4 Fun Artistic Activities for Beginners

Art is for everyone! Yes, that means you too. If you have never picked up an artistic hobby just because you are convinced that you're not good at it, there are a few things you should know. First, art is subjective. What is good or bad is in the eye of the beholder. Second, engaging in an artistic hobby isn't about being good, it's about enjoyment. Third, there are serious positive mental and emotional benefits to doing art that make it worth trying.

Research has shown that making art can reduce levels of cortisol - which causes stress - and increase levels of dopamine - which stimulates a relaxation response. If a simple and fun activity can give you some relief from anxiety or even depression, why wouldn't you do it? Here are a few art styles that you might want to try out.

Drawing

Drawing is the most basic and essential art form that you can do. You can draw from your imagination, or you can observe objects around you and recreate them on paper. If you are one of the people that really need to be sure that you are "doing it right", Amazon is chock full of beginner drawing books and YouTube is packed with videos giving basic drawing instructions. 

No other art form is as easily accessible and requires less equipment. The next time you're heading out of the house just grab one of your best tote bags and toss in a sketchbook and some pencils or pens. When you find yourself stuck in the waiting room at the doctor's office or with nothing to do in between classes, you can try your hand at sketching whatever comes to mind.

Decoupage

Decoupage is a simple art technique that has the potential to transform a plain object into something truly special. Put simply, it is the process of cutting out images, gluing them to a hard surface like glass or wood and then sealing everything with a layer of varnish or more glue. It's difficult to mess up decoupage because the intended look is usually organic or rustic. It's a very forgiving technique.

Decoupage can be used to upgrade an old piece of furniture, create custom gift boxes and embellish small objects like vases or jewelry boxes. It produces beautiful, usable projects that are durable and unique. Start with a small simple project that you're not afraid to experiment on. Once you have the basics down, you can expand your decoupage techniques to produce some complex and stunning pieces.

Adult Coloring Books

A few years back, someone realized that the love for coloring books didn't go away when people grew up. The result is an amazing collection of coloring books that are designed for adults. There are fine art coloring books so that you can do your own replica of your favorite Monet painting, pattern coloring books so you can design and color in intricate mandalas or geometric patterns, fantasy-based coloring books, literature-based coloring books and more.

Coloring books are a great way to get past that voice in your head that says you're not creative enough to make art. It's a wonderful option for left-brained individuals who really need the security of coloring within the lines. You can have all the joy of playing with color and producing beautiful art without stressing out about being good at it.

Tangle Art

This is a newer art form that was actually designed to be meditative. Tangling is the process of creating miniature square pieces of art that are filled with repetitive and simple patterns. Some tangles are left in black and white, while some are filled with color. It is an incredibly calming and mindful activity that anyone can do and has the potential for real positive effects on mental and emotional well-being.

The biggest obstacle most people encounter in trying an art form is that voice in their head that says they're not good enough. Recreational art is not for anyone but you. It doesn't have to be gallery-worthy to give you hours of joy and relaxation.