Blake LeVine - The Psychology of Adult Coloring: How Coloring Creates Health and Healing

Copyright 2016 by Blake LeVine

Artwork copyright 2016 by Shutterstock and Adult Coloring Book: Be Inspired; Adult Coloring Book: Doodle Explorations; Adult Coloring Book: Doodle Worlds; Adult Coloring Book: Keep Calm; Alberta Hutchinsons Instant Zen Designs; Alberta Hutchinsons Peaceful Mandalas; Angela Porters Zen Doodle Animal Tangles; Butterfly Gardens: Coloring for Everyone; Creative Escapes Wild Horses; Forever Inspired: Unicorns and Mythical Creatures; Mandalas: Coloring For Everyone; Marjorie Sarnats Fanciful Fashions; Marty Nobles Color Yourself Happy; Marty Nobles Peaceful World; Marty Nobles Sugar Skulls; Whimsical Designs Coloring for Everyone; Zen Patterns and Designs: Coloring forArtists; Zen Patterns and Designs: Coloring For Everyone

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Rain Saukas

Cover photo credit: iStockphoto

ISBN:978-1-5107-1763-3

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-1764-0

Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

P ablo Picasso said, Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. In our fast-paced modern life that question has grown increasingly important. Most of us cant afford a two-week vacation in a luxury hotel on a private island whenever things get a little stressful. We can, however, pick up a coloring book and enter a world of imagination and calm.

It is clear that adult coloring has become an active interest for millions of adults. I began to wonder, What is the psychological reason so many of us find peace, enjoyment, and hope when coloring? My goal is to look deeply at why we feel such a connection to this creative outlet.

In my own life, I use coloring and art as tools. This week, my children were filled with energy, and I had a work problem that felt very frustrating. I started to examine the different options to handle my anger and thoughts. I chose to take my kids into my garage and engage in art. My seven-year-old daughter, Tyler, began sculpting with the Crayola clay I bought her at Toys R Us. My son is only two, but he began scribbling with a marker on a large piece of paper. I took my adult coloring book and began to fill it in. As I was doing this, a sense of calm overtook my brain. The fears and problems on my mind began to dissipate. I was letting go of the issues and allowing myself to heal through coloring.

This is not the first time I have used art as a tool to help make a positive difference. I was about twenty-five when I entered school at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. I was working towards a Masters Degree in Social Work. As part of my training, we had an internship to practice our therapeutic techniques. I was placed to work at a psychiatric hospital in Amityville, New York. I arrived at the dilapidated hospital to find a group of mostly inner-city youth as my patients. I could sense right away that they didnt like therapists and opening up about their emotions.

During our work, they eventually shared their sad experiences: Losing a dad to suicide when he jumped off a building; having parents arrested for drug dealing; seeing their moms shoot up heroin and die; being sexually abused; and the constant struggle of being in the foster care system. This meant that by age twelve, some had lived in as many as ten homes. They talked about foster siblings bullying them, having parents throw them out, and sometimes feeling unloved. I felt that these children had faced more challenges than any young person should experience. Art, in all its many forms, helped them open up.

I found that this group touched my life. When I graduated, I made it my mission to spread this work and message. I ended up creating a documentary, Rap Therapy (2013), with The Salvation Army. They are the largest organization overseeing foster children in New York State. We worked over six weeks to help a group of teenagers use art and music as therapy. I also interviewed many notables from 50 Cent and Russell Simmons to Tom Cruise to talk about how rap and art can be a powerful form of therapy for the youth.

I have written several books about mental health addressing a range of topics: bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, and parenting. In this book I want to take the coloring fascination and shine a bright light on why it is helping so many of us. I know these last few years have been financially and emotionally difficult for many of us. I think I am not alone in searching for tools to alleviate the real pressure and stress many of us face.

I believe that coloring and art represent a valuable part of our lives. I want this book to share how we can use adult coloring as a tool to face our problems and ease our anxiety. When you are trying to cope with hard times, having access to a healthy outlet is vital. You may be living with fears about financial, emotional, or relationship issues. I hope this book will provide a better understanding of why we are so connected to coloring. You are never too old to release your inner child. Finding a creative way to express your emotions may lead to a healthier way of looking at the world.

Chapter 1

The History of Coloring

M any of us enjoy using Crayola crayons for our children and in our own coloring. Although there is no confirmed date about the origin of crayons, some sources suggest 1644 marks the earliest use of the word crayon. The definition means coming from chalk and the Latin word creta which means earth.

There are many examples of some of our greatest artists using crayons in their work. The artist Francois Clouet lived in the 1500s and used crayons in his early art. It is believed that he caught the attention of Henry V, and ended up becoming a painter for the royalty of that day. In modern times, countless numbers of our greatest artists also used crayons. In 1972, Pablo Picasso used crayons and pencils to create a late work titled Self Portrait Facing Death . The Scream , by Edvard Munch, depicts a figure that is in agony along with beautiful colors in the background. A pastel version of this 1895 painting sold at an auction in London in 2002 for 119.9 million dollars.

Many of us grew up using Crayola Crayons. Crayola is the popular brand name most of us know best. The famous name Crayola was coined by Mrs. Edwin Binney. Alice Binney put together the French word craie, meaning stick of chalk and ola from the word oleaginous, meaning oily. This simple idea became a lasting legacy. The Crayola brand has been around over one hundred years and the company has sold billions of these crayons.