I am firm believer in the power of animals to heal people and also the power of expressive art as a form of therapy. Anything that allows people to explore and observe their feelings through the creative process of making art gets a big two thumbs up from me. By engaging your focus on creative or artistic ventures you can literally detach from all of the stress and worry in your life, so it is not only healing but also restorative and rejuvenating to engage in regular forms of art therapy.
Another reason that art therapy is so effective is because it is wildly liberating, there are literally no rules when it comes to art. You can explore, play and just have fun without worrying about the 'hows' or the 'what's.' There is no such thing as 'good' or 'bad' art, so you don't need to edit yourself or worry about not getting it right, you can allow yourself to be completely lost in the process of creating. And art comes in so many forms so there is bound to be a medium that you can use comfortably.
Every child and adult (and some animals too) can access art therapy, it is completely inclusive and accessible to all levels of ability and in successful cases it has helped people to heal, clear, grow empathetically, develop mindfulness, de-stress, reconnect with themselves or loved ones, express their emotions and release past mental blocks.
And the best part of all is that it is easy to access and also a relatively cheap alternative to other forms of therapy. And you can start using it right away as a way to declutter your mind and calm your breathing. Here is a list of some easy ways that you can kick off your own art therapy sessions at home without having to invest too much effort or money.
Adult Colouring Books: These are everywhere now and cheap as chips to buy. Sometimes called 'Mindful Colouring Books' these are terrific for people that find it hard to know where to begin and can be used as launch pad for more free form art therapy techniques. They can be coloured with pencils, crayons or textas and you don't even have to stay in the lines!
Free Form Drawing/ Scribbling: On top of pencils, crayons and textas, try exploring pens, fineliners, pastels, chalks or even basic paints. It doesn't need to be a picture of anything, you can just add line without form or even close your eyes. Try left and right hand scribbling, use different paper and cardboard mediums and feel free to use your hands and fingers with chalks, charcoals and paints to really engage with your creation.
Journalling: You can really mix up your mediums here and incorporate writing, collaging and art in your expressions. Use old magazines to find an image that you relate to and expand from there. You can also use stamps, stickers, stencils and washi tapes to highlight, define or add layers to your work.
Apps: There are some terrific drawing and colouring apps that you can access for free on your tablet or device. Photography apps that allow you to add art and manipulate photos can be a fun way to express your emotions and create something original.
Sculpture: You don't have to have access to a pottery wheel, kiln and clay to sculpt. You could use salt dough or papier mache instead which is actually a lot cheaper. Try using other 3D materials that you may already have around the house in your sculptures as well like wool, thread, wood, string, felt, buttons, ribbons or old clothing material. There are no limits to the amount of mixed mediums that you can add to your designs.
Nature Art: If you have never seen the work of Andy Goldsworthy, do yourself a favour and check him out immediately. He is the king of natural art, and should provide you with some inspiration to get outdoors and start using nature as an art medium. Rocks, sticks, leaves, grasses, flowers, petals, moss and stones can all become the mediums in the most beautiful and therapeutic art expressions.
So there you go, a list of easy cheap ways to kick start some at home art therapy. Just 30 minutes a day of tuning out your thoughts and engaging in a creative process can make the world of difference and really reduce your stress and anxiety levels, so why not give art therapy a go? Go grab your materials, turn on some music and get lost for a while in some form of art expression, you might be surprised by just how much you'll really love it!
Another reason that art therapy is so effective is because it is wildly liberating, there are literally no rules when it comes to art. You can explore, play and just have fun without worrying about the 'hows' or the 'what's.' There is no such thing as 'good' or 'bad' art, so you don't need to edit yourself or worry about not getting it right, you can allow yourself to be completely lost in the process of creating. And art comes in so many forms so there is bound to be a medium that you can use comfortably.
Every child and adult (and some animals too) can access art therapy, it is completely inclusive and accessible to all levels of ability and in successful cases it has helped people to heal, clear, grow empathetically, develop mindfulness, de-stress, reconnect with themselves or loved ones, express their emotions and release past mental blocks.
And the best part of all is that it is easy to access and also a relatively cheap alternative to other forms of therapy. And you can start using it right away as a way to declutter your mind and calm your breathing. Here is a list of some easy ways that you can kick off your own art therapy sessions at home without having to invest too much effort or money.
Adult Colouring Books: These are everywhere now and cheap as chips to buy. Sometimes called 'Mindful Colouring Books' these are terrific for people that find it hard to know where to begin and can be used as launch pad for more free form art therapy techniques. They can be coloured with pencils, crayons or textas and you don't even have to stay in the lines!
