Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Students between the ages of 18 and 30 are more susceptible to the depression and stress of Seasonal Affective Disorder, the National Mental Health Association found in its most recent survey of SAD. The Mayo Clinic suggested that those suffering from a case of the winter blues could brighten their lives by brightening their rooms.
Diane Drake, executive director of the Elizabeth Layton Center, a mental health service and program center in Ottawa, said painting was as much about the process as the finished product. “When we paint,” Drake said, “it’s easier to express emotion and to let emotion out. It’s therapy.”
Shannon Sullivan, Ottawa senior, is painting a fairytale mural for Chloe’s Corner, a child therapy room in the center. The mural features mostly green and blue, which are commonly associated with tranquility and relaxation. Sullivan said she usually painted with warm, dark colors but she found using brighter colors to be a rewarding process.
Shannon Sullivan poses in the room that she painted at the Elizabeth Layton Center in Ottawa, Kan. Monday, Feb. 2, 2009.
breakbox
Turquoise: Insight, progressive thinking, healing. Red: Self-motivation, leadership, generosity. Chartreuse: Flexibility, growth, expansion. Pink: Support, nurturing. sympathetic understanding. Black: Self-sufficiency, individualism, protection. Burgundy: Adventure, emotional play and expression. Green: Clear perception, self-recognition, compassion. Orange: Quick-thinking, intuition, independence. Yellow: Communication, observation, analysis. Blue: Clear thinking, diligence, organization. Mint: Self-healing, tranquility, time-out. Indigo: Self-reliance, clear and holistic thought. White: Cleansing, protective, simplification. Gray: Need a vacation, acute sensibility, calming. Purple: Artistry, spirituality, culture. Yellow-orange: Life-promoting creativity, quickness.
Source: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-psychology-behind-paint-color.html
“I had no idea something so separate from my life could be so satisfying,” Sullivan said. “But it’s a simple concept. Creation in itself is therapeutic.”
Dawn Guernsey, chairwoman of the department of art, said that as needs and personalities changed, updating room colors was crucial for anyone, no matter where they were in life or what season it was. By choosing an appropriate color scheme, Guernsey said, students could create a more personalized and comfortable environment and ultimately improve their well-being.
“It’s part of the human condition,” Guernsey said. “It’s proven that images keep people from getting depressed, and people need visual stimulation to be healthy.”
Stacey Pope, Topeka junior, said that when she first moved into her apartment, she painted her room a bright reddish-orange color. Pope said the color caused stress and she decided to repaint her room light blue for a more tranquil environment. Pope said the shade of blue she chose became boring and she ultimately went with “candle yellow” walls, She said the search for an appropriate paint color was a trial-and-error experiment.
“When I moved into my apartment, I wanted to make it very warm and a place where you really loved being there,” Pope said. “But whenever I painted it was so spontaneous. Now I think I’m going to pay more attention to colors and if they could clash.”
Mark Rose, Wichita senior, painted six of the nine wooden panels in his room different colors. Four of the panels feature original designs, such as a portrait of his girlfriend and a panel with graffiti designs. Rose said he was proud of the personality and atmosphere he had created in his room. He said he planned to move out in August and thought the incoming residents would appreciate his art-inspired room.
“I’ve been working on painting for a really long time, and my friends usually think my room is pretty cool,” Rose said. “I hope the people moving in are cool with it.”
Like Rose, Pope will move out in August, but she said she would repaint the walls of her apartment white. She said that although she first thought the white paint was depressing, it was actually a reward.
“Now, I think painting has become something I like about myself and something I do when I want to start over,” Pope said.
— — Edited by Chris Horn
TAG— You're it!
The ongoing dialogue between graffiti artists in the Lawrence community.
Painted leaves become art project
A senior spread multicolored leaves on lawns on Jayhawk Boulevard to display ...
Choice surprises Lawrence
Father Figure
Textiles program gives more scholarships
The department hopes its scholarship fund will attract talented prospective students from ...
Students experience differences in Lawrence living
Student ghetto? Scholarship hall? Communal living? It’s all here.
KU alumni find watch sites far away
Bars from Miami to New York find themselves host to Jayhawk sports ...
Touching others’ lives
Writing on the wall
A look at the street art around Lawrence.
Lawrence's landlord: a developer's story
Doug Compton, owner of First Management, has helped guide Lawrence's development for ...
Jeweler turns simple metals into treasures
Lance Williams wanted to surprise his wife, Amber, with a one-of-a-kind necklace ...
How we met: Katie Pope and Robert ...
All great relationships had to start somewhere.
Mission possible: cheap, great
DIY: Wall art
Add color at little cost
New complex brings out the ‘whoa-factor’
From 58 TVs to an underground weight room, the football facility promises ...
Ups and downs of sorority
35 Things to do before you MOVE ...
Keeping up appearances
Fancy cremes and badger brushes—it’s not always easy preservin’ your sexy.
Malicious Intimacy
Four students' experiences with domestic violence.
Kansan Departments
Your guide to surviving the week.
New plan splits School of Fine Arts
Music department will become School of Music, among other changes.
Events, groups raise assault awareness
Groups, such as One in Four, and events like “Can I Kiss ...
The life behind the scenes
Backstage workers spend countless hours preparing the costumes, set and lighting at ...
Fraternity holds car demolition for charity
Students paid to take a swing at a Kansas State-colored car.
Losing weight, losing control
Among the millions who struggle with eating disorders, the majority suffer from ...
Fans recall memorable moments during season-opener
Calligrapher in an electronic world
Cathy Ledeker says there’s no substitute for the human touch in today’s ...
Widower librarian shares wife's KU legacy
Festival showcases student and local artists
The Spencer Museum of Art hosted the festival, which allowed artists to ...
The art of finding wall art
KU panel discusses your brain, on food
Studies at KU Life Span Institute look to answer questions about the ...
Pope/Snyder: You're hot; here's why
Dancers to perform after months of rehearsal
The University Dance Company will perform its Fall concert tonight and Friday ...
Putting words into sustainable action
Associate Professor Simran Sethi is working on creating an eco-friendly home and ...
Everyone loves a weekend Valentine’s day
Exhibits, concerts and theater performances among holiday happenings in Lawrence and KC
Students work to finish innovative house
Architecture students are wrapping up construction on a state of the art ...
Musician mixes genres
Mark Harries' dream is to be a church music director. He wrote ...
A look at KU's changing face of ...
University's turbulent past has evolved into a somewhat tranquil state of activism.
Friends tell fire victim's story
Ascent to reality
After an arduous journey, one jayplay writer finds peace on the mountain ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Painted walls blend therapy, artistry
I think shannon sullivan is the most beautifully talented creature to have ever walked.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID