As I was watching, I couldn't help but think about the power that art and craft has for everyone - not only alzheimer's patients. Unfortunately, not everyone I know does art or knows how to craft. Kids start out creating as children. As they grow older, they become more fearful of doing it wrong and not being perfect and then they stop making art or making things. I find this very sad but there is hope.
The art movement seems to be growing everyday. In person art classes and on-line art classes have all fueled the sales of art supplies. More and more people are enjoying art. Painting and drawing, making pottery, sewing, knitting, crochet, woodworking.... the list goes on and on...... are such fantastic ways to lose yourself and let your mind go from all the news that is out there.
One important trend that is fueling this is the Adult Coloring Book Trend. It began in France several years ago as a stress-reliever for (mostly) women. I remember hearing (sorry - don't remember where) several years ago that more adult coloring books were sold in France than cookbooks. That fact was astounding. You can read a little about it here from 2014.
I remember wondering if the adult coloring book craze would come to the US and yes it has. I also remember thinking I could do that but I didn't jump on it. One independent artist who did was Janean Morrison. She self-published via Amazon's CreateSpace and beat all the other US publishers to the trend. Brilliant! You can listen to an interesting podcast with Janean here on Abby's While She Naps Show.
What about you? Do you make art? Do you craft? Do you color? Does anyone in your family color? Would love to hear your comments.
Technical troubles - I cannot get the photos off of my camera. Will have to retake on a different one. Please be patient! Thanks.
9 comments:
I sew and embroider commercially...at home. Not clothes (ack!), but custom items for businesses and churches. I love doing it, and dislike being interrupted. Not many people nearby me sew or even like it when they sew. I craft, quilt, and cook (even canning) during my non-work time.
Learning to draw and paint as an adult has been such a positive experience! I am glad that there is an art movement that is growing. The people that probably need it the most are the ones that don't realize it. I can be mentally exhausted at the end of the work day. If I spend 10 - 15 minutes drawing in a focused way, my brain feels refreshed. I feel like a more complete person adding art to my life. Don't blush, but your indirect and direct influence helped me be open to it!
Robin
30 years ago I was a manager at Sears and one of my colleagues colored in coloring books as a way to relieve stress. I thought that was rather odd. I now have at least one employee that does it as well... sometimes on her lunch hours. I like that simple step for easing stress. Wish it would help me!
Ruth in Oxnard
Whoops I embroider and have just finished the 14 panels of red work to make into a quilt. I used to sew all of my own clothes in High school. I keep saying...when I retire I will paint.
Ruth in Oxnard CA.
Yes art is so good for the soul, how can it not be good for the body! One of the other positive things about making art or crafting is the people you can meet through it, and of course social connections are also very healthy for our brains as we age. I've been a knitter for 30+ years, and more recently have taken up needlepoint, rug hooking and pottery. The personal satisfaction is a source of happiness, and these activities have given me social connections that I value. Thanks for the great post, as always!
I watched that show and can't stop thinking about it. I too was impressed at the way these patients "came to life" as they either crafted or toured museums. As a kid, I drew and painted and made doll clothes by hand. You are so right that as adults, some of us don't craft anymore for fear of not getting it just right! Now I knit, color in adult coloring books and make homemade soap with my husband. It feels good to craft and get lost in the moment. Hopefully the documentary will stir more crafting in nursing facilities here. Keep up your colorful crafting. You are an inspiration.
I rotate among knitting, embroidery, and sewing (have just begun to quilt), but I'm intimidated by those coloring books for adults and the whole zentangle phase for some reason. Maybe it's all those straight lines and points looking aggressive or something.
This summer I plan to dye yarn with plants from my own garden.
I loved making things and crafting when I was a kid but I am one of those who started thinking I wasn't "good enough" at drawing or painting or being creative. I took all science and math and college prep classes in high school and then got an applied math degree in college. No creating or making, or not much anyway. I wanted to but didn't think it was what I should be doing with my time. I came back to it all when I became a stay at home mom and suddenly I wanted to knit and crochet and didn't care what others thought of me doing that. I still do not think I'm good at drawing or art journaling or anything like that. I don't color (yet) but I do love paper and stamping and making books. My daughter colors as a stress reliever and I'm glad that it helps her.
I haven't painted since high school... IF I had the time and SPACE, I'd like to give it a go again. However, my "drawing" skills aren't really as honed as other family members'. My sister and her adult daughters do a lot of ornate "Face"-painting on a regular basis and my mom used to be a really accomplished "Copyist" and did a lot of Race Horse portraits with pastels on "velvet"-paper, all from teeny photographs! Although her eyesight is rather poor now, she has taken an interest in the Adult Colouring Books craze... As for myself, I get more stress release from BUYING "ART"! A bit too much perhaps..? My THRIFTY-ART-"RESCUE" Collection has recently hit the "3-digit" mark! And, with NO "place" to hang them! :-[
BTW, here's a thought, whilst we're on the topic of Colouring Books... *THAT* I think, would be a GREAT Book "pitch" for you, Kristin. Your "patterns" are perfect for encouraging People to "fill-in-the-blanks" with COLOUR! OR, perhaps, a FABRIC-Line..?
Whatever's cost-effective and, LESS stressful to do!
;-D
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