Reduce Stress With Art Therapy
In our articles we have discussed the idea of combating stress by coloring several times. Art therapy such as painting, coloring mandalas, drawing and writing is very liberating; creative and relaxing activities that can make us feel good and clear our head.
Creative pursuits can entertain us, help us to use our imagination and mental flexibility, make us learn to focus our attention, and also help us, almost without knowing how, to alleviate our problems.
What is art therapy?
In this case, we go one step further. If you’ve ever heard someone say “That’s just a pebble”, you’ll see this pebble in a different light from now on. A small stone can mean a lot.
Stone art can offer a true wealth of possibilities. Among other things, it offers beauty and great moments where you can be alone with yourself and your artistic talents.
In this article we will describe what art therapy, a new, pleasant and stress-reducing form of therapy, entails.
Stone art will be very beneficial
Many people have a habit of decorating pebbles while meditating and find that this is a powerful way to relax and reconnect with themselves. Just like coloring mandalas, where we are completely absorbed in different round shapes, we do the same in this case, but on a different background; pebbles.
Keep an eye out for everything you need to practice stone art and try the great suggestions we share in this article for yourself.
Materials you need for stone art
The first thing to know is that not all pebbles are suitable. Then you have to look for a very special kind of paint and certain materials that will ensure that your stones are as beautiful as you have in mind.
Pay attention to what you need and don’t worry: these materials are much cheaper than you may think.
Not all stones are suitable
- Stone art experts prefer to use river pebbles, stones that have a round shape.
- As you probably know, water erosion ensures that stones become nice and smooth, so that we can decorate them better.
Paint
- Acrylic paint is especially suitable for coarser stones.
- It is important to look for acrylic markers that are not translucent. The markers that children use will not work in this case, as they are often translucent and fade quickly.
- Opaque markers have a very nice effect on stones and can also be used for drawing. Choose markers that have a thin tip, 0.7 mm.
lacquer
- For the perfect finish you need a special kind of lacquer. So go to the craft store and look for lacquer that has a very light, glossy effect. This will ensure that the colors become much brighter and they will also shine and your creation will remain beautiful for much longer.
tassels
- Preferably use flat brushes. With this you will be able to easily go over your stones and bring your imagination to fruition.
What kind of creations can I make?
Mandalas
You can actually draw anything you want. Most people choose to make mandalas as it is the most relaxing. As you probably already know, this art form, which is based on round figures, can offer a lot of advantages:
Mandalas offer the following benefits:
- Improve concentration
- Raising awareness
- Get in touch with yourself
- Reducing tension and everyday problems
- Promote self-acceptance
- Promote good feeling
To make mandalas yourself, you really only have to stick to the principle of round shapes. Start with a circle in the middle and work your way up from there!
animal art
Of course, the way we decorate our stones depends on our talent and our artistic experience.
- Sometimes we just start for fun and after a while we find out that we are actually creating a little masterpiece.
- If you like to draw animals, remember that the best way to start is by drawing a base on the stone first. Start with one color so you can add different shades and shadows later to form the animal you want.
The secret is to take advantage of the shape of the stone you are using.
Funny designs
You can choose from countless different options and possibilities. In fact, your own imagination and the size of your stone are your only limitations.
- However, remember that in the case of stone art, white is the color that can never be missed.
- Sometimes it can be enough to draw a simple sun, leaf, flower, heart or arrow to create a great and original creation.
- Stone art can be a great activity to do with your kids. You can then use the successful creations as small gifts for friends and family.
As you can see, stone art is not only very simple, but also very fun (and of course very affordable). All the brushes, paint and varnish together probably won’t cost more than twenty euros.
Decorating stones is well worth this twenty euros, thanks to the many advantages it offers. Without realizing it, this hobby can easily turn into a true addiction.
