It’s true that art can be therapeutic, no matter what you make or how you choose to express yourself. If you’re looking to find some peace of mind and reduce stress in your life, give art-making a try! You might find that you enjoy it—and even feel better overall.

Art really can be therapeutic.

Art is a great way to express your feelings and connect with others. Expressing yourself through art can help you feel better, it can relieve stress.

Art therapy is different than regular art because you are using it as a tool for healing rather than just creating something beautiful and/or interesting. You can see a professional Art Therapist to facilitate this process, but there’s also something to be said for just experimenting with art play yourself as part of your own self-care.

Experiment with ways to use art as therapy.

You may find that using art as a form of therapy is more effective after you’ve tried a few different ways to create and display your artwork. This can be done in many ways: try out different art forms, mediums or styles. You could even use a different method of displaying your art—or start creating something new entirely! For example, you could have a frame up on one of your walls that you change out regularly with whatever new artwork you’ve created.

Embrace your creativity.

If you’re going through a rough time and need to let off some steam, art is a great way to do it. In art therapy, it is the practice of working with imagery and creativity as a way to make sense of what you’re feeling and help overcome mental health issues or trauma. So the therapeutic benefits are obvious, but art can generally be an outlet for self-expression for everyone, which can lead to greater self-awareness. Embracing your creativity by exploring new techniques (like painting on an actual canvas if you’ve never done so) or honing in on one style (like charcoal drawings or linocut printing). You may even discover an entirely new artistic medium that speaks to you if you have some fun experimenting!

Set aside time for art.

Don’t think of art as a chore or a hassle, but as a way to relax and de-stress. Art can be used to express yourself and explore new ideas. It’s a creative outlet that can help you feel good about your life in general, which is perfect for people who are struggling with mental health issues.  I know when I’m really anxious or stressed, picking up a pencil or paint brush is truly like meditation to me.

If you need some inspiration, try taking an art class, read up on various styles of arts or search for art tutorials on YouTube to follow along with. Or pick up some blank paper and just start making marks on it with a pen, pencil, or whatever you have handy – you never know where it might lead.

It’s good to have a routine, but don’t get stuck in one.

One of the best ways to continue improving your art is to find a routine. It’s good to have a set schedule that allows you to practice daily, but don’t get stuck with one way of doing things. If you want to try something new, don’t be afraid! Try new materials or techniques, or even change up your space and see if it affects how you work.  I love working in my studio, but I also love to sit outside on my patio in the fresh air and create art.  Don’t be scared to shake things up a bit.

Let go of expectations and pressure.

The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to be perfect and your final creation doesn’t have to be either. You don’t need to get it right the first time, or even the second time. In fact, practising something over and over again is how people get better at anything — including art!

When I first started creating art again about 15 years ago, I was so worried about what people would think if my work didn’t look good or wasn’t perfect. I hadn’t really created art since school because of those worries – and I was really missing out.  So what if someone said they didn’t like my art? Would I really let it ruin my day? Or will I lose friends because they hate what I draw? I think not.  So usually, with my personal art projects, I just create for myself and my own enjoyment. I don’t tend to think about what others will think about it. And I even enjoy posting my art on instagram for others to enjoy as well and to be honest, I’ve done this for years and have never once received any hurtful comments.  Most people are kind and encouraging.

Use colour psychology to improve your mood.

Colour psychology is the study of how we perceive different colours and how we can use colour to influence mood, feelings and attitudes. Colour psychology can be used to help improve your mood by choosing colours that are associated with positive feelings.

For example, blue or green are known for their calming effect on the mind and body. So if you want to feel more relaxed, try creating art using blues or greens.

On the other hand, be careful with red, as this is a colour that can have an intense effect on people’s emotions—it’s associated with excitement, anger, passion, sexuality, and wariness among other things—so it may not be the ideal colour choice if you’re trying to calm yourself down!

Also take care when using black, which tends to make us think negatively about things because it’s often used as a symbol of death or evilness.  A little may be ok, but maybe try using another colour instead, like navy or grey, if possible!

If it feels like a chore, do something else instead.

If it feels like a chore, do something else instead. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, chances are good that you won’t keep doing it for long. And if the particular art process you’re using isn’t enjoyable or meaningful to you—if it feels like work—it may not even provide any real benefit to you.  So try something else – if you’re not enjoying using coloured pencils, try oil pastels or watercolours. Experimenting with different media will hopefully help you to discover a favourite medium or style that will be a joy to play around with, rather than being hard work.

Don’t limit yourself to traditional materials and tools.

Lots of people are intimidated by the idea of creating art, so they never start.  But there is no right or wrong way to create art. In fact, you can use anything you have lying around—from paper to glue sticks or crayons to paints. Just keep trying different materials and techniques until something clicks for you. The key is experimenting with different tools until one feels right for you.

There are many different types of art you can do: drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking (any method where an image is created by pressing pigment onto a surface), photography (capturing an image on film), collage (combining pre-existing images onto another surface)…the possibilities are endless! Don’t worry about being good at any of them either; creativity doesn’t require perfectionism—it just requires a creative person like YOU being willing to give it a go!

Take breaks regularly and consciously.

You should take breaks from your art-making when you feel stressed, tired or bored.

These are all signs that it’s time for a break. You can’t expect to be productive if you’re not in the right headspace! The best way to know if you need a break is by paying attention to your body and mind during the creative process. If there’s an itch in your shoulder or an ache in your neck, these are signs of tension and stress that will only get worse if ignored – so stop what you’re doing, stretch out those muscles and then return with fresh eyes on whatever project is causing problems (or even ditch it and find something else altogether).

Sometimes breaks are necessary because they give us time away from our work so we can come back rejuvenated and ready to put more energy into our project. Sometimes breaks are used as a procrastination tactic, but either way they’re still important, allowing us to rest mentally.

Build an art-filled life for yourself.

Art is more than just a fun hobby or a way to pass the time. For me it’s an essential part of human life and I love to incorporate it into my life as much as possible.

For many people, art is just something they do in their spare time; it’s not really necessary to their day-to-day living. But for those like me who do find healing and comfort through artistic expression, art can be the difference between enjoying life and suffering through it. If you want to build an art-filled life for yourself but don’t know where to start, here are some quick tips:

Find what inspires you creatively – There are many ways that people express themselves artistically: painting or drawing; music or singing; writing poems; playing instruments and telling stories by acting out scenes from movies; making pottery or woodworking. Whatever medium speaks most strongly to you needs exploring further, so just get started asap!

Join groups that focus on specific art forms – Whether it means joining a facebook group or attending professional workshops, there will always be opportunities available where you can learn and be inspired by a creative community!  The process of making art doesn’t have to be a solitary thing; in fact, if you’re feeling isolated or alone at any time in your life, making friends with other artists through an art class or group might be the perfect way to connect with people who understand what it means to be an artist.

A gentle reminder to express yourself through art.

So, take this as a gentle reminder that art is one of the best ways to express yourself and connect with others. It can be joyful and therapeutic, and it doesn’t even have to be anything more than that! Art is for everyone—not just for those who were born with natural talent or are trained in it. Just start creating!

Jennifer xo

‘Never Stop Dreaming!’