2. Rituals for New Beginnings
Imagine what you would like to bring into your life - new opportunities, healthier habits, or positive relationships. Begin with a simple drawing exercise by tracing a circle on a blank page. This circle represents a container for all the positive changes you want to channel into your life. Fill the circle with lines, shapes, or colors that symbolize the actions, rituals, or feelings you wish to embody.
This exercise is especially useful for setting intentions and creating visual representations of your goals. As you reflect on your artwork, you might feel a sense of hope or clarity, helping you move forward with confidence.
3. A Fresh Perspective with Your Window of Noticing
Tom Vanderbilt describes our early impressions as a "window of noticing," which is often clouded by familiarity over time. To practice this, take a field trip to a new place - whether it's a park you've never visited, a new shop, or even a nearby street you've never explored. Once you're there, take a few snapshots of the things that catch your eye. Back home, create a piece of art based on these impressions.
You can split your paper into sections, like window panes, and fill each with different elements that you noticed. This exercise encourages mindfulness and allows you to reconnect with your surroundings in a more present and intentional way.
4. Reflecting on Your Growth Environment
Growth isn't always linear, and sometimes it takes place in unexpected spaces. Reflect on your environment over the past few years. Perhaps the pandemic felt like a trap, or maybe it felt like a cocoon, nurturing you while you went through deep personal changes. Create an image that depicts this space of growth. Think of the people, places, or experiences that nurtured or challenged you during this time.
This art therapy prompt can help you process difficult moments and recognize how far you've come, even in times of uncertainty.
5. Visualize Your Ideal Day with a Day Planner
Art therapy doesn't always have to be abstract. Sometimes, it's helpful to think about the tangible aspects of our lives. For this exercise, draw a visual planner for your ideal day. Imagine a world without work, household duties, or caregiving responsibilities. How would you spend your time if you could focus only on your own needs and desires?
Create sections for morning, afternoon, and evening, and fill them with activities that bring you joy, relaxation, or fulfillment. Afterward, reflect on how this ideal day compares to your current routine. Can you incorporate elements from your ideal day into your real life?
6. Embrace the Temporary with Chalk Art
One of the most freeing aspects of art is the ability to create something with the knowledge that it’s temporary. Grab some chalk or a paintbrush and create simple lines, shapes, or words on the pavement outside. As you work on your art, let go of perfection. This activity is about the process, not the product.
Once you're finished, leave the art behind, allowing the weather or time to wash it away. This exercise teaches you to embrace impermanence and release any attachment to the outcome.
7. Journey to Wellbeing with a Roadmap
Creating a visual roadmap can be a powerful tool for self-discovery. Draw an image of your road to authentic well-being. What kind of road is it? Is it bumpy, smooth, winding, or straight? Include obstacles or roadblocks you’ve encountered along the way, and think about the scenery that represents where you are in your journey.
This prompt helps you visualize your personal growth and the steps you need to take to achieve your desired state of well-being.
8. Thumbprint of Identity
Take a moment to study your thumbprint and draw it on a piece of paper. Within the lines of your print, write down "I Am" statements that represent your identity, interests, or values. These could be simple phrases like “I am resilient” or “I am creative.”
This prompt helps you reflect on your true self and fosters a sense of self-worth by acknowledging who you are.
9. Finding Your Silver Lining
While the idea of finding silver linings can sometimes feel forced, this prompt encourages you to explore it in a way that feels authentic to you. Instead of pretending everything is fine, create an image of the sky as it feels to you in your current state. You can add clouds, rain, or sun, but the focus is on expressing how things really feel, rather than forcing positivity.
This exercise helps you validate your emotions and see that it's okay to experience life without pretending everything is perfect.
10. Creating a Vessel for Your Emotions
Our experiences, especially difficult ones, can leave emotional scars. One way to cope with these memories is to symbolize them through a vessel. Whether it’s a bowl, cup, or jar, create a vessel that holds your painful memories or difficult feelings. You can use clay, paper, or any medium you like to create the shape.
Place your memories inside the vessel - either by writing them down or drawing symbols that represent them. This exercise offers a safe way to contain emotions, giving you a sense of control over your feelings.
11. Capturing Everyday Joy Through Photography
Sometimes, we overlook the beauty in our everyday lives. For this exercise, take at least three photos each day of things that bring you joy or peace. It could be a beautiful sunrise, a moment with loved ones, or a peaceful moment in nature.
At the end of the week, revisit your album and reflect on how these moments made you feel. This prompt helps you cultivate gratitude and mindfulness, allowing you to focus on the positive aspects of your life.
12. Reconnecting with Nature on a Walk
Take a walk outdoors, just like you might have as a child. As you walk, collect small items that catch your eye - whether it’s a leaf, stone, or flower. Once you're back home, create a piece of art inspired by your walk. You could use the colors and textures of your collected items, or create a collage of your finds.
This exercise brings you closer to nature and helps you ground yourself in the present moment.
13. Landscapes of Home
Our environments shape who we are, and our past landscapes are part of our story. For this prompt, create an image of the landscapes you’ve lived in, combining different elements like mountains, forests, and rivers. You might also include buildings or landmarks that hold significance to you.
Once you finish the artwork, take time to reflect on how these places made you feel. Did they bring comfort, or do you wish to distance yourself from them? This reflection can offer insight into how your past experiences have shaped your present self.
14. Blind Contour Self-Portrait
Take a moment to look at yourself in a mirror. Without lifting your pen, draw a self-portrait while focusing solely on your reflection. Don’t look at your paper while drawing, and allow your hand to move freely across the page.
When you’re finished, look at the drawing. What parts of it feel like your true self? What areas feel exaggerated or distorted? This exercise helps you gain a deeper understanding of how you see yourself, both physically and emotionally.
15. The Horizon of Your Future
Draw a horizontal line across your paper, dividing it into two sections: the bottom half represents your present, while the top half symbolizes your future. In the lower half, use colors, lines, and shapes to express how you're feeling right now. In the top half, reflect on your hopes and dreams for the future.
What changes do you notice in color or design between the two sections? This prompt helps you visualize the shift from your current state to where you hope to be.
16. Creating Your Healing Space
Everyone needs a place to heal, whether it’s physical, emotional, or mental. For this exercise, create an image of your healing space. Think about the elements that would make you feel safe and supported. Is it an indoor space or an outdoor one? What sounds, textures, and scents would make this space comforting?
This prompt encourages you to visualize a sanctuary where you can go to relax and recharge.
17. Asking for Help
Many people struggle with asking for help. For this prompt, draw a circle on your paper and fill it with colors, lines, and words that represent the help you wish you could receive. Afterward, erase the original outline of the circle and reflect on which aspects of help would be easy to ask for and which would be more difficult.
This exercise promotes vulnerability and helps you explore the barriers that prevent you from seeking support.
18. Exploring Senses Through Art
Our senses are deeply connected to our memories and emotions. For this exercise, choose a scent or sound that resonates with you, and create art inspired by it. Whether it’s the smell of a favorite candle or a piece of music that moves you, allow these sensory experiences to guide your artwork.
This prompt helps you tap into your senses and the emotions they evoke, providing a deeper connection to your creative process.
19. Releasing Worries Through Art
Worries can weigh heavily on our minds, especially before bed. To release these thoughts, create an image that represents your current worries. Use lines, shapes, or colors to express what’s occupying your mind. Once the artwork is complete, decide how you’d like to "release" these worries - whether it’s by setting them aside in a portfolio or painting over them.
This exercise offers a therapeutic way to let go of stress and anxiety.
20. Imagining Possibilities
Art has the power to help us envision a brighter future. For this final prompt, create a piece of art that represents the possibilities in your life. Use colors, shapes, and symbols to express hope, potential, and new beginnings. This prompt encourages you to imagine the life you desire, free from limitations.
By tapping into your creativity, you can unlock new insights and discover the endless possibilities within yourself.
Art therapy prompts are a powerful way to explore your emotions, reduce stress, and develop a deeper understanding of yourself. Whether you use the Lina app for structured guidance or dive into traditional techniques, these creative exercises can support your healing journey. Try incorporating some of these activities into your daily routine and experience the positive impact they can have on your mental well-being.