Emotional release and the creative act

Everything about this can be so therapeutic! From the sponging of watercolour over stencils, to the tearing of paper in the collage.

Watercolour doodling and collage is one of the most liberating ways to work creatively.

❌ There’s no blank-page pressure,
❌ no need to “draw well,”
❌ and no expectation of perfection.

You simply splash colour, layer, and respond.

It's wonderfully playful, intuitive, and deeply expressive.

Take the watercolour work as an example. On days you're feeling frustrated or angry, just imagine how wild that colour would be thrown at that page! With sharp jerks in the wrist action, that paint brush would tell a multitude of stories if it could. Then imagine how much calmer and more in control of your inner world you'd feel afterwards.

Same goes for the sponging of colour over the stencil. Will your presses be light as a feather, or ground into the page with force?

How about the tearing of that paper, in the collage? Well, say farewell to frustration and hello to mindfulness, when you focus on the sound and feel of the paper as you're tearing it. Ahhhh! What satisfying sensory feedback! It acts as a safe, symbolic release for negative emotions or aggression, while also strengthening hand muscles and enhancing fine motor skills.

And don't even get me started on the doodling…

Everything about this creative work is so wonderfully therapeutic!

And when all is said and done, you get your therapy on your terms…when you want and where. Because all you need to do is watch the free Youtube video I have created for you here. (I include all the resource links too, like the stencils & paper)

Just 15 minutes a day. This project isn't meant for one sitting, but rather over many days. Leave your materials out, and that makes it easier to keep coming back to.

Once you're done, use your creations to journal the feelings you've just processed. Or art journal with your latest art work. Here's some layout inspiration:

The creative opportunities are endless.

And if you're looking for more creative opportunities as an emotional outlet, come to one of my classes, where we create art like you see on the left of Layout 03 (The Dandelions)

I offer them online to the world. More info is here.

Or if you live on the Gold Coast, Australia, come and create with me live and share in all my journaling resources. My classes are in Mudgeeraba. Find out more here.

I add a new watercolour doodle & journal layout to my blog monthly, to help keep you inspired and your art journaling alive... (This one is edition 3)
Follow me on my Instagram to be the first to know when a new edition drops.

(Thank you for being here, and reading this far.)

Love & light,

Lauren 💚

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