Art Making Videos

Art Making even for non-artists, can help us relax, slow down, and be present. The use of color, of line, and form can express and share our feelings and experiences. 

While these videos were created during the COVID-19 pandemic, the topics and art making suggestions are timeless. 

They offer an opportunity to try something new – art making to explore and express one’s feelings, thoughts and experiences. These exercises can help you manage difficult times with self-compassion, self-care, and care for others.

Each art making video offers a different invitation. They are designed for kids, teens and adults. Some lead you through playful self-expressions, some are more about feelings and experiences, and others can help you relax and feel calm.

There is no right or wrong way to make art in response to these invitations to draw. The drawing can offer much needed distraction, bring your attention to a thoughtful idea, or encourage you to feel present in the moment.

Things I Like

This first art making video while staying at home offers an opportunity to acknowledge and see the things you like, and what you like to do. This supports self-awareness and connection to others, as we get to know each other and share a bit about ourselves. (This video can also be found under the title “Art Making While Staying At Home” on my YouTube channel.)

“A drawing is simply a Line going for a walk” by Paul Klee

This quote offers a way to think of art making as something we can all do. To suggest an alternative way to think of, to appreciate and to make available art making to all. One’s line can meander around the page, it can create a drawing- something realistic or abstract. It supports the idea of art making as being playful. (This video can also be found under the title “Art Making While Staying At Home - Episode 2” on my YouTube channel.)

Love

This art making video asks that you think of the special people in your life. Thinking about who they are, how they are special, and how it feels to be with them, even if you can’t be with them now. The drawing invitation is to draw how it feels to be with them, or perhaps creating an image of the 2 of you together, or creating an image for this special person, whom you love. It also suggests and encourages the viewer to let the person know that they are special to them and that they love them. Perhaps sharing the drawing with them as well.

Light Hope Kindness

During this stay at home time we all may have a variety of feelings, feelings that may change daily and perhaps from moment to moment. This art making video offers an opportunity to think about, and to draw about, where we even in challenging times find the light, the hope, and the kindness in ourselves and in others.

Feeling Grounded

The experience of feeling grounded can be so helpful. During this art making video there is a brief guided experience to connect with the feeling of being grounded. The viewer can respond to this experience in creating an image of feeling grounded.

What makes you smile or laugh?

Smiling and laughing not only feels good, but can be contagious. Thinking about what makes you smile and laugh, and drawing how that feels or depicting what does make you smile and laugh can be energizing and positive, even during these very uncertain times.

Your Special Place

While so much feels uncertain, and there can be worries and anxieties, it can be helpful to image a special place, perhaps a safe place. A place you may be familiar with or one from your imagination. Creating an image of this special place can be a reminder, especially when you may need to remember, that you do have a special place you can visit in your memory, and in your imagination. This can offer a moment or two of calm, and of reflection.

Changes

We have all made changes during this stay at home time. This video offers an opportunity to think about and make art about what those changes have been, how it feels to have had to make them, as well as thinking about any changes or accommodations you have made that perhaps you would like to continue when we can move forward safely. 

A Story to Tell

We all have a story or stories to tell. Art making can be a way to tell a story. The story can be fictional, biographical, science fiction, or something else. Creating art to tell a story, or part of a story can be helpful, perhaps relaxing, and it can be fun to tell a story visually.

Something Beautiful

Even though we are all at home, the seasons are still changing. Whether looking out through a window, being outside for a walk or in your backyard, we can see, feel and smell, Spring. This art making invitation suggests creating a drawing or photograph, or painting, to capture the season, to capture, spring and beauty.

Waiting & Moving Forward with Intention

Waiting, we are all waiting, waiting for it to be safe to move forward. Waiting is hard, for all of us. Waiting, what does it feel like and look like, what are we waiting for, what are we hoping for when the waiting is over? These are the things to think about and be aware of how they feel when you create your drawing or painting.

My Colors My Art

This art making invitation is a little different than the others. It is a bit more open ended. It asks the viewer to choose some colors and to create an image, abstract or realistic using those colors. Perhaps adding colors that are opposite or ones you are not fond of to add to your art. The invitation is to create an image of your choice that speaks to where you are in the moment.

Gratitude

This is the last art making video for now. It invites the viewer to think of gratitude. It offers information and discusses the benefits of having a practice of gratitude. Even in these messy and uncertain times, to be aware of expressing gratitude as well as creating an image of what gratitude may look like and feel like supports ones practice of gratitude. 

Art Making To Reflect On and Express Your Responses, Experiences and Feelings About Inequality and Racism