Colorful Expressions
Art activity for learning how to become aware of your emotional, mental, and physical health.
Getting Ready
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Materials |
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| Treatment Modality | Individual and Group |
| Frequency | We recommend practicing this activity at least once a week. |
| Other helpful topics to use this activity for |
Calming and Destressing |
The What
Numerous studies in physics, psychology, and color have established that color and light that surround us in our daily lives have a profound effect on our mood, mood, behavior, heart rate, alertness, and impulsivity, to name but a few. In clothing, interiors, landscape, and even natural light, color can change our mood from sad to happy, from confusion to intelligence, from fear to confidence. Colors can be used to actually balance or to create different emotions because each color contains different properties of energy. Also, the design of an environment through a variety of means such as temperature, sounds, layout, lighting, and colors can stimulate emotional responses and affect your behavior.
Art has been used for centuries for its benefits in improving mental and emotional health because of its healing properties. It is one of the many modalities that can effectively help you express and communicate your needs and challenges. More importantly, you can use art to: (1) promote self-expression, feelings, and emotions, (2) facilitate positive attitude, (3) overcome challenges and hardships, (4) verbally and non-verbally communicate emotions that might otherwise be sealed from society, (5) increase self- awareness, (6) encourage coping strategies, and (7) stimulate empathy, creativity, self-acceptance, and need for human connection.
The following activity is an art activity for learning how to become aware of your emotional, mental, and physical health using colors. It also guides you in recognizing your strengths and weaknesses. Most importantly, it allows you to engage in creatively expressing and communicating with yourself through the use of art!
The How
The following exciting activity is one of the best ways to reap all the benefits of mindful art-making while experiencing and witnessing the energetic properties of color! No, you do not need any artistic skills to participate in this activity. This isn’t your traditional art class activity. This is an activity that brings attention to your emotional, mental, and physical state. It also gives you the opportunity to learn how you can use different colors and art as a tool to gain a positive attitude as well as lead a happier mindful life! You can do this exercise in a large group so that you can discuss and share your pieces. Or you can partner up with one other person; or you can do this exercise by yourself!
Let's Begin
Instructions:
- Place all your art supplies organized on the table. Line up your colors about 3 inches apart from each other in front of you.
- Take a seat with arms and legs uncrossed. Close your eyes and rest your arms on your lap with palms facing up. Take three slow deep breaths: inhale slowly through your nose. Take the breath all the way up to the top of your head and exhale through your mouth with pursed lips.
- When you’re ready, just for a few minutes or so, think about a happy event from this week or today. This event can be anyone or anything, from someone who told you a joke or a piece of happy news, or an improvement in your grade. It can be any type of happy event. Re-experience this joyous event. Think about the details of the event such as (1) the temperature of your surroundings and the weather, (2) the possible touch, smell, sound, (3) the reasonable volume, (4) the time in which you experienced this happy event. What other details can you recall about this event? Re-experience this happy event.
- When you’re ready, open your eyes. Look at the colors lined up in front of you. Pick only up to two (2) colors that most appeals to you and you gravitate to. You can scan which two colors most resonate and calls to you by scanning the colors with the palm of your hand. You can mix it up with black or white to brighten or darken the colors you’ve picked.
- On your paper, leave about three inches of space to the right or the left of the paper or canvas to write on.
Once you have picked the color, think back again about that happy event. Also, pick up the brush you feel called to as well. Start painting or sketching without putting any thought about it. Just listen to your intuition and allow your hand to guide you. Just do what you feel like doing and don’t hold back.
If you’re losing track of time and feeling more serene, you are on the right track. If you’re getting bored or tense, change the way you are painting. Either use a different brush stroke or a different color. Keep adjusting until the tension melts away and you are feeling calmer.
- As you are painting, start noticing what you are feeling in your body and where you are feeling them as you are painting. Make notes on the side of your paper/canvas with a pen or marker all the things you are experiencing in your body, emotions, thoughts, and anything you wish to make a note of.
- Continue painting until you feel like your work is complete and you are feeling very calm. We recommend stopping when you have completely filled the entire side of the page that you are painting on.
- Here comes the fun part! Look up the meaning of your color on the color chart list below. The list is based on scientific findings that show a connection between the energy colors of your organs, glands, nervous system and your overall health. Also, compare your colors and notes chosen on your piece of art to the list below.
- Let’s have you reflect on your piece of art. What are you expressing through this art? What is something new you learned about yourself through using colors? What did not agree or resonate with you in this activity? What is your body telling you about the choice of colors you made? What colors are missing in your life? What colors will you be using to resolve and overcome some of your emotional, mental, or physical challenges?
