Oct 24, 20233 min read

TRANSFORMING STRESS INTO ABSTRACT ART

Join me for a transformative abstract painting workshop where you'll learn to turn your stress into art. As an experienced artist and art educator, I’ve discovered the power of using art as a tool to alleviate stress and anxiety. In this workshop, I'll guide you through the process of creating your own abstract art piece while you learn how to use color, texture, and movement to express your emotions. You don't need any prior experience, just an open mind and a willingness to explore your creativity.

Stress is normal, all human beings experience it at one point or another.

Coping with stress is better for your health than trying to avoid or ignore it, even when it is difficult and you feel like it is the end of the world.

There are two types of stress, the stress we can control and stress we can’t control. The stress and things we can control can eventually be fixed. But when the stress is beyond our control we need to find ways to cope. Coping means managing through something difficult.

Let me share with you a way that I cope with stress through art.

Turning Stress into Art

Grab a pencil and a sheet of paper, wood, canvas or any surface you want to create your art on. I start off writing about what is bothering me allover the surface in every direction, big small, light dark. Sometimes I scribble allover over it and sometimes I leave it the way it is. This process truly helps me let go of some anger, sadness, frustration or whatever emotion I am feeling at the time.

Here are some suggestions on how to get started on processing your stress.

•How can you tell when you are feeling stressed?

•What happened?

•What feelings, actions or words best describe what you are feeling?

•What in your life do you feel stressed about the most?

So now your surface should be completely covered with words and/or scribbles. Sometimes I go over some words to make them stand out.

Let's move on to the next step. I usually start with white paint because I love the way it smudges the pencil and gives me a dirty surface to start with. It mutes out the words but sometimes I leave some words or sentences to stand out. It is up to you how far you want to take this step.

What next? Crank up some music and let go! Now is the time to let your creativity go. Pick whatever colors you want and go. Let the paint be your guide. You don't have to have a plan and you can let layers dry and keep building on it. Sometimes I work on one painting for months just building on it and it becomes multiple layers of emotions. You are done when you feel you are done. There is no right or wrong! Enjoy and have fun with it. Years later you can look back and remember that tough time you were going through and how you overcame it. These paintings are always a reminder to me that life has it's peaks and valleys and we always have to be ready for what comes. Painting definitely helps me through the valleys.