Fun Fridays: 3 ways to be artistic at home
Article by Emily Whelan ’20
Taking a little bit of time in your day to create a piece of artwork is almost guaranteed to lower stress levels. Even if you aren’t an artist, there are plenty of ways you can use art to take a break from schoolwork and decrease your worries. You’ll probably end up enjoying it, and maybe you’ll even find a new hobby!
Check out the following tutorials and websites below.
#1 Learn to watercolor paint
If you want a step-by-step paint tutorial, the YouTube account Wonder Forest has hundreds of how-to videos. The videos include how to paint animals, foliage, flowers and landscapes. Most of them are short, lasting between 10 and 15 minutes. They include a description of everything you will need and tips on how to create the most impressive piece of art. If you’re new to watercolor, this is probably the best place to start. You will be impressed with what you will be able to create.
#2 Create a bullet journal
It is especially important now when we are home all day to create a routine so that we can still be productive. A bullet journal is the perfect place to write out to-do lists, exercise plans, meal ideas, shopping lists and anything else that needs to be accomplished. There is a YouTube video called “How to Bullet Journal” with over 11 million views. In under five minutes, you learn how to outline and organize a journal that will be perfectly customized to your schedule. Having an organized and aesthetically pleasing agenda usually leads to productivity!
#3 Make a scrapbook of memories
Almost everyone has old pictures, notes, invitations or tickets piled up somewhere around their house. Why not put them all together in a scrapbook? Most Michaels art stores are offering curbside pick-up when you order online. They have a great deal of scrapbooks and scrapbooking materials. Make a few pages about college, a few pages about home, maybe even a page or two about what you’ve been doing in quarantine. It may not seem like it now, but it will be fun to look back on how you spent these days.
While you’re on the Michaels website, check out other ways you can get creative at home. Hobbies such as knitting, crocheting, coloring, jewelry making or doing Easter crafts can all be done with a quick (online) trip to a local craft store.
When isolation seems overwhelming, using these creative ways to pass the time are sure to bring a smile to your face and perhaps a sense of calm into your life.
Each Friday, SALVEtoday will provide fun ideas and experiences to encourage and uplift the University community during this time of remote living and learning. #salvesgotthis #funfridays
Featured photo by Getty Images/SeventyFour
