Artist Statement
Central Question
My central questions are “How can art be used as therapy?” and “How can therapeutic art facilitate community?” I started my project with just the first question and through my final product of an art therapy-inspired coloring book, I explored the ways that the intersection between coloring mandalas and meditation exercise can positively affect one’s mental wellbeing. Later in my project, I decided to host a launch party on Zoom. The addition of this zoom event is where my second central question came into play and allowed me to actively engage in participants’ experiences with my coloring book.
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Literature
One artist that provided me with inspiration was Johanna Basford, who is known as the "modern pioneer of the adult coloring book". Within my research, I discovered her website which includes blogs and links to videos from her youtube channel, many of which include tips and tricks on how to design/color your own coloring book pages (Basford). Another important influence for me was the Lilith Fund's Abortion-Positive Coloring Book for Hard Times (Lilith Fund). This inspired me to create a few coloring book pages containing phrases contrary to the narrative society tells us, following the style of the Lilith Fund's coloring book. I also referenced a 2005 research study titled When Did Coloring Books Become Mindful?, which was spilt into two parts: participants coloring a mandala or free draw and participants coloring a mandala unguided or with a pre-recorded mindfulness exercise (Mantzios). This study informed me about how coloring mandalas and mindfulness exercises work together to reduce stress and anxiety.
Methods
I ultilized both artistic and scientific methods within my project. The main artistic technique I drew upon was the historical significance and creative process of the mandala, focusing on the mandala’s representation of self-understanding and self-acceptance. The main research method used was pre and post-surveys during my Zoom event, which recorded participants’ anxiety and stress levels before and after the coloring activity.
Pre-survey responses
Post-survey responses
Audience & Impact
My audience for this project is Gen Z and millennials. Many people in this demographic struggle with their mental health and may not be able to afford resources, especially during the pandemic. My coloring book will allow my audience to practice common self-therapy techniques. I hope to improve the mental well-being of my audience, provide them with self-therapy techniques and strategies they can use in everyday life, and educate them on how art therapy can be used to build community, especially in a time where physical distance and isolation are more prominent. As for my personal impact, I got to learn more about the world of art therapy, which is something I am considering pursuing as a career choice, as well as improved my artistic skills and explore the world of meditation.
References
Basford, Johanna. “Blog.” Johanna Basford, 5 Apr. 2021, www.johannabasford.com/blog/.
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Lilith Fund. Abortion-Positive Coloring Book for Hard Times. Lilith Fund, 2020.
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Mantzios, Michail, and Kyriaki Giannou. “When Did Coloring Books Become Mindful? Exploring the Effectiveness of a Novel Method of Mindfulness-Guided Instructions for Coloring Books to Increase Mindfulness and Decrease Anxiety.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 9, 2018, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00056.
Acknowledgments
I'd like to give a special thanks to everyone who attended my Zoom event and my faculty advisor, Heather!
