During this covid-19 pandemic; working from home has become the new normal. Children: Do not fear, there is a range of creative based activities to keep you from being bored. Art therapy is about expressing yourself in creative ways that will either realise the emotions you did not acknowledge. Different types of therapy works for different people. Art therapy is very therapeutic and form of psychotherapy, influenced by psychoanalysis. The creative arts is not used to diagnose anything but the primarily express and communicate. A rt therapy can help you to understand yourself, personality. Within art therapy you can create images or objects. Here are some therapeutic activities to get your creative juices running. When was the last time you picked up a colouring pencil or paintbrush? Try these activities. Look at how you feel before you start the activity and how you feel after you have finished. I find great peace from the beautiful scenery from my living room window. I can see nice green grass, trees, hear birds chirping, blue and white sky. Art Therapy can help you make sense of your feelings/emotions, help you resolve complicated feelings without speaking, help manage complex mental states. Here are a range of therapeutic activities. I challenge you to complete one of these fun and soothing activities. Find a quiet space to get creative.

Collages You can use mixed media techniques to create your collage. This is always fun and creative. First think about what you would like to create, what inspires you and what message do you want to project with the collage. Start off by taking a mindful moment and close your eyes and let your thoughts flow freely. Think about colours, materials, images and shapes. Open your eyes and start cutting and sticking, painting and drawing or can be entirely abstract to create the collage you want I challenge you to compile a collage that reflects your personality and how you feel. Below are some pictures of collages that have been created by other people:

Mixed Media Collage. Mixed Media Collage

Oil Paint Abstract Collage

Calm Colouring Calm Colouring, also known as colouring, is soothing and keeps you focused. The intricate patterns prompt you to meditate on the detail and accuracy. Nowadays you can colour in nearly anything - mindful colouring books, t-shirt’s, boots and bags. Here are some links below for colouring books: The mindful colouring books I recommend are ‘Magical Garden’ by Johanna Basford, ‘Secret Garden’ by Johanna Basford. Johanna Basford has a small but beautiful range of colouring books, which some include puzzles within the intricate patterns. The pages are thick enough to paint. You can buy 1 for £9.95 from Waterstones. https://www.waterstones.com/book/enchanted-forest/johanna-basford//9781780674872?awc=3787_1588899421_04b55ed1fb850616310894408d4f7fcb&utm_source=259955&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Genie+Shopping

Colouring t-shirts are something different and fun to do. It is soothing but very different to using a book. You can decorate an adult or child t-shirt. If you have a child or would like to gift a child with something special, then this colouring t-shirt or boots are perfect. To colour the fabric, you need to buy fabric pens, if they do not come with the t-shirt. You can wear matching designs but different clothing when you buy the colouring clothing item from shirt box.

Here are some links, where you can buy the colouring t-shirt’s, bag and boots https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/pinkpineapple/product/colour-in-love-teenage-t-shirt?DGMKT=FID__TID_pla-297616371983_PID_316101_CRI_297616371983&gclid=CjwKCAjw4871BRAjEiwAbxXi2wA0JvkOJBB5kRVsP1IKYKF4OvXDBVhkWtwIilKZpLSWguBizmukfhoCFpIQAvD_BwE https://www.shirtbox.com/collections/doodlr/products/turtle-one https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/pinkpineapple/product/colour-in-rainbow-tote-bag?DGMKT=FID__TID_pla-341741561013_PID_295433_CRI_341741561013&gclid=CjwKCAjw4871BRAjEiwAbxXi2ydpvkeV4gVPvNnTAGG9JWAnl-TW5tb0W8t6RvukdGJLKHpIu6-HkhoCUSsQAvD_BwE

Pottery Painting Pottery painting is very profound, keeps you focused and stirs up the ultimate painting experience. Doing things you wouldn’t normally do helps to unleash your creative energy. For pottery painting you will need to use acrylic or epoxy paint. Epoxy paint is better for a glossy and long-lasting finish. You can buy pottery paint pens to draw or write on your ceramics. You can buy the ceramics you want from Baker Ross, there is so much to choose from. https://www.bakerross.co.uk/arts-and-crafts/ceramic-and-porcelain-painting Here are some finished products from pottery painting:

I do this activity with my daughters and I loved every moment. My creative side came to the surface. Something I thought I had buried long ago. A creative and constructive mind is what is needed.

Painting Set up all your painting equipment. You can paint on different materials, it doesn’t need to be paper. You can choose a canvas, cardboard, newspaper, wood, cereal boxes etc. You can use mixed media techniques such as collating, texturising, layering, painting, drawing, fabrics, leafs, peeled paint effect, abstract, mono printing and slicing. Different types of paint such as oil paint, acrylic paint, water paint and latex paint.

Water paints and pens used Oil Painting on a canvas

This is a sky painted on the ceiling in a house. The swirls mimic the sky

When you paint, you can create anything.

Drawing Drawing allows your feelings, thoughts and ideas to be tangible. Your technique of drawing can communicate your emotions. What you draw communicates your thoughts. You can draw using oil pastels, colouring pencils, chalk, graphite pencils and conte pastels. Here are some examples of pictures drawn

Graphite pencils have been used to draw This picture was drawn using and shade the features of the face. coloured conte pastels Harbouring things is unhealthy. If you’re not someone who opens up by talking, try drawing.