As many adults have rediscovered their love of coloring, it turns out there are significant benefits to this simple past time. In a study featured in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, researchers found that even a brief period of coloring in shapes and designs resulted in a marked decrease in anxiety levels, and improved test scores among college students.

A Canadian Art Association study that shows that while coloring alone does have some positive effect, it is not nearly as potent as involving an art therapist. The main takeaway is that coloring has some limited benefits like reducing stress and negative mental states, but it does not shift anything else of substance, develop relationships, nor result in any personal development.

'True art therapy

is about growth and relationships,

and not simply about "feeling better",

experts say.'

“The adult coloring phenomenon is reintroducing art as an important component of health and wellness,” says Dr. Donna Betts, ATR-BC, American Art Therapy Association President. “The AATA has been impressed by many of Dover’s publications, especially the Creative Haven® coloring books for adults,” adds Dr. Betts. “Obviously, anyone who requires professional art therapy services should visit the AATA website for more information, but these books provide a pathway to the life-affirming pleasures of making art.”

If you use coloring to relax or a way to creatively express your artistic self, check out these sewing and quilt-inspired coloring pages. Make your world more artistic with The Art Jinni! Here are two, of several images available, for free download:

Click on 100 Buttons for a free, download link at JustColor.net:

Mary Cassatt's Young Mother Sewing is also available at JustColor.net. You may recall seeing the original artwork on an earlier blog post:

You can even turn your photos into a Custom Coloring Book at Color Me Book.

The American Art Therapy Association is an organization representing over 5,000 practitioner and student members. An integrative mental health profession, art therapy combines theories of human development and psychology with visual arts and the creative process to address a range of treatment goals. Art therapists can help people resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight. Action-oriented and experientially based, art therapy is conducted with individuals, couples, families and groups in diverse settings, including hospitals, schools, psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities, mental health clinics, wellness centers, senior centers, veteran’s clinics, correctional institutions and other community facilities.

Cheers to creativity and reducing stress!

XOXOX

I get more pleasure out of drawing and then colouring in my quilt designs than using EQ! Sandra 9/14/2018

I completely understand, Sandra. For me, there's something satisfying about creating on paper. Although, there are plenty of creatives that connect better with technology. How great to have a wide spectrum of choices available.