Colour Through It
Artwork by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson
Have you tried colouring yet? I’ve run out of yarn to knit into cute things, but have been finding comfort in colouring while I listen to podcasts, talk to friends and family, or watch Netflix. It helps me pay attention and decreases the times my mind wonders off again. We are experiencing a collective trauma during this pandemic, and it’s naturally more difficult to be present and focus when the world seems so unpredictable.
According to polyvagal theory, creativity comes when we’re in a safe-and-social state. Engaging in a fairly simple craft like colouring can help encourage our nervous system to that state, making it easier to access the ability to memory, focus, and concentration.
Just like almost all tools we have, colouring doesn’t work for everyone at anytime. But for some of us colouring can help us stay in the moment for a bit, reducing our anxiety and worry about the future.
Don’t have a colouring book at home and find yourself without a printer? Try doodling, these Zentangle patterns could be a good place to start: https://tanglepatterns.com/2016/01/how-to-draw-fe-ba.html
Artwork from Taproot Magazine
Looking for something to colour in? These are my favourite so far:
Another mandala: https://www.justcolor.net/relaxation/coloring-mandalas/?image=mandalas__coloring-mandala-geometric-circles__1
Colour pages by Inupiat artists: http://www.thearcticsounder.com/article/2013inupiat_artists_share_their_work_for_people
From a magazine I adore: https://taprootmag.com/pages/taproot-downloadable-coloring-book
Succulents: http://jenntaylorstudio.com/blog/2017/5/22/letsticktogethersucca
Crystals: https://robynmckeowndesign.com/2016/04/01/april-coloring-page/
