Imagine a space where you can express anything and everything without needing a single word. A place where you can explore emotions, practice motor skills, process thoughts and celebrate small victories. That’s exactly what an art journal offers, and it can be very transformative for stroke survivors.
Why an Art Journal is Helpful in Recovery:
- A Non Verbal Voice: If a stroke has impacted your ability to speak or write, an art journal becomes your silent confidant. You can scribble, paint, doodle or collage your feelings, memories and observations. It’s a powerful way to communicate when words are hard to find.
- Motor Skill Practice in Disguise: Every stroke of a brush, every line drawn with a crayon, every piece of paper torn or cut, helps to engage and refine fine motor skills. It’s repetitive practice, but with a creative purpose that makes it enjoyable and less like therapy homework.
- Emotional Release & Processing: Recovery can bring a whirlwind of emotions – frustration, sadness, hope, anger, joy. An art journal provides a safe space to vent, process and explore these feelings visually. It can be incredibly cathartic and help prevent emotions from bottling up.
- Cognitive Stimulation: Deciding what colors to use, how to arrange elements or what to depict, all engage problem solving, decision making and focus. These are vital cognitive functions that an art journal can gently help strengthen.
- A Record of Progress: Looking back through your journal, you’ll see not just your artistic journey, but your recovery journey. It’s a tangible record of your resilience, creativity and the amazing progress you’re making, page by page.
- No Rules, No Pressure: The beauty of an art journal is that there are no “mistakes.” It’s purely for you. This removes performance anxiety and encourages genuine self-expression.
Ready to Dive In? Here’s How to Get Started:
You don’t need fancy supplies or artistic talent – just a willingness to explore.
Gather Your Simple Supplies
- A Journal:
- Any blank book will do! It could be a simple spiral notebook, a sketchbook or even a handmade one.
- Something to Make Marks With
- Crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels
- A simple set of watercolors or acrylic paints
- Pens, pencils, charcoal
- Something to Stick On (Optional but Fun!):
- Old magazines, newspapers, greeting cards, fabric scraps
- Glue stick or simple craft glue
- Optional Extras:
- Scissors (safety or adaptive ones if needed), brushes, sponges, stencils
Find Your Space & Time
- Choose a comfortable spot where you won’t be easily disturbed.
- Start with just 10-15 minutes a day, or whenever you feel inspired.
Step 3: Just Start! Here are some prompts to get you going:
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- How do I feel right now? – Pick colors that match your mood and just make marks. Don’t think, just feel and draw.
- What am I grateful for today? – Draw or collage symbols that represent things you appreciate.
- What’s a sound I hear? – Try to draw the texture or feeling of a sound, like birds chirping or rain falling.
- Draw a line that makes you feel strong/calm/hopeful.
- Tear out words or images from a magazine that catch your eye and glue them down.
- What does ‘recovery’ look like to you today? – It could be an abstract shape, a color, or a simple symbol.
- Trace your hand or an object near you. – Focus on the tactile sensation
- Draw to the sound of music. – Use a marker or crayon and close your eyes and let your hand move to the music.
*if needed, there are plenty of adaptive art tools available on Amazon, like hand grips for pencils and brushes, easy grip crayons, self opening loop scissors, anti slip mats and more…
Remember: It’s Your Journey
There’s no right or wrong way to create your art journal. This isn’t about creating gallery worthy art, it’s about giving yourself permission to explore, express and heal. Each page is a step forward, a moment of self-care and a testament to your incredible resilience.
Written by Heather Ballard @ InspireArtStudios ❤️