Creative Expression Activity: Resist Art
Themes of the activity: patience, imperfection, allowing mistakes, trusting the process
Disclaimer: While doing this activity on your own is not art therapy, it can be supportive in your self-discovery and healing process. If you’d like to dig deeper by working with an art therapist, feel free to reach out.
Step 1: Gather materials and experiment.
Materials needed: paper (sketchbook, drawing paper, or smooth multi-media paper), watercolor paint and a brush, white crayon or oil pastel
Do a practice drawing first to test out the crayon and oil pastel. Paint over each of them with watercolor paint and decide which effect you like best.
Step 2: Draw something you need.
Step 2: Draw something you need.
This could be something you’re trying to embody, a skill you’re practicing, etc. You can represent this with a word, affirmation, symbol, scribbles, or image of something. For example, if you need peace, maybe you give yourself the affirmation of “I am allowed to rest.” Or if you want to focus on your self-worth, you might draw a symbol that feels relevant, such as a heart. Maybe you create the movement you need in this moment, like curved lines, rigid scribbles, or repetitive circles. There are no right or wrong answers.
Tip: Use a decent amount of pressure on the paper and use smooth sketchbook paper for the best results. Using printer paper can work, but the watercolor can saturate the page quickly. Drawing paper or sketchbook paper would work better.
Metaphor: You’re making the effort, practicing the skill in your life, but you may not notice the results or progress yet. You might feel discouraged or clumsy. It can be hard to see the movement toward your goals when the progress takes time.
Step 3: Paint watercolor on top of your drawing.
Step 3: Paint watercolor on top of your drawing.
This is the fun part where you get to play. I’d encourage you to use dark-ish color(s), so that the white marks are highlighted by the contrast. What you drew will start to appear and resist the watercolor. The marks are likely messy and imperfect, but they’re there. Notice how you can see some parts more clearly than others. Notice how the color moves as you apply it to the paper.
Tip: Don’t use too much water so that it pools on top of your drawing (like I did in some areas!).
Metaphor: The effort you’ve made, the work you’ve done is there. It’s present even when you can’t see it. Then, when experiences happen that require you to lean on a new skill or practice self-compassion, the progress becomes more apparent. You’re able to notice the impact of healing, even though it’s a messy process.
Step 4: Reflect through journaling.
While your painting is drying, grab another piece of paper or your journal and a pen. Consider the following questions and take a minute or two to answer them.
What does the drawing you created (the crayon or oil pastel part) represent for you?
What emotions came up for you while making this?
How do you make sense of the watercolor metaphor? Does it represent anything specific to you?
What takeaways from this activity can you hold on to?
