I am always seeking out new stress relievers.  For me, art therapy proves to be exceedingly effective in both relaxing me and elevating my mood.  Unfortunately, while I have discovered a few methods by which I am able to release my creativity, I have always felt somewhat lacking in the drawing department.  Rather than enjoying the experience, I often find myself frustrated at my inability to transfer my thoughts to the canvas.

Enter: BRUSHster!  BRUSHster is a free online program from the National Gallery of Art that allows you to compose paintings which are limited only by your imagination.  With more than 40 brushes and several colors, it’s easy to conjure up wild abstracts, simple illustrations, and mind-bending patterns.  There’s something very therapeutic about sitting down to a blank canvas and letting your mind fill it in any number of ways.

Very obviously, a major bonus to painting via the web is the no-mess factor.  There is also the fact that it does not cost a cent to use the program.  Plus, all of the hard work of learning numerous brush stroke techniques is done for you.  So, while it should by no means quell the pursuit of artistic knowledge and growth in one’s personal journey, I highly recommend it for its remedial powers.

Here are a couple of examples of paintings I have created using BRUSHster:

Fluffy pink puffballs

Simple red drops