Rachel Akerman - Creativity for Wellbeing

Creativity for Wellbeing * Activity booklet *

Edited by Zoe Li And Natasha Rand Design and illustration by Rachel Akerman Artist activities contributed by Natasha Rand, Richard Tomlinson and Rachel Akerman Published by Yeovil Art Space and Love Yeovil Funded by South Somerset District Council Copyright Yeovil Art Space All right reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced in any form by an electronic or mechanical means without permission in writing from Yeovil Art Space.

Yeovil Art Space (UK Registered Charity 1189660) Address: Unit 23, Vicarage Walk, Quedam Shopping Centre, Yeovil UK BA20 1EU Contact: info@yeovilartspace.uk

Welcome to ‘Creativity for Wellbeing’!

We believe creativity can go a long way to help you through the tough times by expressing your emotions and sharing with others. This booklet gives you the tips and creative ideas to support your wellbeing. We hope you will find it useful especially during the days when things are not okay!

Designed and contributed by artists that have experience working with the community and young people, it contains activities with easy to follow instructions and for all abilities. You can enjoy the activities on your own, or with friends and family, using recycled and easy to find materials.

The activities from artists Natasha Rand, Richard Tomlinson and Rachel Akerman also give you the ideas to decorate your window if you wish to and join Yeovil Window Wanderland 2022 (14 January - 14 February).

This is a free community event across the town!

To find out more and how to join in visit www.yeovilartspace.uk/windowwanderland

Wise Word Windows Fosters expression, increases self esteem and shares positive mindset with others Materials * Strips of black paper * Coloured tissue paper * Sticky back plastic * Scissors * a pencil or pen

Activity By Natasha Rand @creation_generationnr Natasha is a community art tutor and artist, working mainly with adolescents but specialising in intergenerational well being community projects. She is a qualified visual teacher, with SEND and EHCP experience.

Natasha is also an Arts Council Arts Award moderator. * Contact Yeovil Art Space for details on Arts Award opportunities for youngsters from age 7 - 25 years old.

Artists to inspire:

Patrick Caulfield Christopher Wool - “You Make Me”

1. Select a word to use in your design.

Write your name in block letters on a piece of paper. Think of a positive word that has the same letters that are in your name e.g. Katie - K - Kind.

2. Use a sheet of sticky back plastic (twice the size you want your art to be).

Fold in half. And peel back the backing paper to the fold.

Fold

3. Use lengths of black paper to make a frame, by sticking stripes on the plastic surface.

4. Rip or cut shapes of coloured tissue paper and fill in the sticky space in your frame. write your word using more black strips and glue on top of the coloured paper. stick

5. Peel off the remaining backing paper and smooth down the plastic sheet sandwiching your art in the sticky back plastic to create your window.

Put it somewhere for everyone to see!

Fold

Nature mobile Get outside and be inspired. Use meditative activities to switch off.

Materials * glue or double sided sticky tape * pencil * scissors * coloured card * cotton thread

Activity by Rachel Akerman @rachelakerman

Rachel is a designer and illustrator, Her work is inspired by her own adventures. she did all the drawings in this booklet!

1. get outside and find some inspiration from nature for your design.

This could be anything from leaves and insects to weather elements and stars.

Artists to inspire:

Maison Ribambelle Matisse

2. using a mixture of coloured card, draw your chosen shapes with a pencil.

2 sheets

3. paper clip two sheets of the same coloured card together and cut your shapes out.

You will end up with two identical shapes, keep these together.

4. Cut lengths of thread and tape the first shape onto it.

5. Glue the second shape onto the other side so they line up and you cant see the tape.

6. continue this until you run out of shapes.

You can make just one length or multiple to create a curtain.

You could also add drawn or painted details to your shapes.

Shadow play Get outside into the natural world when the sun is low and capture shadows made by objects and people!

Shadow photos have two main elements, the shadow and the surface the shadow is landing on. Photograph your shadow as it falls on the surface of a tree or as it stretches across the ground.

Reflections are another amazing thing to take pictures of. Explore how different types of surface (concave, convex, curved) bend shadows. Look down on the ground, small puddles provide interesting worlds of reflected silhouettes.

When you get back from your walk print a small selection of your favourite pictures. Cut out the shadows and reflections to create abstract visions of the world!

Photography is all about capturing light, but it’s easy to forget that amazing shapes and patterns reveal themselves as shadows.

Artists to inspire:

Kumi Yamashita Keith Harring

Pictures of your own shadow make amazing self-portraits!

Activity by richard tomlinson

www.richtomlinson.co.uk Richard is an artist and creative technologist based in somerset. he produces interactive installations.

A List to Help you feel okay . . .

Mental Health can be confusing. We are all different. Everyone has their own stuff going on and everyone is dealing with something. It is important to remember this. You are not alone.

Give

Forgive & Forget

Small acts of kindness count. A smile or kind word to another means so much and will make you feel good.

Try to understand others feelings and ask why they are acting that way.

Holding onto anger does no good.

Connect with Friends

Brave New Experiences

Talk, listen, laugh and cry. Building strong connections to people helps us to feel happier.

New skills and experiences can give you a sense of achievement and new confidence.

Be Active

Create Hope

Walk, play sport or dance will release endorphins. Make it part of your life.

Look for solutions, not problems. Action helps create hope.

Take Notice of the Now

Problems Are A Good Thing

Be mindful. Notice the simple things that give you joy.

Dealing with problems increases my capacity to manage bigger things in life.

Gratitude

Breathe & Accept

Rather than ask “what’s wrong in my life” focus on “what’s right in my life.”

Accept the things you can’t change, have the courage to change the things you can.

Be Kind to Yourself

Think kinds thoughts and don’t be too hard on yourself.

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write some activities onto small pieces of paper and put into a jar, choose one card each day or when you’re in need of some inspiration.

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Helpful numbers

Need to talk to someone but don’t know where to turn? You can find help and support from these services and organisations . . .

Wellbeing Ja r

CHild Line childline.org.uk 0800 111 111

The Mix themix.org.uk 0800 8084994

YoungMinds youngminds.org.uk 0800 8025 544

Rethink rethink.org 0300 5000 927

Calm thecalmzone.net 0800 585 858

Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide) papyrus-uk.org 0800 0684 141

Heads Together headstogether.org.uk

Blurt Foundation blurtitout.org

Somerset county youth service youngsomerset.org.uk

Creativity for Wellbeing gives tips and creative ideas to help you to feel okay!

A range of activities designed by artists that contains easy to follow instructions, either to make on your own, or with friends and families.

This booklet is brought to you by Yeovil Art Space and Love Yeovil with generous funding received by South Somerset District Council to support mental health and general wellbeing for communities across the town.

A charity organisation and a creative hub in Yeovil, which aims to bring art and creativity to the local community and visitors.

A not for profit organisation working to achieve a positive vibrant town centre for the community and businesses.

www.yeovilartspace.uk

www.loveyeovil.com