Make a Memorable Impressionist Afternoon Tea for Strong Healing

Impressionism Moodboard designed by DuDu Sunny. All Rights Reserved.

Art is a great way to self-healing, also a very natural means to nurture our souls. Why? Because society is a very rigid system, and tech primarily promotes "speed and convenience". I'm not rejecting the tech (and AI), as I also keep learning the tech and take advantage of the benefits of tech. However, if we are merely guided by the tech, to some extents we might easily skip the chance to appreciate the beauty of life, especially the richness of details in the beauty of life, that will only be brought by slow pace, arts and creativity (non-tech), and the unique layer of elegance of life through artist's eyes and souls.

(The following content is for entertainment, none of the content can be used as the authoritative suggestions for therapy. If you need to seek therapy, please talk to a professional therapist.)

An Impressionist Afternoon Teatime

Here is a mini guide I created for making an Impressionist Afternoon Tea for healing and nourishing ourselves. You can take it as a mini session of art therapy blending with mindfulness.

There are certain benefits of such an art therapy style Afternoon Teatime:

• Reduce Stress

• Calming Effects

• Open Savory Experience

• Unlock Your Hidden Artist

• Emotional Healing

• Connect with Classic Souls

My Steps:

1. Get a sketchbook (not apps on iPad or Android), just PAPER. You can choose one to be your food journal or another art journal.

2. Book yourself an Afternoon Tea Time, even in your "modern office." During this tea time, you are your most important guest, so you need to treat yourself as a VIP.

3. Give it a lovely name.

4. If you live afternoon tea, make mini tea sandwiches / finger foods for yourself as a "warm-up". The key is to use your hands and learn about the art of slowing down.

5. Then, try to sketch down something freely on the paper, even just drawing your hand-made tea/food with simple lines...

6. Based on your drawing, you can borrow some color ideas from Impressionists' paintings. For example, you can draw a virtual cupcake called "Monet's Water Lilly Cupcake", or create an "Impressionist Mood Board".

Color Inspiration

The color inspiration may come from the following artists:

• Claude Monet

• Edgar Degas

• Paul Cezanne

• Camille Pissarro

I created this Impressionism Moodboard as an example of color inspiration.

Finally, you can site back, savor your tea sandwiches, smell the aroma of tea, and admire your art. In this case, the savory journey is completely opened and unlocked.

If you like, you can also invite a close friend to join in this journey, otherwise, just enjoy such a beautiful solitude.

Impressionism and Art Therapy

Out of curiosity, I also did a bit research on the relationship between Impressionism and art therapy.

The relationship between them is an interesting one. Both are deeply rooted in the exploration of emotions, perception, and subject experience.

Impressionism, which emerged in the late 19th century, was a revolutionary art movement. It prioritized capturing the fleeting impressions of light, color, and atmosphere in the natural world. Impressionist artist such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Edgar Degas sought to evoke mood and emotion through their use of loose brushwork, vibrant color, and emphasis on sensory experience.

Similarly, art therapy emphasizes the power of artistic expression to tap into emotions, memories, and subconscious thoughts. Through the process of creating art, we can explore and communicate our inner experiences in a symbolic and metaphorical language.

Similarity between Them

Here are some ways in which Impressionism and art therapy intersect:

1. Emotional expression: Both Impressionism and art therapy value the expression of emotions through art. Impressionist artists often sought to express the mood and atmosphere of a scene, evoking feelings of joy, serenity, melancholy, or nostalgia. Similarly, in art therapy, people use art-making to express their emotions, whether consciously or unconsciously.

2. Sensory experience: Impressionist paintings are known for their emphasis on sensory peception (which is very unique), capturing the play of light, color, and movement in the natural world. Art therapy often engages the sense as well. It encourages people to explore different art materials, textures, and techniques to evoke sensory experiences and stimulate emotional expression.

3. Subjectivity and interpretation: Impressionism boldly challenged traditional notions of representation and realism, emphasizing the subjective experience of the artist and viewer. Likewise, art therapy recognizes the subjective nature of artistic expression and interpretation, honoring each one's unique perspective and creative process.

4. Healing and well-being: While Impressionism was primarily an art movement, its emphasis on capturing fleeting moments of beauty and tranquility can evoke feelings of calmness, relaxation, and introspection. These are often associated with therapeutic benefits. Art theraphy, on the other hand, is explicitly focused on promoting healing, self-discovery, and emotional well-being through artistic expression.

While Impressionism and art therapy serve different purposes and contexts, they share common themes of emotional expression, sensory perception, and subjective experience. I personally believe these are very important themes for us to explore in the AI-driven age to strenghthen "more human quality", as the tech and its mechanic characteristic have been deeply embedded into our life.

In a word, both forms offer opportunities for us to engage with art as a means of exploring and communicating our inner world, improving self-awareness, and promoting holistic well-being. They are also rooted in the ancient culture, which we might explore in the next article.

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