Paint your worries away: NGU’s self-care paint night
Caroline McNeely, Visual Arts Editor
To take a break from studying, working or anything that may overwhelm them, North Greenville University (NGU) students join the self-care paint night on Jan. 29, 2024. NGU’s health and counseling department holds this event for students to experience a calm atmosphere while they grow in their painting abilities.
Students grab paint for their painting as they play a guessing game of how much or how little of each color they will need for their masterpieces.
Students of all majors and years come to paint night to take a break from the stress of homework. Kennedy McSwain, elementary education major, Chandler Gibson social studies education major, Ali Guy elementary education major, Cristalyn Fosdick art major, all freshman, and Ashlyn Connor, senior biology major, enjoy quality time painting together.
Abby Matson, junior English major, steadily paints the background of her masterpiece as the instructor explains the process of blending different shades of blue together.
The quiet calmness of soft music with the instructor’s soothing voice to explain how to correctly paint the image creates a stress-free zone for friends to gather around. Sara Black, NGU counselor, and Steve Bielby, NGU counselor, provide sparkling grape juice and light snacks for students to enjoy.
With the end result drawing near, students are able to put their own twist to the painting. Allowing students to paint their lilies how they want them to allows them to stretch their creativity.
Some students come by themselves, some come with friends. NGU’s counselors create events that allow students to come and feel comfortable and find a calm space to take a deep breath.
Will Paul McDonald, Greenville artist, leads students through the process of painting an image of lily pads and flowers on calm body of water.
