COLORING, A CHILDHOOD ACTIVITY THAT YOU SHOULD TRY AS WELL

Picture: Unplash

Art is a way for us to express in many ways that we could imagine. I could say that I like to express myself through coloring. This activity has been a big role in my life as an Artist and Designer, in fact I can affirm to you that I rather color than draw something. As I recently finished my Therapeutic Art Life Coach certification, I rediscovered the multiple benefits this activity has. I also wanted to share with you a way you can color an item, which would help you reduce stress and make you a “Professional Colorist”. You will notice why I recommend you start bringing out all those old coloring books you have stacked at home.

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved drawing and coloring. One of the first anecdotes of my childhood was this drawing I made with color pencils in preschool in which I drew in the piece of paper my dad, my mom with a round circle and a tiny human inside and myself in the middle. My mom jokingly states that when arrived at my preschool class she was confused when the teachers congratulated her for the new baby. Just to be clear my mom’s confusion was because she was not pregnant, nor had she been, yet my mom states that everyone concluded that I was ready for a brother/sister.  Honestly, when I think of coloring so many beautiful memories come to my mind and I could write another blog post of all the times my life always led to my passion for art. 

I previously mentioned that I received my certification as a Therapeutic Art Life Coach. Now just to be clear, this was not a certification as a Therapist, in fact I am not a Therapist, I am an Artist and Designer. I’ve always believed that as humans, we should always keep reinventing ourselves and improving our lives in certain aspects. Therefore, I decided to finish this certification as a Life Coach in Therapeutic Art, when I was recently laid off from my 9-5 job, due to Covid-19, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to finish off all those courses I had purchased the past months. While doing this course I rediscovered the multiple benefits coloring has. 

Focus

One of the many benefits is that it helps you focus when you practice the activity, as focusing opens up your frontal lobe, this one is the largest of your four lobes in your brain, this one controls organizing and problem solving. 

Reduce stress and anxiety

I learnt that multiple studies show that coloring can relax the fear center of your brain, the amygdala. Practicing coloring will stimulate the parts of this part of the brain which is responsible for creativity and logic. Also some people might say that the sound that coloring makes relaxes them as well.

Improve your Sleep

It has been proven that you shouldn’t be using any electronic devices at least a couple of hours before you go to bed because the exposure to the emitted light of these devices reduces your levels of the sleep hormone, Melatonin. This is a great hobby you can practice before your bedtime which will not interrupt the Melatonin.

When I think of Coloring, so many joyful memories come to my mind. In fact, I remember enjoying going to both of my Coloring classes  every Saturday for two semesters at my University with Prof. Rodriguez. I bring this up because I remember how much she enforce us to color with this technique that would help you improve any drawing you have and make it seem as if a professional artist colored it. I have made a brief diagram of how our Professor in my University used to ask us to color our projects.

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Example:

Shaded area is to show colored item, step by step: 1. Top to bottom. 2. Left to Right. 3. Top Right Angle to Bottom Left Angle. 4. Top Left Angle to Bottom Right Angle.

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Coloring will certainly be one of the activities I will be practicing while in Quarantine, it has multiple benefits and it brings so many memories of my childhood and how I can use all my knowledge to help YOU as well through these difficult times. Grab any coloring book you have around in your house your or from your kids, or purchase one at your local grocery store (they usually have), or download a worksheet from a small business( hence me) and any coloring material for you to express yourself. Coloring will undoubtedly bring YOU childhood memories as well and help you as a coping mechanism to reduce stress level through these difficult times. Hope you can practice this coloring technique with the way I was taught in University. I will be posting lots of worksheets with different art exercises in which you will be able to express yourself and hopefully teach you a little bit of what I know as an Artist, Graphic Designer, heck, maybe even coach you through the process. 

Honestly so many things come to my mind, and I can’t wait to share it with you all. So please let me know what you’d love to see. I would truly be grateful for your feedback.