Many of us encountered the joy of drawing during childhood, often through school art classes or at local studios. However, as we transition into our teenage years, many abandon drawing due to the demands of school and other activities. Although I no longer participate in regular drawing classes as I did in my younger years, drawing remains a great hobby for me.

It provides a sense of relaxation and joy, especially when I feel bored, tired, or stressed. Beyond stress relief, drawing is also a powerful tool for emotional expression and personal fashion style development.

I strongly advocate for teenagers to continue drawing, as it offers numerous personal and health benefits throughout our lives.

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Relaxation and Mindfulness

The teenage years can be stressful due to academic pressures, social challenges, and hormonal fluctuations. As children progress through their education, the workload increases, and extracurricular activities and studying take up much of their free time, while college application deadlines loom over them. All these factors can contribute to anxiety and stress for many teens.

Drawing is an effective way to relax during a teen’s free time. It is a flexible and convenient hobby that doesn't require extra commute time like other activities such as going to the gym, skiing, or swimming. All you need is a piece of paper and a drawing pen, which can be used anywhere and anytime. There are no rules in art; you can draw whatever comes to mind and soon find your worries fading away.

Studies on art therapies have shown that repetitive artistic activities such as drawing, painting, and coloring can calm the mind and reduce anxiety levels. Engaging in drawing allows teens to focus on the present moment and the act of creating, helping to distract them from stressful thoughts. This mindfulness can induce a state of relaxation similar to meditation. Completing a drawing or achieving a desired artistic effect can provide a sense of accomplishment, contributing to overall well-being.

Emotion Expression

Drawing offers teens a powerful means to express themselves creatively. As they navigate the complex journey of self-discovery, they experience a wide range of emotions. Many teens are still exploring their identity and sense of self.

Through drawing, they can explore their inner world, uncover hidden feelings, and present them visually. When words fail to capture their complex emotions, lines, objects, or abstract forms can effectively convey their feelings, allowing for comfortable and effective expression.

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Improve Sense of Style

Many teens are often busy with school and other activities, which can lead them to pay less attention to clothing style and fashion. However, dressing sloppily every day can impact their self-confidence. It turns out, drawing can improve a teen’s sense of style.

Creating art helps them understand how different colors complement or clash with each other, and it also aids in understanding anatomy and human proportions. Drawing from references helps teens notice details such as patterns, fabric textures, and more. Through art, teens can experiment with different patterns and colors, helping them to find their style and understand how various clothing styles will fit and look on them. This knowledge can empower them to choose stylish outfits that enhance their identity.

Encourages Independent Thinking

Art encourages teens to think independently and develop a unique perspective. By exploring different mediums and techniques, teens are exposed to diverse cultural viewpoints and historical contexts. This exploration allows them to think outside the box and develop their own art styles through experimentation.

Creating various pieces helps them broaden their perspectives and make decisions for themselves, ultimately identifying what they enjoy in terms of artistic expression. Additionally, drawing teaches teens to be open-minded in problem-solving, as mistakes are common in art, and they learn to use creative methods to address these errors.

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Prepares For Future Career Opportunities

Drawing is a foundational skill for those interested in art, animation, design, architecture, and related fields. It is also essential in increasing a person's attention to detail, precise hand-eye coordination, and other cognitive skills that are particularly useful in mathematics, science, and engineering. Furthermore, including an art portfolio has some benefits for college applications as it can include another side to the student’s character.

Conclusion

Overall, drawing enhances teenagers' lives in multiple ways, promoting self-discovery and personal growth. By engaging in drawing, teens not only find a means to manage stress and express themselves but also build confidence and open doors to future opportunities.

It's always possible to start drawing, and if you've put it aside, now is a perfect time to pick it up again.