Free Form Drawing/ Scribbling: On top of pencils, crayons and textas, try exploring pens, fineliners, pastels, chalks or even basic paints. It doesn't need to be a picture of anything, you can just add line without form or even close your eyes. Try left and right hand scribbling, use different paper and cardboard mediums and feel free to use your hands and fingers with chalks, charcoals and paints to really engage with your creation.
Journalling: You can really mix up your mediums here and incorporate writing, collaging and art in your expressions. Use old magazines to find an image that you relate to and expand from there. You can also use stamps, stickers, stencils and washi tapes to highlight, define or add layers to your work.
Apps: There are some terrific drawing and colouring apps that you can access for free on your tablet or device. Photography apps that allow you to add art and manipulate photos can be a fun way to express your emotions and create something original.
Sculpture: You don't have to have access to a pottery wheel, kiln and clay to sculpt. You could use salt dough or papier mache instead which is actually a lot cheaper. Try using other 3D materials that you may already have around the house in your sculptures as well like wool, thread, wood, string, felt, buttons, ribbons or old clothing material. There are no limits to the amount of mixed mediums that you can add to your designs.
Nature Art: If you have never seen the work of Andy Goldsworthy, do yourself a favour and check him out immediately. He is the king of natural art, and should provide you with some inspiration to get outdoors and start using nature as an art medium. Rocks, sticks, leaves, grasses, flowers, petals, moss and stones can all become the mediums in the most beautiful and therapeutic art expressions.
So there you go, a list of easy cheap ways to kick start some at home art therapy. Just 30 minutes a day of tuning out your thoughts and engaging in a creative process can make the world of difference and really reduce your stress and anxiety levels, so why not give art therapy a go? Go grab your materials, turn on some music and get lost for a while in some form of art expression, you might be surprised by just how much you'll really love it!
TOY STORY 4
Release Date: 2019
Rating: G
Running Time: 100 mins
This fourth installment in the Pixar Toy Story series and sequel to 2010's Toy Story 3, is yet another Disney/Pixar success. Heartwarming, witty and exceptionally animated, this tale brings more lovable toy characters to life and also delivers some bittersweet farewells for some of our favourite Toy Story characters as well.
Things are changing for the Toy Story gang all over again. Bonnie is heading off to kindergarten and she doesn't seem as interested in Woody as Andy was. However, with Bonnie's best interests at heart Woody still endeavours to keep her happy by caring for her newest toy, a plastic fork creation that she made at kinder called Forky. Trouble is, Forky keeps trying to throw himself away and doesn't understand his value or importance as Bonnie's newest favourite toy.
The animation here is straight up stunning, absolutely gobsmackingly great, and the voice acting is on point in every regard. In particular I really enjoyed Tony Hale as Forky, Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom and Christina Hendricks as Gabby Gabby and I really felt that these new characters brought a lot of fun and excitement to this new adventure.
For fans of the original trilogy, you are in for a treat because this truly is a nostalgic trip down memory lane with Woody, Buzz and the gang that will have you singing along to "You Got a Friend in Me" and smiling when your old favourites arrive back on screen again, it's totally timeless and completely bewitching.
FINAL SAY: I am not a toy, I was made for soups, salads, maybe chilli and then the trash.
4 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 2019
Rating: G
Running Time: 100 mins
This fourth installment in the Pixar Toy Story series and sequel to 2010's Toy Story 3, is yet another Disney/Pixar success. Heartwarming, witty and exceptionally animated, this tale brings more lovable toy characters to life and also delivers some bittersweet farewells for some of our favourite Toy Story characters as well.
Things are changing for the Toy Story gang all over again. Bonnie is heading off to kindergarten and she doesn't seem as interested in Woody as Andy was. However, with Bonnie's best interests at heart Woody still endeavours to keep her happy by caring for her newest toy, a plastic fork creation that she made at kinder called Forky. Trouble is, Forky keeps trying to throw himself away and doesn't understand his value or importance as Bonnie's newest favourite toy.
The animation here is straight up stunning, absolutely gobsmackingly great, and the voice acting is on point in every regard. In particular I really enjoyed Tony Hale as Forky, Keanu Reeves as Duke Caboom and Christina Hendricks as Gabby Gabby and I really felt that these new characters brought a lot of fun and excitement to this new adventure.
For fans of the original trilogy, you are in for a treat because this truly is a nostalgic trip down memory lane with Woody, Buzz and the gang that will have you singing along to "You Got a Friend in Me" and smiling when your old favourites arrive back on screen again, it's totally timeless and completely bewitching.
FINAL SAY: I am not a toy, I was made for soups, salads, maybe chilli and then the trash.
4 Chilli Peppers
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