Benefits of Adult Coloring Books

One of my all-time favorite memories as a child was getting a new box of crayons. Everything about it was wonderful: the vivid colors, the new smell, the way they felt on the coloring sheets. Now that I am an adult, I find that not much has changed. I love to sit and color. It takes me back to my carefree days, and I find that I’m not alone in this unorthodox method of de-stressing.

For many years, therapists have recognized art as a way to relieve patient’s emotional and physical distress. Oftentimes, life can be overwhelming and words can fail us when we try to convey our turbulent or strong emotions. Coloring can provide an outlet for all of these things we cannot seem to express, be they joyful or of sorrow.

In another study, adult coloring books have been observed to have a very similar effect to meditation. Once involved in completing their picture, the person coloring can block out internal and external negativity and focus on the moment, on the movement of pencil or crayon on paper. People diagnosed with anxiety and/or ADHD had been observed in multiple studies as being less fidgety, calmer, and much more able to pay attention to the task at hand.

While obviously not a cure-all for any condition, this bit of nostalgia can be used as a balm to the adult mind plagued with adult problems.

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Mother’s Day Poem: “Motherly Love”

Photo by George Dolgikh on Pexels.com

She cries and travails
For the child in her womb
The mother and the father
Wants the child born soon

She pushes and breathes every minute and hour
Thinking back on the moments of the baby shower
9 months of labor, tears, and pain
Suggesting and coming up with the child’s name

A newborn baby, a new life to see
A mother’s birth amounts to something
She nurtures and watches her child grow
Respect and dignity she faithfully sows

A mother’s reflection can be seen through their child
When everyone’s given up, she’ll go the extra mile
God blessed her and made her fruitful with her spouse
They also play an important role in the house

Mother’s Day is not one day, but everyday of the year
Her words and her love remains sincere
For mothers living, for mothers dead
They’ve all made sacrifices to see their children fed

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you!
The tears shed, the prayers, and for all you do!
May each and every child one day discover
The overall purpose and love of a mother!

©Carl McKever

COLORS Magazine

If you are tired of reading the same cheap quality magazines that don’t ever really seem to say much, then we think we have a solution for you. COLORS Magazine is a magazine that is a bit out of the ordinary in the fact that they feature only high quality content and even their magazine paper feels like it is a much heavier and substantial stock than what other magazines use. For example, if you pick up an Entertainment Weekly, the paper quality is going to be the same slippery smooth and thin product that all of the other magazines use. Now, we don’t have a problem with Entertainment Weekly, but you can’t deny that quality is lacking in their finished printed product.

Each COLORS Magazine has a particular theme that is emphasized and discussed throughout the entirety of the magazine. This makes for a nice coherent edition each and every time! For example, one of their issues is on Happiness, a concept that is very interesting to talk about, and the entire issue delves deeply into what it is that makes a person truly happy. The articles and content in these magazines is well worth reading, not like the bland and uninformative columns in most.

On top of the fascinating content and high quality of this magazine, there are a few additional things to note. The cover designs are spectacular and artistic, it shows that a lot of thought went into each and every one. Lastly, it is available on the iPad as well as in print, so for those of you that are too impatient to wait for the print issues, look into getting the digital version on your iPad. For more information or to subscribe, check out www.COLORSmagazine.com.

Art Snacks

When it comes to subscription boxes, it’s hard to determine which ones are worth the money and which ones actually give you things worth having. We like to think that the hard part in choosing a box to subscribe to is already taken care of for you! We continue to test the best of the best, and Art Snacks is a monthly subscription box that we are proud to support!

What would you say if someone told you that for one very low monthly price, you would get a box containing some of the worlds best art supplies in it, a snack, and information on the products to help you use them to their full potential? It sounds almost too good to be true! However, that is exactly what Art Snacks delivers to their subscribers each month. It’s not uncommon to find fantastic brands like Copic and Prismacolor in the box, and you’re sure to discover other cool brands that make the highest quality art supplies available through this box.

If you’re an art major in college, an illustrator, or the guy or girl who likes to draw in their notebook at the local Starbucks Coffee, then this is the monthly subscription box for you. So many boxes offer quality products that they rarely if ever deliver upon, and when they do it is as if they are lacking any sort of thought or meaning. Art Snacks is a box that you can trust to put your artistic goals first! They care about the items that they send you, and make sure that there is meaning behind each product selected for the box. Unleash your artistic side by visiting their website at www.ArtSnacks.co and requesting your invitation today!

Cute Cats–Cool Gift Ideas for Cat-Lovers

Da Vinci was most certainly right when he said that the smallest feline is a masterpiece! I mean, who wouldn’t stop and stare in googley-eyed awe at the sight of a kitten? Likewise, cats are a popular subject for online entertainment. From YouTube to blogs, nearly everyone everywhere is showcasing or parodizing the cat’s personality and antics in some form or fashion. More popular and successful works have been published, publicized, and franchised—which is convenient if you’re stuck trying to find a gift for someone who adores cats. There are a few cute and cool cats on the internet that I know which also have some of their own merchandise! Their comic craftsmanship and charming nature will make them the gifts you’re looking for to give to that cat-loving friend or family member!

