Art Director Jacqueline Epps Makes “Cursed” Coloring Book

What started out as an argument with a friend turned into a beautiful (and profane) coloring book. We sit down with Art Director Jacqueline Epps to ask her about this unique project, and get advice about making your dreams a reality.

What is the process of going from an idea to a finished product? What is your advice to others who have a great idea but aren’t sure where to start in turning it into a reality?
I’ve been receiving this question often. When you have a vision or an idea, the first thing you want to do is retain as much knowledge as possible about that idea. Nothing is new under the sun so there is no value in reinventing the wheel. What you want to do is figure out what you can do to make the wheel better.

Research and organization such as strategy boards are extremely important throughout your process. The more knowledge you have, the better your chances are of creating a product that could potentially become in demand. Putting your thoughts on paper or on post-it notes help you see your plan. Your plan could include knowing your target, what’s relevant in the world, and what isn’t. Being price competitive. Those things can help get you started.

You also have to be patient. Someone once said to me, “slow motion is better than no motion,” so be prepared to wait for the success. It doesn’t happen overnight. You have to remain dedicated if you believe in your vision.

Focus on the idea first. The money will come but it’s important that you focus on the craft of the project and finishing it thoroughly so you won’t find yourself rushing through it and messing things up. Take your time.

Don’t let fear and self-doubt lead the way! Most people are afraid they will fail. As long as you’re trying you’re not failing. Your focus should be on consumers who love your product, not the ones who don’t. So don’t worry about trying to convince them. Don’t be afraid of criticism. It’s just a small part of the experience. The most successful people have the worst critics but it doesn’t prevent them from succeeding.

How did you background as an art director help you when creating the book? I’ll always be an artist first. Inspiration was the driving force behind this project. As for art direction, I’ve learned how to tell a story with consistency. I also pay attention to the details more. But really it’s bigger than my title. It’s agency life experience that I gained most of my knowledge from in getting the work in a solid place.

Are there any health benefits of swearing?
 Hell yes! As a matter of fact, according to articles including TIME magazine, Men’s Health, and the Elite Daily, swearing is just a “harmless emotional release” and “Psychologists at England’s Keele University say cursing is a harmless, creative emotional release that can make you feel stronger,” the Daily Mail reports. Basically, they argue that profanity is often used as a coping mechanism and can help us “feel more resilient.” So, you actually feel a sense of empowerment. However, with that comes responsibility. Constantly abusing these words are not healthy for anyone and there is a time and place for it. That’s why I created a safe and controlled environment to express this style of content.

Can you tell us a bit about your inspiration for creating the book?
 That’s easy, a friend of mine made me very angry one day I and thought to myself “I feel like coloring but I don’t feel like coloring flowers and snowflakes, I want to color ‘F&#! You!'” and then I said, “F… this, I can make my own effing coloring book” (I was pretty livid at the time) and a surge of inspiration took over and that’s how the book was born. We’re still good friends by the way 😊

In all seriousness, this book is less about shock value and more about being human. All of us have been in positions where we couldn’t express ourselves in a way that would release stress. Instead we just implode in anger and frustration. I didn’t make this book for myself I made this book for you. This is your book to color, journal, and simply vent!

The book has some pretty cool “bleed blockers,” which sets it apart from other coloring books on the market. What’s the idea behind this? How do the bleed blockers work?
This book was created out of complete empathy – from the content to functionality. I was aware that people like to use different mediums like markers and instead of searching for pieces of scrap paper, I simply provided it for them. It’s one less thing to stress about.

The bleed blockers act as extra pieces of scrap paper, so when you use marker, it’ll catch most of the bleeds. It’s not Fort Knox but it’s helpful for people who prefer markers over color pencils and gel pens.

How did you come up with the “Dirty Doodle” template pages?  
How do they work?
The templates were made so people can have the flexibility to use their own imagination whether they want to journal, draw, color, or whatever, it’s made for them to unleash their inner creativity. I didn’t want to dictate what they should color or draw throughout the entire book. I wanted people to have that control.

Where can your book be purchased?
My book is available through Amazon, Amazon Prime, Amazon UK, Amazon Europe and the e-store. I’m looking forward having copies available in certain retail shops in the near future.

Where can people preview your book?
They can explore some of the pages on

If you sum up one thing about your book in a single sentence, what would it be? Don’t be perfect. Be human.

Social Media:
IG: @artistjacquelinemonique  FB: Boredroombooks TW: @ArtistJacquiM