Art Therapy is helpful for people of all ages and its benefits go beyond the field of mental health into many other areas of life. Including an art therapy practice along with other recovery methods when dealing with traumatic life events is essential for expressing our emotions (particularly the more negative ones) rather than letting them control our day-to-day. Making art allows for the opportunity to be fully present in the moment and offers a sense of relaxation and peac

"Why do you make art?" Hear from the students of MBodied's watercolor class. Common responses to the question are: "because it's relaxing/stress-relieving", "to express my creative side" and "I get absorbed in the process and lose track of time!" Why do YOU make art?? #Westminsterpaintingclasses #Westminsterartclass #Westminsterdrawingclass #Westminsterartstudio #artclass #paintingclass #drawingclass #learntodraw #learntopaint #learntopaintWestminster #artclasses #denverartc

What is the reason most people don't make art? MBodied has a 5 part system for overcoming this common issue! Find out steps 1-3 right now! #Westminsterpaintingclasses #Westminsterpainting #Westminsterpaintingclass #artandcommunity #artclassarvada #Westminsterartstudio #ArtStudioWestminster #artastherapy #timeforart #relaxingthroughart #makingtimetomakeart #Westminsterartclass #Art #artclasswestminster #Denverpaintingclass #Denverartclass #Denverdrawingclass #Denverartstudio

Did you know most kids stop making art around the age of 11 or 12? At this point in cognitive development, kids begin to want their art to look real and if they can’t accomplish this feat they give up on art altogether. Many adults have affirmed this to be the story of when they stopped making art. I tend to agree, if art had to be realistic, I wouldn’t enjoy it much either. But that's the thing…it doesn’t have to be like anything! That’s why I love abstract art, it allow

I’m sitting in a roomful of people who are silent, totally absorbed in what they are doing, soft music playing in the background and a sense of community and belonging. This is one of my favorite things as an introvert, enjoying the company of others while totally engaged in what I am doing. Now, we’re not silent all the time. We talk, we laugh and engage. The difference is, that’s not the focus of our gathering. We gather to paint, our focus is on creative expression and

I know I’m not alone here when I say that my intentions to make art greatly outweigh my actual art making endeavors. I’m not alone because I know the truth about creativity as I’ve seen it play out the same for every person I’ve known: creativity is a discipline just like going to the gym or going to work. Sometimes you don’t want to do it and sometimes you have to make yourself do it. “You can’t force creativity!” Yes, yes, we like to believe creativity is this fleeting

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There’s something magical in Michelle’s studio. Some combination of Michelle’s true passion for her art – her actual paintings and, more loosely, her art of shepherding students through learning about painting and themselves – the good conversations in the studio, the freedom to create and learn and make mistakes, and something…magical. I found out about MBodied Art Studio because I wanted to relearn about the art techniques I so loved in high school and then forgot about in

As the year comes to a close, I can say with certainty there is one habit I will definitely continue in the new year. The best thing I did for myself in 2015 was create a morning routine that starts each day off with centering activities. For me, the first and most important one is writing. I write in my journal every (almost every) morning. It is a sacred time when I check in with myself and see “what’s up.” I don’t write about what happened yesterday, I write about how

A lot of people use art as a means to deal with sadness, stress and trauma. Others use it to explore their inner talent and creative voice. While other forms of therapy rely on verbal language to express thoughts and feelings, art therapy uses art media as its primary mode of communication. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t have to be an artist to enjoy the benefits of art therapy because it is focused on the process of making art rather the final product. If you are curio

Tape resist art is a fun and unique way to make all sorts of artwork. It is one of my favorite art projects because children of all ages can participate in this activity and actually create a beautiful and colorful masterpiece. This week, we thought of sharing with you some tape resist art projects you can share with your kids. We bet they’ll love it! Tape resist painting Painting is a fun activity, but if you add in some tape resist – it’s just downright awesome. What you ne

Traumatic events can happen to anyone at any time. People may experience mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety following a traumatic event. Some may even suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. This is not a sign of weakness. These symptoms are our brain’s normal response to an event that one perceived as dangerous or life threatening. They need to undergo therapy in order to overcome their symptoms and help them heal emotionally. It may surprise you to learn that art can

When a person is diagnosed with illness, our first instinct is to focus on the physical health and alleviate the pain. In addition to the physical health, we should also keep in mind that these individuals also suffer emotionally. Concerns about health can be a source of stress and anxiety, not only for the patient but his family and loved ones as well. The good news is, patients and their families can get through this emotional turmoil with the help of art therapy. Today, ar

A birthday is so special to a child. Looked forward to for months and hopefully remembered long after, its importance cannot be overstated. MBodied Art Studio loves helping make birthdays special by providing a beautiful venue, kind teachers, awesome art materials and lasting memories. For the preschool age birthday (3-6 years old), MBodied knows the excitement and energy of this age group and enjoys hosting art exploration parties. Multiple project ideas and materials are

What is the number one thing that prevents you from creating art? Time or the lack thereof. After all, nobody has free time. School, work, family and all the other responsibilities we juggle on a daily basis offer enough excuse for skipping art sessions. But how do you find time for art when you already have a full schedule? Read on and check out the suggestions below. Not only will you start making art, but you’ll also start changing your mindset. Set limits for computer tim

Many of you have probably heard about profound the benefits of meditation. But sometimes, people are just too busy they don’t even have time to relax and meditate. They rush through the day trying to multi-task, not even realizing that they need to take a break. This prevents us from becoming aware of our body, let alone our breathing, which are 2 of the most important aspects of meditation. If you are one of these people, you are not alone. This week, we’d like to change tha

Art therapy, also referred to as creative arts therapy, uses visual arts to communicate feelings that cannot be expressed by words alone. A lot of people have little understanding about the purpose, principles and origins of art therapy. We decided to write this article to broaden your knowledge of art therapy and see how it can benefit you. Art therapy dates back to 1940 Margaret Naumburg, the founder of art therapy, was the first to define art therapy as a distinct form psy

There’s something about a new box of crayons that I can’t help but appreciate, even at the age of 30. I was a big fan of coloring as a child. Every time I see a box of crayons, I think back on my childhood and remember the countless hours I used to spend choosing the right colors for my masterpieces. Imagine how excited I got when I saw a bunch of adult coloring books on Amazon. Coloring has been making headlines lately, especially in Europe. Apparently, adult coloring books

Sexual abuse is an ongoing concern in the United States. In fact, one out of five women reported that she has experienced sexual abuse at some point in her life. Survivors have been known to face significant physical, emotional and social ripples from the trauma they have experienced. Aside from that, they also struggle with changes in personality and relationships. There is a tendency towards shame and secrecy related to sexual abuse. Studies revealed that 52% of women repor

Children naturally love art. Unfortunately, school curricula in the United States have shifted heavily in the recent years, and are now focused on subjects such as Math and Reading, but what about the arts? While we agree that it is important to focus on academics, we should also keep in mind that art, in childhood education, is also essential. Here are 5 reasons why art is good for kids. Encourages creativity Art opens a child’s mind and heart to possibilities and fuels imag