From left to right: Simon’s Cat, Pusheen Cat, and Gemma Correll’s cat comics

Simon’s Cat—Simon’s Cat is a delightful cartoon phenomenon from YouTube! Hand-drawn frame-by-frame, this feline is aesthetically simplistic, but lives the hilarious and crazy life all cats lead!  Just recently produced for Simon’s Cat are a brand-new cartoon book, an animated short, and even a few iPhone apps!

Pusheen the Cat—Pusheen the cat is a cute, plushy GIF character that lives on Tumblr! In addition to being a blog-able statement, Pusheen is quite a fashion statement too as she is on a number of apparel and accessories.

Gemma Correll—Gemma Correll is a freelance illustrator and cartoonist. Her artistic interests are a wider range beyond just cute pets and her style, especially those of her cat cartoons, is satirical and sketch-like. Her cats can be found on several of her nick-knacks and in her book “A Cat’s Life”.

Naturally, felines are beautiful and graceful creatures. Artistically, they are even more ingenious as a statement on their dispositions is expressed for entertainment! Any feline-fan will appreciate a gift with any of these internet sensations this holiday season! They’re each a masterpiece in their own right, and totally the cat’s meow!

Photo Magic

If you are looking for professional senior, wedding or any other pictures this year go to  Photo Magic  in Cedar Bluff Va. Professional photographer Pam Dye will take many wonderful pictures at different locations throughout Cedar Bluff and Richlands Virginia. She also can scheduel  photo sessions for your venu. She is skilled in photography as well as photo editing, so you know that you will get the perfect shot every time! If you are looking for professional quality, friendly service, and photos that you will be bragging about for years to come, then look no further! You can schedule a shoot with her and view some of her work by visiting her facebook page at Photo Magic. The pictures are very professional and look amazing!

Cosmic Images

There are so many talented artist who dabble in experimental photography and ways of making the impossible seem real and possible. One photographer has literally taken those moving images we all know and love from the Harry Potter books and movies, and they have made them a reality (even if it is just online) in a way that is quite cosmic. Animation and art like this give hope to the future of photography. Will we one day look at a newspaper and see a moving image in the headlines? Microsoft even features an interactive and ever changing newspaper in their vision of the future video that is circling the internet. The day that we see moving pictures in places we never thought imaginable may be closer than we think.

This project began from the theory that humans are made of cosmic matter as a result of a stars death. I created imagery that showcased this cosmic birth through the use of dust and reflective confetti to create galaxies. The models organic bodily expressions as they are frozen in time between the particles suggest their celestial creation. In addition, space and time is heightened by the use of three-dimensional animated gifs. Their movement serves as a visual metaphor to the spatial link we share with stars as well as their separateness through time.

– Ignacio Torres

     

Sounds of Summer

Lawnmowers, hot days, swimming pools

Baseball games, cookouts, time off school

Vacations, beaches, roller coasters

Fireworks, bonfires, marshmallow roasters

T-shirts, shorts, sunglasses, flip-flops

Ice cream, sodas, frozen ice pops

Long days, cool nights, fireflies

Skateboards, scooters, bike rides

Sunburn, sunscreen, suntan

Sprinklers, fountains, ocean waves, sand

Diela Maharanie Makes Magical Art

When redecorating a space, be it an office or room in your home, you always need to consider the walls. Walls are boring on their own, but luckily there are tons of new artist to choose from when picking out the perfect piece of art for your wall. One of those artist by the name of Diela Maharanie is making an impact on the world of art with her creative tones of color and imaginative scenes that are depicted in her work.

Her art is not average, it possesses a creative quality that makes the viewer of the art become engulfed within the blocky chunks of color and precisely drawn characters. One look at her art and you will quite possibly want your entire wall to be covered in Diela Maharanie originals.

The patterns that are used in her art are nice and vibrant, yet they still only just add to the overall beauty of the art instead of consume the piece. It’s rare to find an artist who can incorporate elements that are borderline supernatural and those of the real world so well.

So if you are looking for some art, I suggest you consider Diela Maharanie’s work. You are sure to love it, and it is sure to love your walls. Make note of this artist on the rise because I have no doubt that we will be seeing great things from her in the future.

Tellez Tells All

On the rise YouTube user, TellezTelevision sat down to give us an exclusive interview telling all about how her creative process works! Turns out this creative genius is fueled by Vitamin Water and the happenings of her everyday life. From covers of popular songs to originals written by her, the videos you will find on her YouTube channel are creative and professional to say the least! While she is in the early stages of her career we here at Toast Pop can already see that she’s going places fast! Whether she’s tweeting her fans or replying to comments, you will find that she not only appreciates the support, but turns it into the driving force behind her work. Go ahead and check out the exclusive interview with Tellez only available on Toast Pop!

CLICK TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW!