In the past few years, hundreds of coloring books for adults have become available. Referred to as 'mental yoga,' the soothing value of picking up a crayon and creating a masterpiece has reached Roanoke – and it seems to have communal benefits.
Coloring has long been used as a method to help children focus and relax – and society seems to have finally discovered that those benefits span generations. Employees at TheTaubmanMuseum of Art in Roanoke, for instance, have discovered coloring as a form of creative – and communal - exercise. Della Watkins and Pat Walters are with the museum:
“So we look for opportunities to be with each other; we look for opportunities to just ratchet down. That’s the main thing.”
“I think it grows a sense of comradery too, you know, you’re building a team. So you do these things and you feel less like coworkers, more like a family I guess.” Walters adds.
Walters says she bought some books a few months ago and put an invitation out for her fellow employees to join her at lunch for a session – and it sort of stuck. It especially seemed appropriate for those working in an art museum, surrounded by some top-of-the-line art supplies:
“Everybody knows how to color, and you sit down – and you don’t have to color in the lines!” says Watkins.
“That’s right, you don’t have to color in the lines. And there are coloring books that are the great art masterpieces. When else am I going to get to color a Norah or a Thomas Eakins?”
Watkins says in an a museum setting, coloring can help patrons and employees alike see things differently:
“They say that people spend 10 seconds looking at a piece of art. Now, if you try to look at something for 10 seconds and try to move on and try to remember what you saw, it’s not there. So it really helps you involve and take a second look. Even trying to color an old masterpiece, you know, what were they thinking?”
Watkins maintains the importance of providing a fun – and zen-like environment for employees – and the public. They also offer lunchtime Yoga, which is open to anyone, most Mondays.
