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Art Therapy Activities

Art therapy activities can help you get in touch with your feelings, get creative, and develop appreciation for life and nature.

Art prints and posters are a great tool and can be an inexpensive way to get started...

Aaaah, is the sound of art therapy in action.



Just for a moment imagine the awe-inspiring, light-heartedness that you feel when you see the most beautiful art.

A restful image makes you feel serene and at peace, and a sense of freedom and joy flutter through your soul.

Art therapy is a great relaxation activity.



What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a mental health activity that uses creative expression to help individuals learn about themselves, resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage and/or change their behavior, increase self-esteem and develop insight.

This type of therapy includes self-expression through art work and creative expression through appreciation of other people’s artwork.

And, art therapy activities can include forms of expression that you might not have considered, like:



Art History and Ancient Cultures

Art therapy activities (of a sort) have been used since ancient times, to help people learn to interact socially and to get in touch with their emotions. Art was used for centuries, as a way of preserving a people’s history and a way of teaching cultural truths to future generations.

All over the world, where ancient cultures existed, paintings are found in caves demonstrating the people’s expression from that time.

Ancient Cultures and Art ExpressionSome ancient cultures used art in the form of sand painting during rituals to heal illnesses, while others, such as Tibetans, used drawings in sand for focus during prayers.

Ancient Egyptian Art shows symbols and images in the form of sun gods, pharohs, gods, goddesses, hieroglyphics, and pyramids.

Aztec Art, on the other hand, also portrayed much about their religion and religious ceremonies, but its art was also strongly influenced the Aztec war-like culture.

Another example of ancient art activities is Chinese dragon art. Chinese dragons in art were credited with powerful protection and wealth generating qualities.

Art Therapy Activities
Inspire Creativity

As a child, art is natural. You may have done art such as sketching the outside of your hand, drawing your favorite tree, painting spirals and squiggles which your mother considered very impressive. But it's not the outcome that matters, it's the process.

As an adult we may need a bit of inspiration. By viewing works of art, or nature itself, art therapy can be found to be very healing. But you may have already recognized that creative activities, such as hobbies or photography, relieve stress.

Although you may have experienced feelings of relaxation and satisfaction while creating art, sculptures or other creative activities, you may have not considered your projects to be a form of art therapy.

How Does Art Therapy Work?

During an art therapy session you might be asked to draw or paint a picture that represents how you are feeling, to sketch what you see on a forest walk, or to draw a picture of your house in detail. The essence of art therapy is to explore your feelings, perceptions and imagination.

In addition to expressing yourself, when you create a painting, sculpture or a great wooden toy for your grandchild, you release negative emotions and increase endorphins--which help you to feel good.

Art therapy activities, whether hands-on creativity, or imagination and interpretation of art by others, is an extremely important way for people to get to know themselves--and to understand themselves. It is an outlet for emotions, and it creates endorphins, which elevate our moods.

Here are some art prints and posters for you to view. See if you can think of ways to use them that would be helpful. There may just be one that helps you get started on the exploration of your inner mind...

Click on a picture to enlarge it.



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Sunset Beach
Diane Romanello
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Autumn Road
Diane Romanello
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Paradise Sunset
Diane Romanello
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September Song
Diane Romanello
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Forever Autumn
Diane Romanello
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The Kiss, c.1907 (detail)
Gustav Klimt
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Absinthe Bourgeois
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The Artist's Garden in Argenteuil
Claude Monet
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Swiss Alps, Zermatt Matte...
Anton Reckziegel
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$5 Charge For Whining
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Retrieving The Ball
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Weight Problems
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Mediterranean Gold
Michael O'Toole
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Forest Creek
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Seashore Tranquility
Dan Werner
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Solitude
David Winston
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The Way Home
Tandi Venter
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Chemin Dans les Bles a Pourville, 1882
Claude Monet
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Sierra Nevada in California
Albert Bierstadt
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Phares dans la Tempete, la Jument
Jean Guichard
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Champs-Elysees
Bo Brannhage
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Overlook Cafe I
Sung Kim
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Romantic Stroll
Brent Heighton
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Serenity
Daniel Pollera
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Winter Sunset
Dubravko Raos
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Art Therapy Activities to Stress Management Activity

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