What do you think about when you think of a “Spa Day”? When I think of a “Spa Day”, I think of time in the sauna followed by a hot stone massage. Then, I indulge my newly relaxed body with a soothing pedicure, as well as a paraffin manicure! Now, that is what I call a “Spa Day”!
However, this type of spa day is only for your body. What about a spa day for your mind? Would you like to calm down or remove the “to do” list that always seems to be swirling around in your head? How about removing some drama that seems to be constantly following you from location to location? If I told you that there is an art method that only takes one hour to give you these spa day results for your mind, would you sign up? Read on to see if I can convince you.
I propose to you that Art Journaling is the answer that gives you a mental break. But you say, “Wait a minute. I am not an artist; I like to do crafty things, but I am not a professional artist”. Then I would say to you, “You don’t need any artistic experience to be a part of our Art Journaling group. Whether you just watch online or join in with our community in the closed group, either method is a brain relaxer.”
Studies have shown that making art or looking at art gives one the same health benefits as a spa day may do. Harvard Health [i]reports that “Creative activities can relieve stress, aid communication, and help arrest cognitive decline”. This is only one of many studies with findings that doing and watching art is very beneficial to our mental health. There is something special about looking at the process of creating. Equally, there is something special about being a part of creating.
I have found this to be true first-hand in my own life. When I decided to go back to school to become an artist and to begin teaching art “of all kinds to people of all ages”, I began to see everything around me in a different light. For example, I began to notice color, shapes, harmony, and unique features in my everyday surroundings. After a while, I found myself wanting to draw or paint everything! Of course, that is impossible; you can see that my focus was changing. I saw beauty everywhere.
We often see beauty in a sunrise or sunset, but I saw beauty in a cloud formation, in the way the sunlight steams through a group of trees, or in a rock wall with a flower bed blooming in front of it. I was now aware of good things surrounding me, and I enjoyed it! My minutes were filled with pleasant thoughts and sights, and I liked it! This is what happens when you begin to see life through art.
We are getting ready to launch a closed Art Journaling Group called Inside Celebrate Art Journaling. This private paid group will provide the following to its members:
**meet once a week live in the Facebook group
**receive a start up art journal box filled with fun goodies themed toward art journaling
**get step-by-step instructions before we go live in case you want to watch the replay later
**learn in-depth art skills to help you create all throughout the week
**glean the skills you need to grow the inner artist in you
We launch September 6th! To be the first in line, watch for our waitlist page which will go up on our website http://createandcelebrateart.com soon!
As I close this blog today, I wish you a soothing mental spa day! Get started by watching some replays of our Celebrate Art Journaling Free Facebook Group posts. Just text us at 66866 or scroll down to the bottom of our home page and sign up to get into our current free group. We wish you well today and ask that you take care and look around you with fresh eyes today!
[i] Health.harvard.edu Mental Health The healing power of art July 1, 2017