Each of us probably has those childhood memories of colouring with markers, paints, pencils, or just our own fingers and sculpting with clay or plasticine. But being an adult means we usually don’t have time for such activities and rarely allow ourselves to get messy with art materials.
In fact, using creativity and self-expression is proven to be therapeutic and a great method to reduce stress, improve self-esteem, increase awareness, and recharge. Regardless of your age and your skills, try to activate your creative side with these art therapy activities you can pursue at home and keep yourself calm.
Before starting art therapy activities, it’s important to pay attention to common misconceptions regarding art creation that needs to be dispelled.
Debunking The Myths
Myth 1 – “Only drawing, paintings and sculptures are identified as real art. This popular misconception must be debunked immediately, as expressing yourself can be done through many different types of art surfaces and mediums that goes greatly beyond drawings, paintings, and sculptures. Think about scrapbooking, think digital collages, think of creating greeting cards to send to loved ones, think brightening up old clothing through embroidering on beads and patches, think drawing in response to music. More ways to express yourself through artwork will be discussed later, and the many options presented will allow you to find the medium best suited to how you are feeling and what you would like to portray.
Myth 2 – “Only a few people have a true talent for art”. Since there is now a wide range of what is classed as artwork, which has allowed more people to get involved and find an area that suits them, therefore a ‘true talent’ for art does not exist. Art can be anything, and everyone will be able to find an area they are good at. Furthermore, art can be as simple or as intricate as you wish it to be, just look at the artwork in modern art galleries which is simply a block colour painted on canvas! There is no such thing as an unskilled artist, it is rather about finding a medium that suits you.
Myth 3 -” It is pointless to try creating art if you do not have a real ability for it”. The truth is, it does not matter if you are good at art or not; you just need the ability to express yourself and draw what comes to mind. Art can be made just for yourself and never shown to another person. Feel free to go wild and experiment with different techniques. As long as you enjoy it and feel a sense of accomplishment when you have finished it, art therapy will have had a positive impact on you.
Before You Start…
First thing first, you need to find a proper place for your creation, cover all carpet and furniture with old magazines or newspapers in case of a possible paint spill. Also, be sure to have healthy snacks and clean, fresh water in hand to prevent interrupting your art therapy while maintaining needed energy level and keeping you hydrated.
A good idea to take a few drops of CBD oil to help bring focus, improve mood, increase energy levels and decrease anxiety. CBD is working with the body’s endocannabinoid system and helps to support vital processes of an organism and promote homeostasis. You can find different CBD products on the CBD market, such as tinctures, capsules, vapes, and even tasty snacks like chocolate, gummies, and cookies. So, without any further delay, let’s draw attention to three ideas for your at-home art therapy.
Art Projects To Experiment With:
Design A Postcard
This is a classic art therapy technique and a good place to start if you are doing it at home. Have something on your mind? Express your thoughts on a card and try to decorate it by yourself. These can be messages of gratitude and love to the people you have wanted to confess your feelings to or an honest letter to a person that caused you pain.
But don’t worry, you don’t need to actually give or send these cards. Simply painting your feelings out can be therapeutic on its own and listing all the details helps to deal with the issue at hand and move forward. Also, designing the postcard allows you to activate different portions of the brain and relax you just like after colouring in a colouring book.
Try Out Rock Painting
While painting on anything allows focusing on one activity and simultaneously diminishing the stress of the mind and body, painting on rocks doesn’t cost a thing. Another great thing about stone painting is that if a picture doesn’t turn out as planned, you can just grab the next stone and start once again.
All you need is a set of paintbrushes, acrylic paint, and stones of different sizes from your garden or those that you can find on the street. If you can’t make it outside, you can order small to large-sized stones online that have a smooth surface and are ready for you to paint.
Update You Clothes Or Furniture
A few items of furniture at your home need a little update? Whether it is an old chair, sideboard, or table, modernising will breathe new life into your furniture while also helping to reduce stress levels. Chalk paint is an easy way to paint items that creates a soft, matte, and beautiful appearance once it’s dry. You can buy it online or make at home with YouTube tutorials using just a couple of ingredients.
What’s more, you don’t have to throw away that old pair of jeans or jacket you never wear. Why not give those clothes a new lease on life by painting or customising them with embroidered appliques? You can use special pains suitable for cloth or choose different iron-on patches to customise old clothes.
Final Comments
Hopefully, these art therapy activities will let your creative juices flow and give you a new hobby to experiment with and de-stress. Do not be disheartened with your work if it does not turn out how you would expect, but rather continue to experiment by using a different medium that may be better suited to your work or experiment with new colours. Have fun with it!
