The world is your canvas. Make it colorful.
— Jacqueline Hadel
Tokidoki Nomad
