ABOUT ART RELIEF
Art Relief is a creative self-care kit that aims to help college students and young adults relieve any stress or anxiety through the process of art-making. The goal is to provide easy access to the creative activities similarly used in art therapy from the comfort of your own home. These activities can range from doodling and painting to collaging and sculpting.
SPECIAL THANK YOU
A special thank you to Emi DiSciullo, an art therapist and learning support specialist at SUNY New Paltz, who assisted with the process of this project. All prompts in this zine were created by her as well.
WHAT’S INSIDE
ACTIVITIES Zentangle Drawing Activity A View of My Day Challenge Create your Own Country 5 Minute Doodles Draw in the Dark Color Wheel Bring a Motivational Quote to Life Cut and Paste Collage Draw to Music Sculpt a Better State Give Art Therapy a Hand
PROMPTS Known/Unknown Focus/Motivation Emotions Organization/Time Management Relationships
ACTIVITIES Inspired by art therapy, these beginner level activities were compiled as a way to take a break from your hectic schedules and relieve your stress.
ZENTANGLE drawing activity
Drawing patterns that allow your brain to enter a peaceful flow state reduces anxiety and helps promote a feeling of peace, slowing down time, and allowing you to focus on the present moment. Zentangle was created with the promise that anyone can do it, even if they don’t think they can draw well enough to create something beautiful. Drawing Zentangles creates a feeling of accomplishment and helps to pass the time in a thoughtful, healing way.
Step 1: Take a moment to feel gratitude and express appreciation for the materials and the opportunity to create something beautiful. Remember that the activity is not about artistic skill or who can draw better than anyone else. There are no wrong or right ways to complete the activity. Step 2: Draw four dots, one in each corner, so the page is no longer blank and intimidating. Step 3: Next, connect the dots by drawing a light border around the edges of the paper, creating a square.
SOURCE: [https://positivepsychology.com/art-therapy/]
Step 4: Within that square, you can draw a string – a line – or multiple strings, that divides the paper into different sections. You can do this any way they like, creating as many different shapes as you like. Step 5: Now that they have a square filled with shapes, pick one shape and begin filling it in with more defined shapes, strokes, dashes, lines, or dots, keeping within the pre-drawn border. Move around the page filling in each shape with its own unique set of shapes, lines, and pen strokes. You can be as creative as you like with this, rotating the paper to suit their free-flowing creativity. This is your creative piece to shade in different ways, and use different colors if you would like to. Step 6: Keep going until you have filled the entire page.
Step 1: Choose an “Activity of the Day.” It might be your commute, a run, or a trip to the store. Step 2: Pay attention to something that interests you during your activity. Try to find the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Step 3: Create something based on your observations. Make sure to spend the same amount of time creating that you spent on your activity. Step 4: Post and share your artwork with the #ArtReliefCreations hashtag.
A VIEW OF MY DAY challenge
Artmaking can be a process that helps us slow down and observe the world around us. It’s important to remember to take time for yourself to create, especially when society is spread thin with responsibilities and overscheduling, and because of that, we’re missing so much of the real world around us. As the new year rolls around or no matter when you start (it’s never too late!), try making the time to slow down and take in the everyday moments, and think about these questions:
How often do you go through a day not taking notice of the small things? Are you truly taking in and observing your life? What gives you your sensory experience? What causes you to stop and notice the world around you taking in the sights, smells, and sounds?
SOURCE: [https://theartofeducation.edu/2018/12/28/how-to-balance-yourcommitments-with-your-creative-needs/]
PROMPTS Created by an art therapist, these creative prompts focus on stress relating to the ongoing pandemic or just daily tasks like school, work, etc.
KNOWN/UNKNOWN finding steady ground
Explore what the experience of what “waiting in the unknown” is like for you.
What does uncertainty look and feel like to you? “Dump” it out using any kind of creative expression desired. Scribbles, doodles, symbols, words, etc. are all great! What in your life is certain? How can you depict the areas that are constants or that you can depend on? Think about how to emphasize some of the certainties to stay grounded. Share commonalities, strategies or observations with friends or family if comfortable.
SOURCE: [Emi DiSciullo - Learning Support Specialist at SUNY New Paltz]
FOCUS/MOTIVATION art therapy prompt
Before you begin, take a few moments to center yourself by taking 5 or more slow, long breaths. As you breathe in and out you may want to close your eyes and concentrate on something that motivates you. Think about a goal, a time you were successful or were highly focused. On a blank piece of paper draw or trace a circle. Spend the next 10-20 minutes focusing only on this circle. Using materials of your choice, allow your creativity to flow. Don’t think about the end product, but let your creation appear spontaneously. You can draw inside and/or outside of the circle. Check in with yourself. Do you feel centered? Can you build off this focus? How does looking at your mandala make you feel? Consider creating a mini-mandala anytime you need a study break!
SOURCE: [Emi DiSciullo - Learning Support Specialist at SUNY New Paltz]
CONTENT SOURCES
Zentangle Drawing Activity [https://positivepsychology.com/art-therapy/] A View of My Day Challenge [https://theartofeducation.edu/2018/12/28/ how-to-balance-your-commitments-withyour-creative-needs/] Create your Own Country [http://www.stephmedford.com/blog/10-unusual-creativity-prompts] 5 Minute Doodles [http://www.stephmedford.com/blog/10-unusual-creativity-prompts] Draw in the Dark [https://www.thestudiodirector.com/blog/ art-therapy-activities/] Color Wheel [https://www.hercampus.com/wellness/mental-health/art-therapy-stress-relief] Bring a Motivational Quote to Life Cut and Paste Collage Draw to Music Sculpt a Better State Give Art Therapy a Hand [https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/20-art-therapy-activities-you-can-tryhome-destress.html]
IMAGES USED
Zentangle Drawing Activity [https://www.justcolor.net/diy/zentangle-tutorials/zentangle-patterns-and-tutorials/] A View of My Day Challenge [Unsplash] Known/Unknown: Finding Steady Ground [Unsplash] Focus/Motivation [Unsplash]
TYPEFACES USED
Zenon Black [Adobe Fonts] Montserrat Regular [Adobe Fonts] Montserrat Bold [Adobe Fonts]
Madelyn Ma Graphic Design BFA ‘21 SUNY New Paltz