‘A Visual Coloring Guide to Newberg, Oregon’ Coloring Book Released

NEWBERG, Ore.—Newsberg’s first physical product, a 24-page coloring book featuring thick-lined illustrations inspired by its top stories of the past year, is now available locally and will soon be sold online.

A Visual Coloring Guide to Newberg, Oregon is a collaborative project between Newsberg Founding Editor Branden Andersen (that’s me) and local graphic designer (and my wife) Meryl Andersen of Made by Meryl Art. The books are priced at $10 and are currently sold at two Newberg retailers—Chapters Books & Coffee and Pulp & Circumstance—with more locations to come.

The idea for the project began during a visit with family in Washington. My niece had a collection of thick-lined illustration coloring pages that made it easier for young hands to stay within the lines and create a beautiful piece of art. Those illustrations were as fun as they were satisfying to color, standing in stark contrast to intricate “adult coloring books” with small spaces that left me feeling exhausted and frustrated midway through a page.

After attending a conference for news entrepreneurs in Chicago this past summer, I was brimming with ideas to diversify Newsberg’s offerings and further connect with the community we serve. Bonus points for creating something that inspires hometown pride and joy.

I pitched the idea to Meryl, whose graphic design expertise and familiarity with the Newsberg brand (she created our logo and other assets) made her the perfect partner for the project. Fortunately, she agreed to take it on.

We started working on the book in September, selecting pages based on Newsberg’s top stories from the past year. We began with some obvious themes: small businesses, festivals, and local food. Then we dove into specifics, like City Hall’s freeze-flood event and its resulting closure. We even included contributions from local artists Cody King (Dungeon Master’s Diary) and Joseph Hampton (Melon Collie Comics).

Each page features a collection of ready-to-color graphics, accompanied by a brief description of the story and a QR code to read more online. The goal is to create an immersive news experience that educates as much as it entertains.

The books were printed in Portland by Trade Printing, using saddle-stitched (stapled) 80-pound cardstock—durable enough to withstand most markers while still easy to flip. Personally, I use Tombow coloring pens, which don’t bleed through the pages and blend beautifully, making even a small set of 10 colors go a long way. But really, anything you’ve got around the house should work perfectly.

Ultimately, this book is a celebration of our town and the events of the past year. We’ve seen businesses open and close. New festivals have emerged, while longstanding ones have endured. Newberg continues to grow, adding another ring to its tree trunk—shaped by its past and looking forward to its future. Let’s take a collective moment to celebrate together, perhaps with a coloring pen in hand.

I’ll be at Chapters Books & Coffee for First Friday on Dec. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. to promote and sell the coloring books. Swing by to meet the creators (that’s me and Meryl) while listening to the beautiful, festive holiday songs from Newberg Brass and sipping on a warm drink. We can’t wait to see you!