Title of Tip: Coloring for Clarity
Name: Amanda Stacie Ward, 38
Description: Coloring can be a powerful way to express yourself. You can reveal emotions and thoughts you can’t express with words by choosing specific colors for your art. Coloring isn’t just about filling space with color; it’s a form of meditation, a way to focus the mind and forget thoughts of past traumas and pains. Each line of color is a step away from past sorrows toward a brighter, more colorful present. Coloring is not just a hobby for me; it’s a lifeline. It’s a way to channel emotions that might otherwise overwhelm me. Whether it’s royal purples, earthy browns, the deep blues of the ocean, or the bright orange of a sunset, every color I lay on paper has a story and a purpose. These colors help me navigate my world, reminding me of where I’ve been and guiding me where I want to go. They encourage me to think beyond the immediate and color my life with intention and joy.
Instructions: To start, lay out various colors and choose the one that stands out most. It doesn’t matter which color it is. Use a coloring page or a blank sheet of paper and let whatever comes to your mind flow onto the page. You can color within the lines or create something entirely new. The important thing is to let your emotions guide your choice of spaces and colors. Art has no rules—you could color a cat in shades of pink, purple, and blue, reflecting your current mood. Your artwork should reflect your inner state. If you think black, use black; if you think white, use white; if you think purple, use purple; if you think pink, use pink. Whatever your favorite color is, think of something that will make you happy being that color, whether it be a car, a table mat, a shirt, a pair of shoes, or anything; they make shoes, purses, pictures, clothes, cars, everything in multiple different colors.
Learning: My youngest daughter’s father passed away, and then five months later, my second daughter’s father passed away. I used to sit by myself with coloring books, pens, colored pencils, and crayons and pour my grief onto paper. It would make me feel better to keep myself busy, and my mind focused on something other than my loss.
Story: My mother was my best friend, the one person I could call when upset or if my heart was breaking. I would pick up the phone, and she would say, “Come over.” She was my shoulder to cry on. Sometimes, we would sit up all night, just talking, and she would tell me stories, and I would tell her stories. I never had to worry about her judging me for anything I did. She taught me not to judge others because you never know what they have been through. She taught me to help others, especially if they are going through something I have already experienced.
When it comes to helping others, I think of purple. Purple is the color of royalty. I think of orange, the color of the sun. It’s the color of sunflowers. I think of browns, the color of trees, the color of the earth. I think of blues: the ocean and the sky. When the sky is gray, it’s probably going to rain. My mother loved neon colors. She always wore brightly colored bathing suits all summer long. She would be out working in her garden in a pair of cowboy boots and a bathing suit. She passed away from cancer several years ago, but when I see something brightly colored, it reminds me of the good times I had with my best friend, keeping her spirit alive in my heart. Seeing ocean views and bright orange sunsets comforts me during tough times.
