Today I’ve been thinking about an idea to find simple pleasures in our surroundings.
It’s so easy to get caught up in your worries of the future or pain from the past. I’m hoping that this project will help me and others take some time to really absorb what is around us. This is the brilliance of art therapy – taking moments to enjoy creating from what we have.
It’s a pretty accessible idea – using your camera phone to take pictures of objects or scenes with a particular colour. I’ve taken my phone around my home and local area to look for the colour blue and green. It’s interesting to find different textures and look for the details when you take a photo. You can look at things close up or broader images that incorporate your chosen colour.
Once you have a collection of photos you can use an app like Photo Grid to put them into a collage. You could even get them printed and make your own collage to hang in your home. It could make a lovely picture for a children’s nursery and you will have a constant reminder to check in with the moment and really see your surroundings.
Here’s some examples of the collage of images I created:
Another idea is to focus on textures and turn your photos to black and white. An example of this can be seen below.
The possibilities are endless but another idea could be to focus on a particular letter, like below I’ve looked fo the letter A
If you have older children then this is something you could get them to participate in – they could create their own artwork.
I really enjoyed doing this project – it helped distract myself from the negative thoughts. I hope you’re able to go out and get lost in your surroundings, while making some art.
Please leave a comment if you can and also a link to your artwork if you create one.
PND Recovery 
Ohh I love this. I particularly like the blue collage and the letter one. I might give this a try, I need some art for the walls and it is always good to stop and appreciate everything that is around you. Glad to hear this photography project had helped you with all your negative thoughts. I love taking photos and editing them, I find it all cry relaxing xx #coolmumclub
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Thank you! So good to hear you will try it out. I love the letter ones too, its great fun and really makes you aware of what’s around you. xx
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it would look cool hanging on the wall, so creative! #coolmumclub
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What a lovely idea and such a simple activity to do with your children. Would also be a very inexpensive way of updating a room-perfect #coolmumclub
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This is such a great idea. I have started reading the Mindfullness book and totally get the concept behind this post. I love the green one, mainly because I find greenery and nature so calming. I think the letter one would be a really great exercise for kids too. Thanks for sharing with #coolmumclub
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That’s great to hear.
I think it could be great for kids to find the letters of their name or the alphabet. Or numbers from 1-10… the possibilities are endless xx
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I think this is a fantastic idea! I really love the art. They are so calming and soothing. Art is a wonderful way to distract yourself from compulsive worry and feed that need we have to “create” something. Usually we are busy creating drama and disaster scenarios…lol..but this is true beauty.
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I had somebody contact me about submitting a piece to her online anxiety related magazine that she is creating for her thesis. I hope you don’t mind if I refer her to this link. I think this is so beautiful and she is looking for art or articles to publish.
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So lovely to hear your great feedback – thank you. Sure please refer her to my website. I’ve also done another post which has a similar subject (art therapy) here: http://wp.me/p73Vdg-ah
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Beautiful – a really serene post – art/photography is so therapeutic – a lovely read #coolmumclub x
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