Maybe you’ve seen a coloring challenge online and thought, okay, that actually looks fun. That’s usually all it takes to want to switch things up a little, reach for colors you wouldn’t normally choose, and see where the page goes. These 6 beginner-friendly ideas keep things fun, flexible, and easy to make your own. 

Rainbow Blocking Challenge

Rainbow color blocking divides the page into wide rainbow sections. Think of each section as a color zone: everything in the red zone uses red shades, everything in the orange zone uses orange shades, and so on.

You can recognize this style by its clear red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple sections.

How to try it:

• Choose the direction of your rainbow. Go across the page horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. 
• Lightly divide the page into wide sections. 
• Assign one color family to each section and color everything inside each section.  

Tips:

• Keep the dividing lines light. A pencil guide should be easy to erase or cover later. 
• Swatch the colors in order first. This helps you check whether neighboring colors look smooth together. 
  
  

Color Split Challenge

A color split challenge divides one coloring page into two or more clear sections. Each section follows its own color palette, mood, season, or time of day.

You can recognize this style by the visible change in color across the page. When an object crosses the dividing line, each side of the object follows the palette of the section it is in.

How to try it:

• Step 1: Split the page vertically or horizontally with a light pencil line.
• Step 2: Choose one color palette for each side.
• Step 3: Color each side with its own palette, switching colors at the center line.
• Step 4: Add shadows and highlights, then erase any pencil marks. 

Tips:

• Lightly draw the dividing line with a pencil so it can be erased or covered later. 
• Choose the palettes before coloring. For example, use warm colors on one side and cool colors on the other. 
  
  

Monochromatic Coloring Challenge

A monochromatic coloring challenge uses one main color across the whole page. Instead of repeating the exact same shade, you work with lighter and darker versions of that color to separate objects and add depth.

For example, a blue page might include pale blue for highlights, medium blue for larger areas, and deep navy for shadows. The page still feels varied, but everything stays within one color family.

Tips:

• Choose a color family with several shades already available in your marker or pencil set.  
• Pick at least three shades: light, medium, and dark. 
• Use the lightest shade on bright areas and small highlights.  
• Save the darkest shade for shadows, outlines, and tiny details. 
  
  

Two-Color Challenge

A two-color challenge, sometimes called a two-marker challenge, means coloring the full page with only two main colors. You can still use lighter and darker shades of those colors to separate objects, build contrast, and keep the page from looking flat. 

Tips:

• Give one color a larger role and use the second as an accent. A roughly 70/30 balance often feels easier than splitting them evenly. 
• Use lighter shades on larger areas and save darker shades for shadows or small details.  
• Swatch both color groups first to see how they look together. 
• Neutral white space can help the two colors stand out, so every small area does not have to be filled. 
  
  

Three-Color Challenge

A three-color challenge keeps the whole page within three main color families. Compared with a two-color challenge, the third color gives you a little more room to separate objects and create a clear focal point while the palette still feels connected.

For example, if you choose orange, yellow, and blue, you can use light, medium, and dark shades of all three colors. As long as every shade still comes from orange, yellow, or blue, the page will keep that clear three-color look.

Tips:

• Choose three colors that are easy to tell apart. 
• Use light and dark shades to separate nearby objects. 
  
  

Grayscale with a Pop of Color

Most of the page stays in gray, while one character, object, or small area gets the color. That contrast is what makes the colored part stand out right away.

The pop can use one bright color or a small palette, but it should stay limited enough that the grayscale background still feels like the main part of the page.

Tips:

• Use medium gray for most objects. Add light gray to brighter areas and dark gray to shadows. 
• Lightly mark the colorful areas with a pencil first. This can help you plan the pop of color before you start, especially when it is hard to choose which parts should stand out. 
  
  

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