Emotional Awareness
Exercise 1
Theme: Naming and recognizing feelings: Color Your Emotion
Assign colors to emotions and fill a page freely. No structure — just let feelings guide your hand
Reflection Prompt:
What emotions showed up that I didn’t expect?
Insight:
Feelings often speak before we have words — art helps translate.
These are two pages out of my junk journal. The paper is made with natural fibers (“toilet” paper). The first layer is created with watercolor, then treated with a spray gloss medium. A second layer is painted using forest stencils, creating raised areas to give the painting some elevation and the texture a bit more definitionThe pulp mixture is then added and painted, and treated again with a spray gloss medium.
Week 1 - Reading 1 -
What Kind of Art is Best
There is no single type of art that is “best” for everyone. The right kind depends on what you need What Kind of Art is Best in the moment and how you naturally express yourself. Exploring different methods helps you discover what works for you.
Structured art, like coloring books, patterns, or guided exercises, can calm the mind. When everything feels chaotic, structured art provides boundaries. You focus on filling a shape or repeating a pattern, which reduces mental clutter. This kind of art is especially useful for managing anxiety or overwhelm because it gives your brain predictable tasks.
Free expression, such as abstract painting or open-ended drawing, allows emotions to flow without restriction. When you feel sadness, excitement, or frustration, free expression lets those feelings appear naturally. Lines, marks, and colors carry meaning even if you cannot yet put it into words.
Repetitive art, like mandalas, doodling, or layering strokes, creates rhythm. Rhythm is important for your nervous system. Repetition signals safety, consistency, and stability. As your hand moves in predictable patterns, your mind often follows, slowing racing thoughts and easing tension.
Symbolic art provides a way to express complex emotions indirectly. You might draw or paint symbols that represent feelings—like a storm for anger, a flowing river for sadness, or a sun for hope. Using symbols helps you engage with your emotions without being overwhelmed by them, offering a gentle distance.
Layered art mirrors the complexity of life and feelings. By building layers of paint, texture, or media, you reflect depth, change, and growth. Layering also allows you to revisit and adjust your work, showing how feelings evolve over time.
Combining text and art is another powerful approach. Writing words alongside images or integrating journaling into your work can deepen reflection. Some feelings are hard to draw alone but easier to articulate with a combination of words and visuals.
The key is experimentation. Try different mediums—pencils, charcoal, watercolors, pastels, acrylics—and notice how each affects your feelings. Observe which techniques feel calming, liberating, or expressive. There is no failure in trying. Every mark, regardless of outcome, provides insight.
Most importantly, art is not about producing something perfect. Its value lies in the process, not the product. Your creation reflects your inner experience and offers a safe space for discovery, learning, and growth.
Reflection
Which type of art feels most natural or comfortable for you?
Did you prefer structure, freedom, repetition, or symbols today?
How did your chosen medium affect your mood or focus?
Gentle Insight
The “best” art is the one that meets you where you are—offering a way to explore, release, and understand yourself.