Colors list and their meaning
Healthy emotions, expressions, and behaviors associated with color red are: ambition, passionate, alert, energized, igniting, exciting, stimulating, liberation, power, and love.
Unhealthy emotions and expressions associated with color red are anger, forceful, and aggression.
In relation to the physical body: red is related to blood circulation, chronic illnesses, non-infected wounds, scar tissue, strengthens kidneys, heart, muscles, blood, lungs, and bones. The red temperature is usually hot.
Physically speaking, the energy of red is often present and functioning most in your genitals, feet, knees, hips, spine, intestines, legs. And so, if there is an imbalance in your physical, emotional and mental health, you will experience the imbalance in your lack of energy, strength, patience; often you will feel tension and heaviness in your lower body (and spine) accompanied with ‘spaciness’ in your mind. When you’re imbalanced in your red energy, you are most likely prone to anger, aggression, insecurities, and forceful behavior. Also, other specific diseases associated with an imbalance in your lower body and red energy are: bowel, blood, or bone disorders; furthermore, obesity, anorexia, and persistent fear.
Color energies to balance your emotional, mental, and physical state is greens and blues. In this case, you can restore your health by (A) calming your mind with meditation, (B) eating more vegetables and fruits in green and blue colors, (C) taking walks in nature or going for a swim in ocean, (D) wearing clothes more in greens and blues as pants, shoes, underpants, or socks (lower part of the body), (E) painting, journaling, or sketching with blue and green colors, etc.
Also, choice of daily affirmations and setting intentions to balance your emotional and mental state should be on topics such as: overcoming fear, worry, anxiety, and anger along with self-compassion quantum mindfulness or guided affirmations activities.
FUN facts: In ancient history when science and modern medicine did not exist, people would choose their medicine for treatment to diseases based on the color, shape, and temperature of fruits and vegetables. Also, when someone would get sick, most likely they would attend to the emotional and mental health of the patient first before even approaching any type of physical treatments.
Healthy emotions, expressions, and behaviors associated with color orange are: joy, happiness, warmth, pleasure, generosity, sociable, aspiring, wise, fertility, creativity, gregarious.
Unhealthy emotions and expressions associated with color orange are: depression, fear, overwhelm, fear, low self-confidence, and guilt.
In relation to the physical body: orange is related to your immune system and hormones. The orange temperature is usually warm.
Physically speaking, the energy of orange is most present in your genitals, bladder, lower back, ovaries, testes, womb, uterus, and fluid functions in your body. And so, if there is an imbalance in your physical, emotional and mental health, you will experience the imbalance as lower back pain, emotional outbursts, fertility problems, hormonal imbalance, unexplained joint pain.
Color energies to balance your emotional, mental, and physical state in this case would be blues. In this case, you can restore your health by (A) calming your mind with meditation, (B) eating more vegetables and fruits blue colors, (C) taking walks in nature or going for a swim in ocean, (D) wearing clothes more in blues as underpants, jackets, or shirts (mid and abdominal part of the body), (E) painting, journaling, or sketching with blue colors, etc.
Also, the choice of daily affirmations and setting intentions to balance your emotional and mental state should be on topics such as: overcoming fear, worry, anxiety, and anger. Most importantly, quantum mindfulness activities on forgiveness along with self-compassion and self-confidence would be most beneficial in this case.
FUN facts: In ancient history when science and modern medicine did not exist, people would choose their medicine for treatment to diseases based on the color, shape, and temperature of fruits and vegetables. Also, when someone would get sick, most likely they would attend to the emotional and mental health of the person first before even approaching any type of physical treatment.
Healthy emotions, expressions, and behaviors associated with color yellow are: cheerful, clarity, will power, charisma, healthy self-confidence, focus, concentration, intellectual.
Unhealthy emotions and expressions associated with color yellow are control issues, obsessive, compulsive, low self-esteem, rage, bullying, defensive, and hyper-sensitive.
In relation to the physical body: yellow is related to digestion, stomach, gall bladder, endocrine, and nervous system.
Physically speaking, the energy of yellow is most present in your liver, kidneys, spleen. And so, if there is an imbalance in your physical, emotional and mental health, you will experience the imbalance as fatigue, stomach ulcers, and diabetes.
Color energies to balance your emotional, mental, and physical state in this case would be blues. In this case, you can restore your health by (A) calming your mind with meditation, (B) eating more vegetables and fruits blue colors, (C) taking walks in nature or going for a swim in ocean, (D) wearing clothes more in blues as underpants, jackets, or shirts (mid and abdominal part of the body), (E) painting, journaling, or sketching with blue colors, etc.
