Art Therapy Exercise

The unconscious mind has a wealth of information in which to help solve problems, and this is one way to problemsolve. The language of the unconscious mind speaks (nonverbally) in colors, symbols, metaphors, etc., which are mostly right brain cognitive skills.

For this exercise choose a drawing media (crayons, colored pencils, chalk etc…) and a blank piece of paper. Then draw one of the following:

• An expression of how you feel when you are either angry or afraid
• A sketch of yourself (how you see yourself either real or symbolic)
• Close your eyes and draw a line on the paper. Then open your eyes and slowly rotate the paper around until an image appears. Complete the image with lines and color.
• A mandala (a circular-shaped personal coat of arms with four quadrants depicting four aspects of your lives that are important to you)
• A dream image (recurring dreams work the best here)
• House or a tree
• Draw whatever you wish!

Once you have finished your drawing, reflect on what your picture means, what you have gained or learned, and how you feel. You may wish to use the color guide below to help with your interpretations.  Although there are exceptions, there is a consensus among art therapists (and even psychologists) that regardless of gender, nationality, or ethnic upbringing, each color used in art therapy represents an archetypal meaning. Typically, the color selection, as well as the objects drawn (house, tree, etc.), often parallel emotional expressions of one’s mental/emotional health. The absence of a color does not mean a lack of something, rather the colors used express that which the unconscious mind wishes to covey at the time of the drawing. The following suggests associations between colors and their archetypal meanings.**

• Red: Passionate emotional peaks (from pleasure to pain) can represent either compassion or anger.
• Orange: Suggests a life change (big or small, and typically more positive than negative).
• Yellow: Represents energy (usually a positive message).
• Green and Blue: Suggest happiness and joy (blue may even mean creativity). These colors also suggest a strong sense/desire for groundedness and stability in your environment.
• Purple/Violet: Suggests a highly spiritual nature, unconditional love.
• Brown (and earth tone colors): A sense of groundedness and stability.
• Black: Can either represent grief, despair, fear, or a sense of personal empowerment.
• White: Can either mean fear, avoidance, cover-up, or hope.
• Grey: Typically represents a sense of ambiguity, uncertainty about some issue you are working on.

** adapted with permission from Seaward, B.L. (2010). Mind-body-spirit stress management workbook, Boulder, CO: Paramount Wellness Institute

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