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Any suggestions on art-as-stress-relief classes?

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Emma Price

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Hello everyone, my workplace has "asked" me to arrange a session during Learning at Work Week next month on the theme of art for relaxation (they are focusing a lot on Mental Health lately.). I've got some vague ideas, but wondered if anyone has participated in anything similar and if so are there any tips you'd be willing to share? I don't know whether to do a lesson-style session with guided drawing exercises, or just put out pens and paper and let people do what they want! It's only an hour session. I've not got any professional qualifications in this area so it's not going to be anything too formal. I'd be very grateful for any advice. Emma P.
michael

Michael Edwards

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I do a number of short watercolour sessions of one hour duration for people with learning needs and have found a short workshop style session works best but it does require quite a bit of preparation. Firstly I provide each person with a disposable plate on which I squirt a few colours straight from the tube, a plastic jar with some water, a paint brush and several large paper hand towels. As for the actual project I provide each person with a quarter imperial piece of watercolour paper on which I have already drawn an outline of the subject to be painted (I said there is a lot of prep required) . I also come with a finished painting of the subject so they all know what they are aiming for. After that I simply work through the exercise. For example I show how to do a sky, they do it, I show how to do the distant hills, they do it and so it goes on. Hope this helps.

Syd Edward

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Well Emma Michel has put a lot of work into his class and I dont expect you will follow his ideal . paper and pencils and tell them what to draw and they will have great fun comparing efforts........Syd
michael

Michael Edwards

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You can also use disposable cups for the water although I use plastic picnic cups which are cheap enough to buy.
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John Graham Inkson

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A good way forward is to get the group to make marks to express an emotion, joy, anger, peace, and so on, then turn to colour expressing the same emotions. Thats the way forward.