Also, the choice of daily affirmations and setting intentions to balance your emotional and mental state should be on topics such as: overcoming fear, worry, anxiety, and anger. Most importantly, quantum mindfulness activities on forgiveness, empathy, compassion, conflict resolution along with self-compassion and self-confidence would be most beneficial and useful in this case.
FUN facts: In ancient history when science and modern medicine did not exist, people would choose their medicine for treatment to diseases based on the color, shape, and temperature of fruits and vegetables. Also, when someone would get sick, most likely they would attend to the emotional and mental health of the person first before even approaching any type of physical treatment.
Healthy emotions, expressions, and behaviors associated with color green are: calming, loving, expansion, integrity, harmony, self-respect, unconditional love, cooling, healing, forgiving, compassionate, empathetic, trusting, and vulnerable.
Unhealthy emotions and expressions associated with color yellow are: loneliness, isolation, co-dependency, lack of self-love.
In relation to the physical body: green is related to the lungs, ribs, heart, arms, hands, and immune system.
And if there is an imbalance in your physical, emotional and mental health, you will experience the imbalance as asthma, apnea, heart or lung problems, allergies, thymus issues, and immune disorders.
Color energies to balance your emotional, mental, and physical state in this case would be a combination of blues and purples.
In this case, you can balance your health by (A) calming your mind with meditation, (B) eating more vegetables and fruits blue and purple colors, (C) taking walks in nature or going for a swim in ocean, (D) wearing clothes more in blues and purples as underpants, jackets, or shirts (mid and abdominal part of the body), (E) painting, journaling, or sketching with blue colors, etc.
Also, the choice of daily affirmations and setting intentions to balance your emotional and mental state
should be on topics such as: forgiveness, raising self-esteem, and compassion. Most importantly, quantum mindfulness activities on forgiveness, empathy, compassion, conflict resolution along with self-compassion and self-confidence would be most beneficial and useful in this case.
FUN facts: In ancient history when science and modern medicine did not exist, people would choose
their medicine for treatment to diseases based on the color, shape, and temperature of fruits and
vegetables. Also, when someone would get sick, most likely they would attend to the emotional and
mental health of the person first before even approaching any type of physical treatment.
Healthy emotions, expressions, and behaviors associated with color blue are: relaxing, cooling, deep inner peace, calming, nurturing, greater insight and wisdom, unity, safety, communicative, clear, and balanced.
Unhealthy emotions and expressions associated with color yellow are: lying, secretive, creative blocks, misguided, fearful, miscommunication, no self-expression.
In relation to the physical body: blue energy is related to the throat, jaw, lower neck, vocal cords, thyroid, and lungs. Blue has a cooling temperature.
Physically speaking, the energy of blue is anti-bacterial, anti-infection, anti-cramping, facilitates restful sleep, pain relieving, lowers blood pressure. And so, if there is an imbalance in your physical, emotional and mental health, you will experience the imbalance as sore throat, colds, thyroid problems, hearing problems, teeth and gum issues, tonsillitis, stiff neck, lack of purpose, lack of interest, stuttering, hemorrhage, insomnia, or mute.
Color energies to balance your emotional, mental, and physical state in this case would be with greens and purples. In this case, you can restore your health by (A) calming your mind with meditation, (B) eating more vegetables and fruits in green and purple colors, (C) taking walks in nature or going for a swim in ocean, (D) wearing clothes more in greens and purples as jackets, shirts, scarves, and earrings, (E) painting, journaling, or sketching with greens and purple colors, etc.
Also, the choice of daily affirmations and setting intentions to balance your emotional and mental state
should be on topics such as: building communication skills and positive attitude. Most importantly, quantum mindfulness activities on raising self-confidence would be most effective.
FUN facts: In ancient history when science and modern medicine did not exist, people would choose
their medicine for treatment to diseases based on the color, shape, and temperature of fruits and
vegetables. Also, when someone would get sick, most likely they would attend to the emotional and
mental health of the person first before even approaching any type of physical treatment.
Healthy emotions, expressions, and behaviors associated with color purple are: calming, nurturing, self-healing, transformational, loyal, power, motivational, inspirational, understanding, giving, kind, spiritual, wise, intellectual, and intelligent.
Unhealthy emotions and expressions associated with color purple are: over analyzing, depression, hallucination, often confused, obsessive, controlling, condescending.
In relation to the physical body: purple energy is connected to eyes, sinuses, ears, nose, lower brain, pituitary gland, upper neck, spleen, conscious mind, and subconscious mind.
