People say that colouring is NOT art therapy. True enough. Colouring a picture is not art therapy, but it has many therapeutic benefits. Some of which I will discuss here. I will also share my insights, working as an art therapy practitioner in Sri Lanka since 2023. 

For Women’s Day 2026, I had the privilege of conducting 6 workshops through Happy Mind, in March, for some of the biggest corporations in the country. Namely, JKH, Aitken Spence, CEAT, CUBE, Virtusa and Wiley.  Participants were all women between the ages of 25 and 45. Working in IT, accounting, invoicing, and other technical areas. They found this therapeutic art workshop to be very refreshing. Ideally, for 2 hours, the workshop focused on self-awareness, self-care, meditation and creative expression.

When given the choice of creating an artwork of their choice on a blank paper or coloring an image, almost everyone opted for coloring. Only 2 out of over 250 individuals opted for free drawing. So why is coloring so popular and therapeutic?

Many people get into it easily because they know how to. The moment they see an image they like and the coloring tools, they don’t think twice.  People who think, ‘I can’t draw, I’m not talented, what am I going to draw?’  know they can color.  So, they go for it.  Then they discover their creativity. They had about 8 different images to choose from, yet each was unique. There were over 250 unique artworks created out of the same 8 images. There is so much room for creative expression and free expression. Each person will connect with an image emotionally. Will relate to that image and sometimes even identify with it. For example, some ladies with short hair selected the image of a woman with short hair.  Although everyone is coloring the same image, each person has a unique experience. And I wish I had the time to ask everyone what they had to say. Some said it took them back to their childhood, that this was the first time they created art after leaving school, that it was really relaxing, enjoyable and even calming.

Here are few feedback we received from the participants,

“On a very frustrated day, we had a very calm session where our minds were like the flowing wind. Thanks”

“I felt so happy while i was coloring. It made my day”

“Had a really inspiring and enjoyable time. Thank you”

“A masterpiece for overthinker like me who downgrades my self for every fault love this session thank you so Much”

“It’s really good. I went back to my school days. Thank you so much”

“Having a worksheet and being able to have something tangible from the workshop was actually very nice. Tying self love with a creative activity is a novel thought and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you Mrs Erandathie for the valuable insights”

Coloring a picture has the ability to keep you in the present moment… to disengage from everything else and give your brain a break. It is like meditation; it keeps your mind in one place, focused. You become calm as you create, and enjoy what you have created. It is also a refreshing change for women dealing with the technical, mathematical work (which stimulates the left side of the brain). Doing something creative stimulates the right side of the brain, bringing much-needed balance.  They get in touch with their feelings and with themselves through coloring. 

Engaging in some form of art making, coloring, doodling, drawing designs or objects in your daily life can be very therapeutic. These activities can be done daily, as a habit, even in the office.  It will help people to take their focus away from work for a while and be present in the moment with themselves.

If you are looking for an uplifting way to unwind after a stressful day or a way to reduce screen time, coloring is surely the thing. If you are looking for something you can do with your kids, coloring is an ideal bonding activity. Try it.