I’m presenting you with a painting of Mt. Fuji in Japan. One of my dreams is to travel to Tokyo with my husband. The song going through my head as I painted was “Rainy Night in Tokyo” by Michael Franks (you can view the words online).
My second work this month is a Valentine array of hearts from one of my favorite coloring books. I remember as a child seeing the large boxes filled with Valentine candy and adorned with beautiful pink and red ribbons. You can’t find them like that now. Enjoy!
Back when the pandemic began, I was trying to find a balanced, calming center of my well-being. A dear friend of mine, knowing my love of art, suggested that I investigate paint-by-number. My eyes always light up when color is in the equation!
When, as a young woman, I was diagnosed with ADHD and an anxiety disorder, I began to paint on a daily basis. After doing some research on the paint-by-number opportunities available these days, I was relieved and excited. This painting process (mostly in acrylic paints) helps to improve brain function by engaging both sides of the brain simultaneously, boosting confidence and promoting a meditative state. The icing on the cake is when the painting evolves into something I created.
In a 2005 research study conducted by Nancy A. Curry, undergraduate students were randomly assigned to color a mandala, a plaid form, or a blank piece of paper. Results demonstrated that anxiety levels declined for the mandala- and plaid-coloring groups and that both of these groups experienced more reduction in anxiety than did the unstructured-coloring group. These findings suggest that structured coloring of complex geometric patterns may induce a meditative state that benefits individuals suffering from anxiety.
One of my goals in life is to spread joy whenever and wherever possible. Hence the Joy Project. The plan is to reprint some of my favorite paint-by-number projects (some reproduced below) on postcard-sized handouts that will feature a painting on one side and a brief inspirational quote on the other. You never know where these will pop up, so stay alert and open to JOY, and it will find you! And maybe one of the originals will find its way into your life as well!
The Pink Room 
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