Physically speaking, the energy of purple is to menopause, building leucocytes, lymphatic system, solar plexus, and antiviral. And so, if there is an imbalance in your physical, emotional and mental health, you will experience the imbalance as headache, insomnia, dizziness, amnesia, nervous breakdowns, and confusion.
Color energies to balance your emotional, mental, and physical state in this case would be with whites, greens, and golds. In this case, you can restore your health by (A) calming your mind with meditation, (B) eating more vegetables and fruits in greens, yellow, and white colors, (C) taking walks in nature or going for a swim in ocean, (D) wearing clothes and jewelry more in greens, whites, and golds as jackets, shirts, scarves, and earrings, (E) painting, journaling, or sketching with greens, whites, and golden colors, etc.
Also, the choice of daily affirmations and setting intentions to balance your emotional and mental state
should be on topics such as: building communication skills, self-confidence, and positive attitude. Most importantly, quantum mindfulness activities on raising self-confidence, overcoming fear, forgiveness would be most effective.
FUN facts: In ancient history when science and modern medicine did not exist, people would choose
their medicine for treatment to diseases based on the color, shape, and temperature of fruits and
vegetables. Also, when someone would get sick, most likely they would attend to the emotional and
mental health of the person first before even approaching any type of physical treatment.
Healthy emotions, expressions, and behaviors associated with color white are: calming, nurturing, self-healing, transformational, self-accepting, confident, loyal, power, motivational, inspirational, understanding, giving, kind, spiritual, wise, intellectual, and intelligent, balanced, happier, optimistic, resilient, energetic.
Unhealthy emotions and expressions associated with color white are: over analyzing, depression, hallucination, often confused, obsessive, egoistic, controlling.
In relation to the physical body: white energy is connected to the skull, skin, upper brain, pineal gland, cerebral cortex, nervous system. Honestly, white is connected to the ENTIRE body of a living organism because it contains all colors not visible to the naked eye.
Physically speaking, the energy of white is related to all mental, emotional, and physical health. If you notice, white can be added to any color to make it lighter. Most often white is connected to giving clarity, making things feel less stressful or intense, expanding your mind, giving you the knowledge, giving you more profound understanding.
Color energies to balance your emotional, mental, and physical state in this case would be with any bright color of your choice. In this case, you can restore your health by (A) calming your mind with meditation, (B) eating more vegetables and fruits in all colors, (C) taking walks in nature and going for a swim in ocean, (D) wearing clothes and jewelry more in all bright colors, (E) painting, journaling, or sketching with all bright colors, etc.
Also, the choice of daily affirmations and setting intentions to balance your emotional and mental state
should be on topics such as: building communication skills, self-confidence, compassion, and positive attitude. Most importantly, quantum mindfulness activities on raising self-confidence, overcoming fear, forgiveness would be most effective.
FUN facts: In ancient history when science and modern medicine did not exist, people would choose
their medicine for treatment to diseases based on the color, shape, and temperature of fruits and
vegetables. Also, when someone would get sick, most likely they would attend to the emotional and
mental health of the person first before even approaching any type of physical treatment.
Healthy emotions, expressions, and behaviors associated with color black are: confidence, power, loyal, understanding, private, intuitive, wise, knowledgeable.
Unhealthy emotions and expressions associated with color white are: over analyzing, addiction, depression, secretive, hallucination, often confused, obsessive, self-absorbed, controlling, anger, anxiety, worry, hatred.
In relation to the physical body: black energy is connected in the same way as the white: to the entire body.
Physically speaking, the energy of black is related to all mental, emotional, and physical health. If you notice, black can be added to any color to make it darker. Most often black color energy is connected to making you feel powerful, in control, private, and intense.
Color energies to balance your emotional, mental, and physical state in this case would be with any bright color of your choice. In this case, you can restore your health by (A) calming your mind with meditation, (B) eating more vegetables and fruits in all colors, (C) taking walks in nature and going for a swim in ocean, (D) wearing clothes and jewelry more in all bright colors, (E) painting, journaling, or sketching with all bright colors, etc.
Also, the choice of daily affirmations and setting intentions to balance your emotional and mental state
should be on topics such as: building communication skills, self-confidence, compassion, and positive attitude. Most importantly, quantum mindfulness activities on raising self-confidence, overcoming fear, forgiveness, and conflict resolution would be most effective.
FUN facts: In ancient history when science and modern medicine did not exist, people would choose
their medicine for treatment to diseases based on the color, shape, and temperature of fruits and
vegetables. Also, when someone would get sick, most likely they would attend to the emotional and
mental health of the person first before even approaching any type of physical treatment.