There’s something therapeutic about creating art with your hands. It’s not about how great the outcome is; it’s about celebrating the process. Studies have shown that engaging in the creative arts has a profound impact on stress and anxiety levels.
In one study, an astounding 81% of participants reported a significant reduction in stress after partaking in various art modalities.
The beauty of it is that you don’t have to be a talented artist to create. Here are some easy art projects to help you relieve stress and anxiety.
Art projects to relieve stress and anxiety
Create stencil patterns with pastels
Pastels are one of the simplest, most versatile mediums to work with when creating art. You can create rich, textured artwork and easily blend colors to enhance your piece and transform the style. They’re also beginner-friendly; anyone can pick up a pastel and create.
While there are many pastel art ideas at Craft Whack, one of the simplest is creating stencils and making patterns on paper. This process is similar to creating paper snowflakes, then using the template to create a new image with pastels. Get creative and choose a design and color scheme that speaks to you, and start drawing.
Do an acrylic pour
Acrylic pours have become a buzzword in the amateur art world. The natural aesthetic quality of this process is incredibly satisfying to watch. It’s common to see videos of these pieces being created on stress and anxiety relief channels.
For an acrylic pour, you’ll need a tarp or plastic sheet under your workspace and something to elevate your canvas. Then, you’ll pour paint onto the canvas in layers before tilting it to create a custom, abstract piece of art incorporating several colors. You can also use a heat gun to move the paint around and dry it faster. Try adding rubbing alcohol for more dimension.
Egg a canvas
If your stress and anxiety manifest as anger and nervous energy, you’ll love this art project. Start by poking a hole into the top of an egg and draining the inside into a bowl. Rinse out the egg with warm water and leave it to dry. You’ll need several.
When the egg shells are dry, fill them with acrylic paint. Then, set up a canvas in your backyard and throw the paint-filled eggs at the canvas. The resulting piece of art will be a visual representation of how you feel, and the process will help relieve your stress.
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Preserve blooms forever
Working with plants and flowers is another effective way to minimize stress and anxiety. Yet, flowers are fleeting, quick to wither away while leaving only a memory of their beauty— unless you preserve them forever.
For this project, you’ll need resin, a silicone mold, and the blooms of your choice. Prepare the resin according to the manufacturer’s instructions and dip the blooms, leaving them to dry. When the resin sets, your pretty petals will be preserved forever. You can even dip a seeded dandelion and give the gift of a wish.
If the resin dip doesn’t appeal, you can also try flower drying or flower pressing. Pressing flowers on the pages of old books and framing them is a lovely way to decorate your home while getting creative and de-stressing.
Create custom line art
Line art is simple, modern, and eye-catching. It’s also easy to learn with a little practice. The idea is to create a minimalist image using a black felt-tip pen, creating the piece without removing the pen from the paper once it touches. You’ll have to get creative with loops and overlaps to create your desired image.
Creating art is a relaxing activity and a great way to find your flow during periods of anxiety and stress. Try these simple projects and channel your energy into something positive and beautiful.
