Anyone who knows me knows that I cannot live without my two essentials: art and therapy. Did you know you can combine these? It’s true! Creating art has been proven effective in reducing stress. Whether you are scribbling on a piece of scrap paper or creating a hyper-realistic painting, creating art is an amazing way to alleviate stress.
I started drawing freshman year of high school, when I was in a very low stress school year. As school got harder, my mental health declined. I was constantly worried about homework and nothing could help me escape, until I confided in art. Putting in headphones and daydreaming as I created my pieces of art became my go-to coping skill for when reality became too hard.
Four years into my art “career”, I still see drawing as an incredibly relieving experience. Even today, I was extremely stressed (ironically enough, about an art project), so I put in my headphones, played some Taylor Swift, and just let myself get lost in what I was drawing. It was so relieving! For me drawing feels like taking a break from the world, and in the end, you’re left with a super cool piece too!
Alright, I’ve convinced you to start drawing. Now you’re thinking, “where do I start?”. You’re in luck! I’ve linked my favorite art supplies to get you started!
Staedtler Graphite Pencils ($12.90)
There we go, my favorite art supplies! I could talk about my favorite art supplies for hours and hours, but to spare you, I’ve kept the list short.
I hope this article has inspired you to try art and I hope you find that you enjoy drawing as much as I do. Now go pick up some materials, even just a pen and paper, and discover the peace that comes from creating art!