Color and Create
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Self guided Art Projects:
Art Therapy Postcard Activity
Most people would probably agree that it’s easier to express or recognize hurts and regrets when there’s the distance between yourself and the problem. This is why this activity can be a good self-discovery exercise that helps answer the question, “What would I say to someone if I didn’t have to do it face-to-face?”
- Print out a postcard or use a postcard template and create one yourself. One side can be completely blank for drawing on, and one side can be laid out with some lines for writing on.
- Reflect on a situation or person you feel or felt frustrated, angry, upset, or sad about. Spend a moment simply thinking about and reflecting on what happened, how it felt, and what they would like to let the person know about how the experience made them feel.
- On the blank side of the postcard, draw or create a visual representation of how you felt or still feel about the experience. There is total freedom with this, and you can create anything they like with any materials.
- On the lined side of the postcard, you can write what they would like to say if they could.
- Use what you drew and write to explore your emotions further and discuss how you might begin to work towards a healing resolution.
Words to Live By Collage
The ‘Words to Live By’ activity helps you to visualize your core values through creative collage.
You will need:
Old magazines, newspapers, picture books, and scrap paper
Colored pens and pencils
Scissors and glue
Cardboard or thick paper for the base of the collage
Begin by:
1. Take a moment to reflect on their core values.
2. Once you have a good idea of your values, take a mindful minute. Start by closing your eyes and turn the focus to your breath. Now let the words associated with the values freely flow into your thoughts. What are these words? What are the related images or colors and shapes they feel connected to these words?
3. Once you feel ready, begin selecting images, words, phrases, or colors from the magazines and newspapers. Use these to compile a collage that you feel reflects your words to live by. This can be image-based, or entirely abstract; it’s all about how their words you them feel.
The Self-Care Box
You will need:
A box. You can create this, buy one, or find one in your home. Whichever you choose, you will also need:
- Coloring pens and pencils
- Glitter, sequins, pieces of materials like lace, etc
- Old magazines, newspapers or picture books
- Scissors and glue
- Reflect on ideas of self-care. What does it mean to you? What are some of the things, behaviors, people, or activities that help you feel good about yourself and that feel like self-care?
- Think about the emotions, feelings, words, and images or colors that these ideas for self-care evoke within you.
- These self-care boxes will be used to store small trinkets, souvenirs, and quotes that align with your ideas of self-care.
- You can then decorate your boxes to best align with your ideas of self-care. Decorate or line the box with positive affirmations. These can be self-generated, generated by friends, or found online. These can also be simply folded and put into the box to be read when needed.
- Use the box for items that provide comfort, like worry stones, pictures of friends or family, clips of quotes or poetry, pressed flowers, or treasured jewelry or mementos. You might even leave some movie vouchers or massage gift cards in the box that can be used when you feel drained and in need of self-care.