Easy Art Therapy for Stress Relief
I’m not an art therapist, but creative expression has always been a big part of my life.
Mixed media art, in particular, draws me in. There’s something deeply soothing about the tactile nature of it — the layering of colours, the unpredictable textures, the way older layers peek through and add depth. The happy mess.
Georgia O’Keeffe captured it perfectly when she said:
“I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way — things I had no words for.”
Sometimes, there are no words. The situation is too sad, too shocking, or just too much. Art gives us another language — one that speaks through colour, vibration, shape, and movement. For me, it’s not about making something “good” or “beautiful.” It’s about being present with my self and with my inner process as I create.
Here’s a simple exercise you can try for easing stress. It uses a sheet of paper and just four colours of pens, markers, or paints, or a mixture of them.
- Choose four colours that feel right to you today. Don’t overthink it — just go with your instinct.
- Use the first colour to draw slow, free-flowing lines across your page. No plan, no rules.
- Pick the second colour when you’re ready and add shapes wherever you feel drawn to — circles, triangles, waves, anything at all.
- With the third colour, fill in some of the spaces or create shading effects. You can colour fully or lightly, depending on what feels good.
- Use the fourth colour for small accents or highlights. Maybe add dots, spirals, or tiny lines.
As you move through this process, notice how you feel.
Is there a shift in your body? A softening of your breath? An easing in your mind?
There’s no right or wrong way to do this. The goal isn’t a finished artwork — the goal is the experience.
Give yourself permission to explore without judgment. You might be surprised at what emerges or at what spark of inspiration you come away with! If you feel like it, write about your experience.
if you are familiar with Logosynthesis® Basic Procedure, use it for any limiting beliefs, memories or other issues that showed up for you.
