Overcoming stress, either arising from daily chores of life or lack of motivation and self-esteem, art therapy has worked wonders for many.
In comparison to other forms of therapy that rely on verbal language, art takes a drift bordering heavily on both abstract as well as non-abstract forms of communication. And, therein lay the beauty of art in beating stress as it offers ample room for the subconscious that records the interplay of emotions rooting for the best channel to come out.
So, for anyone who wants to embrace art to de-stress, he or she doesn't have to be an artist. As a matter of fact, the majority of art exercises never rely on the final output but the process instead. It's the joy of creating that renders a meditative and therapeutic impact on people's minds.
In this post, we introduce you to three awesome ways to use art to cut down stress levels and usher moments of joy.
How About Some Postcard Love?
Postcards incite nostalgia like nothing else. They were the primary medium of communication long before emails and phones came in, and for some people continue to be so to date. Whether it's a confession of feelings for someone, or an urgent note, or a rather nasty rant, writing letters renders a timeless charm.
Now, while writing does have its own therapeutic effect, decorating a postcard takes the game up a notch. As a de-stressing activity, start by designing significant portions of a postcard that you won't send out to anyone eventually.
It's more like using a coloring book. By all means, go crazy–bring in those glitters, color out portions in bright hues, cut out shapes, paste stickers atop, do whatever your heart tells you. Designing multiple sections of a postcard lights up core areas of the brain as you focus on the details. Thus, it not only helps one to de-stress but also boosts concentration levels.
The Bliss Of Blind Drawing
Sometimes, when creating art to de-stress oneself, things might just leave you more stressed. Especially, when you sit out to judge and criticize your work. This is where blind drawing cuts in.
As the name suggests, blind drawing is all about drawing without seeing. So, instead of focusing on tone, value, shadows, and highlights within a painting, just let your hands do the thing in complete darkness. You might as well use blindfolds if you can't sit in a dark room or have trouble keeping your eyes shut for a long time.
Blind drawing is a great exercise to free oneself from self-criticism and open up to one's emotions. If you feel like drawing a circle or a rectangle, just draw it. With blind drawing, you are free to create any shape, lines, patterns and don't need to have a restrained outlook. When you take off the folds or switch on the lights, you will be amazed to witness the fine abstract art you have created by relying on your emotions and listening to your heart.
Have Fun With The “Zentangle”
Invented by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts, the Zentangle is a drawing method that celebrates human error to deduce a meditative impact for one and all.
You start with a piece of paper and cut it into a square of 3.5 inches.
Next, start a freehand drawing of a border around the edges lightly (Use a 2H pencil).
Then, use a 2B pencil to further draw “squiggles” (curved lines) referred to as “strings”.
Lastly, use a pen to draw shapes and patterns (tangles, as they are called) around the squiggles to complete your Zentangle.
One thing to keep in mind is that there's no going back and forth and no erasing as it would defy the purpose of a Zentangle. This activity is specifically designed to use art as a ritual where human error is welcomed naturally. The process hardly takes 12-15 minutes and can be repeated to beat stress now and then. A good idea would be to cut a bunch of 3.5 squares at one go and keep them handy.
So, don't wait up!
If you are intrigued by art and have always wondered how to use it to de-stress yourself, this is your cue.
If you or you know someone who might benefit from therapy, do reach out to us at Manoshala
By
Ipsit Roy, Artist, Writer Manoshala
Reviewed by
Bhavya P. Counselling psychologist, Manoshala