Coloring is Not Just for Kids

By Nancy Béliveau: 

Discover the Therapeutic Power of Coloring: A Gateway to Relaxation and Creativity

Unveiling the Healing Art of Coloring

Throughout my life, I've delved into various artistic pursuits, from whimsical murals to intricate digital animations. However, it wasn't until last year that I stumbled upon an article extolling the virtues of coloring for adults. Intrigued, I delved deeper, immersing myself in studies, news clips, and articles touting the myriad benefits of this seemingly simple activity. The consensus? Coloring is not merely a pastime; it's a potent form of meditation that fosters serenity, sharpens motor skills, and unleashes boundless creativity.

Embracing this newfound revelation, I endeavored to share its transformative potential with a wider audience. Thus, You-Color.com was born—a virtual haven where coloring transcends leisure to become a holistic, enriching experience.

Unlocking Serenity in a Stressful World

In our relentless pursuit of productivity, stress often becomes an unwelcome companion. Coloring, however, emerges as a beacon of tranquility in a sea of chaos. Renowned New York-based psychologist, Dr. Ben Michaelis, attests to the therapeutic merits of this structured activity. By engaging the logical faculties of the brain, coloring offers respite from anxiety and cultivates a sense of calm. Drawing inspiration from Dr. Michaelis's insights, You-Color.com encourages users to embrace the restorative power of creativity amidst life's hustle and bustle.

A Prescription for Wellness: Coloring as Therapy

Beyond its calming effects, coloring serves as a potent tool in the arsenal against anxiety and stress-related ailments. Pioneered by luminaries such as psychiatrist Carl Jung, coloring therapy continues to garner acclaim in contemporary mental health circles. Through You-Color.com, users can embark on a journey of self-care, harnessing the therapeutic benefits of coloring to foster emotional resilience and well-being.

Coloring: A Corporate Oasis

The healing influence of coloring transcends individual practice, permeating even the corporate landscape. In offices across the nation, coloring sessions have become a respite from the rigors of professional life. As highlighted by a Fox Health News segment, Jason Abrams, an account manager, found solace in coloring amidst the frenetic pace of his role. Encouraging camaraderie and relaxation, these corporate coloring sessions underscore the universal appeal of this timeless activity.

Fostering Community through Creativity

At its core, coloring is not merely a solitary pursuit; it's a communal experience that fosters connection and camaraderie. From informal gatherings to structured clubs, individuals come together to share in the joys of coloring. Whether sipping cocktails or swapping stories, these gatherings serve as testament to the enduring allure of creativity.

Empowering Personal Expression

At You-Color.com, creativity knows no bounds. With a curated selection of handcrafted designs and customizable options, users are invited to unleash their imagination and express themselves freely. Whether it's embellishing a canvas or personalizing a greeting card, every creation is imbued with the unique essence of its maker.

Elevate Your Experience with You-Color.com

As you embark on your coloring journey, let You-Color.com be your guide to serenity and self-expression. With a plethora of tutorials, design options, and inspirational quotes, our platform offers endless possibilities for creativity and relaxation. Join us in celebrating the transformative power of coloring—where every stroke is a step towards inner peace and fulfillment.

Start your coloring adventure today at You-Color.com.

Wishing you moments of tranquility and boundless creativity, Nancy.

Like many people, I was looking for a way to meditate and relax without having to go to a meditation class or yoga class. So I sought a method to unwind and rejuvenate. As an artist with a lifelong passion for creativity, I stumbled upon a transformative practice that not only ignites joy but also nurtures well-being: adult coloring.

Discovering that coloring is not only fun but it’s really good for you

Most of my life has involved work in different types of artistic endeavors from murals for children's bedrooms to painting canvases, to creating greeting cards, building artistic birdhouses—even digital animation.

Beyond its calming effects, coloring serves as a potent tool in the arsenal against anxiety and stress-related ailments. Pioneered by luminaries such as psychiatrist Carl Jung, coloring therapy continues to garner acclaim in contemporary mental health circles.

Through You-Color.com, users can embark on a journey of self-care, harnessing the therapeutic benefits of coloring to foster emotional resilience and well-being.

“When you practice coloring, it inspires a sense of well-being, and stimulates the brain in miraculous ways.” 

I wanted to share this experience, with as many people as possible, using what I’ve learned from a lifetime of creating art. So, I’ve created a website, you-color.com, with a different approach to coloring. Not only you can use the free images to color and relax but you can also make a project out of it.   

Creating a less stressful and happier life

We are living in a stressful society where it's all about producing and getting things done. We’re always up against deadlines to achieve our tasks and projects. Coloring is shown to be a simple way to meditate and get your focus back. I just want to add the opportunity for someone to create and/or give as a gift the idea of relaxing while creating. 

New York-based clinical psychologist Dr. Ben Michaelis says that the fact that coloring is structured, it activates the logic part of the brain, and generates a creative mindset. 

“Experts on mental health use coloring as a therapy to give our brains a rest from fear and stress”

“Because it’s a centering activity, the amygdala, which is the part of the brain that is involved with our fear response, actually gets a bit, a little bit of a rest,” Michaelis said, “and it ultimately has a really calming effect over time.” Not only does he prescribe coloring, but Michaelis even uses coloring books with his own family. “We do it on Fridays as a way to kind of take the steam out of the week,” he said, “and also when my kids are kind of fighting or the temperature is starting to rise a bit in the house” 

Psychologists and experts on mental anxiety are even using coloring for patients to get them to relax... '' The health benefits go beyond relaxation and include exercising fine motor skills and training the brain to focus. Doctors have known about these benefits since the early 1900s. Psychiatrist Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, prescribed coloring to his patients to calm and center their minds. Doctors today continue to follow Jung’s lead and still recommend the activity to combat anxiety.'' See how being open about anxiety can help.

Businesses discover that coloring in the office provides relief from mental overload

Another example, found in the video from Fox health news, Jason Abrams, 30, is an account manager at North 6th Agency, a New York City-based public relations firm. High anxiety and the hectic schedule of the deadline-driven job left him needing a way to cope with the stress. He got hooked on using coloring books as a relaxing exercise— he even sparked a trend in his office. Every Friday afternoon they have coloring sessions in their conference room, to help relieve the stress.

In offices across the nation, coloring sessions have become a respite from the rigors of professional life. As highlighted by a Fox Health News segment, Jason Abrams, an account manager, found solace in coloring amidst the frenetic pace of his role. Encouraging camaraderie and relaxation, these corporate coloring sessions underscore the universal appeal of this timeless activity.

Some people have come up with a social way to color and meet with friends.... for example, once a month, Heidi Johnson, a member of the Ladies Coloring Club in New Hope, Minnesota, finds herself unwinding with the group when they meet for cocktails and coloring. And there’s no need to worry about staying in the lines, Johnson said.

“You don’t have to be an expert at the DIY project, or a painter or an artist,” she said. “You can just pick something you like that speaks to you and color it however you want it.”

Sharing something personal 

I have found that personal creations can be very special for the person you are giving it to... so that is why I came up with little courses on how you can create these designs yourself or choose how you want to color it and on what you would like to see it. Even if you choose a design already made, you chose the colors and you chose what you wanted the design to be on... If for example, you choose a design and decide to apply it on a canvas, the person you give it to can color it/paint it or you can color it/paint it and give it to them.

I love colored sharpies!!! They are bright colors and they don't smudge or if the paper is wet it doesn't affect the colors. For sharpies, you need a paper that doesn’t spread the ink in which you can find tablets of these kinds of papers for a small fee at Walmart or any art store. You can also use wax coloring crayons, wood crayons, even paint if you feel like it. Just choose the right kind of paper especially for paint, ink, or felt. As for paint, you can also use a canvas. You simply choose a design then apply it on a canvas (whatever size you want) prepares the canvas for you ...and you can have it delivered and start painting inside the lines. You can choose or inspire yourself with different ideas of color scheme to create your work; then proudly expose it in your home or give it as a gift.

All my designs are hand-made...I am not a machine so there will be some little mistakes but I find this is what makes the design even more special because it's not perfect.

I also give information on some of the designs so that there is a learning aspect on the website. For example, I explain what a Geisha is and what it represents in the Japanese culture...or I write the word ' PEACE ' in different languages so that we can spread the word. I love learning and I always find it interesting to learn things so I thought that you might also like to know that extra information... You can also submit your own words from your own languages and express what it means and also inform the audience of historical or culture as a sharing place... That way, we can know more about our world with all its cultures and diversity...

At its core, coloring is not merely a solitary pursuit; it's a communal experience that fosters connection and camaraderie. From informal gatherings to structured clubs, individuals come together to share in the joys of coloring.

At You-Color.com, creativity knows no bounds. With a curated selection of handcrafted designs and customizable options, users are invited to unleash their imagination and express themselves freely. 

As you embark on your coloring journey, let You-Color.com be your guide to serenity and self-expression. With many designs to choose from and inspirational quotes, our platform offers endless possibilities for creativity and relaxation. 

Start your coloring adventure today at You-Color.com.

Wishing you moments of tranquility and boundless creativity, Nancy