Embracing your creative side can be a wonderful way to express yourself. When you’re free of limitations and able to explore different mediums, styles, and techniques, you have the opportunity to realize your talents and skills you were previously unaware of.

Whether you’re a professional artist, a keen amateur or you’re simply searching for a new hobby, venturing further into the art world could provide the challenges, tranquility, and fulfillment you’re looking for. To get started, take a look at these 4 artistic mediums you can explore right now…

1. Calligraphy

As more of us turn to computers, tablets, and smartphones for work and social use, the art of handwriting is on the decline. However, the typed word will never be as evocative, meaningful as moving as handwritten prose. Combining art with wording, calligraphy allows you to add meaning to your messages and enhances text with stunning designs.

With a range of styles to emulate, you can follow tried and tested practices or simply go it alone and come up with your own unique calligraphy signatures. A broad-tipped instrument is typically used but a brush or even a pen can work just as well. When you’ve got something to say, calligraphy is the perfect way to deliver your message with added volume.

Diamond Painting

If you’re fairly new to the art world, you probably think of paintbrushes, pencils, oils, and watercolors as standard tools. While these are frequently used to create works of art, you’ll soon learn that almost anything can become art when it’s viewed in the right way. Diamond painting is just one way to use alternative objects to create stunning visuals. 

With small pieces of diamond affixed to a canvas, you can create landscapes, cartoons, portraits, abstracts, and much, much more. To take a look at just what you can do with diamond painting, check out https://vizuarts.com/. One of the great things about diamond painting is that it’s a great medium for almost everyone. 

For beginners, diamond painting kits are a great place to start. With pre-printed canvases, you can simply follow the instructions and build a diamond masterpiece in the same way as you would with a paint-by-numbers kit. As you become more confident in your abilities, however, why not give yourself free rein to compose pieces using your own vision and creativity? 

Collage

Bringing different materials, colors, and pieces together to create something completely unique means you can combine your favorite tools to build something utterly new. Collage is a popular medium because of how versatile it is. No matter what materials you have lying around, combining them to build a collage allows you to bring something to life and embrace a wonderful mix of styles and tools.

From felts, linens, and fabrics to paper, card and substrates, a collage can include any type of material you like. Paint, sketch, or draw a base and enhance it with plastics, paper, or metal to add depth and texture. Furthermore, a collage is a project that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of your age, abilities, or experience. Simply gather together whatever materials you can find and let your imagination run wild as you combine them to create your own custom artwork.

Watercolor

Budding artists or eager hobbyists sometimes steer clear of watercolors; wrongly assuming that they’re only for ‘real artists’ or professional creators. However, working with watercolors is easier than you might think and undeniably satisfying. 

The excitement of watercolor begins long before you begin composing your painting. Simply spending time experimenting with different hues and creating shades is a fantastic way to hone your skills and become accustomed with the techniques used to create spectacular watercolors. 

As you begin to progress, you’ll be able to experiment with a variety of watercolor techniques and determine which ones work best for you. From wet on wet, wet on dry, and building up color to creating gradients and getting precise, there are endless ways to enjoy watercolors, so why not get started? 

Embracing Your Creative Side

If you’ve always thought of yourself as non-artistic or you’re not confident in your creative abilities, it’s time to put your doubts to one side. When it comes to art, there’s no right or wrong. Everyone has innate creativity and embracing this aspect of your personality can bring a wealth of benefits. When you explore different mediums and express yourself through art, you might just find you’ve been keeping your talent under wraps for longer than you realized. 

Whether you’re planning to pop the question or you simply want to stay in-the-know when it comes to the most popular sustainable engagement ring styles, 2020 is the year to watch for a major shift. From thinner bands to gorgeous halos — there’s a lot to keep up with. Here are some of the biggest engagement ring trends to watch in 2020!

Eco-Friendly Engagement Rings

One of the most important shifts in the engagement ring styles is one that affects their hardware. 2020 is the year of sustainability. Consumers are looking for the most eco-friendly options for their engagement rings and their best bet is to purchase lab-grown diamonds.

Not only do lab-grown diamonds offer an eco-friendly option for consumers, but they also serve as an ethical solution for those who don’t want to support unethical mining practices. Lab-grown diamonds are created in a lab setting using advanced technology to mimic the natural processes that cause carbon to transform into diamonds.

Expect to see a lot more people rocking lab-grown stones — not that you’ll be able to tell, lab-grown diamonds are physically and chemically identical to mined diamonds.

Yellow Gold Bands

The long reign of platinum or silver bands is coming to an end. While these bands help to create a distinctly modern and minimalist aesthetic, they’re not the right choice for someone who wants to make a more pronounced look. Yellow bands are likely to become the favorite of 2020.

Yellow gold is subtle enough to wear every day without clashing with your outfit. Not to mention, yellow gold gives off a distinct golden hue that glitters when it catches the light. It’s the perfect band to compliment your stone.

But make sure your yellow gold is coming from the right place! Ensure that the company you’re purchasing your yellow gold engagement ring from uses recycled metals.

Halo Ring Settings

If Jourdan Dunn’s stylish ring is any indicator, halo engagement rings are making a major comeback (not that they ever really left). Dunn’s beautiful and elegant ring features a big center stone that is highlighted with a simple diamond halo. Halo settings can be thought of as stage lights — they make the star of the show look great! Whether you’re going with a solitaire or a few stones as the centerpiece of your ring, a halo setting will ensure that whatever stone you choose is brilliantly showcased.

The only thing to keep in mind when it comes to halos is that you have to do a bit more research to get a sustainable halo setting. A lot of companies will use mined diamonds in halo rings, even if your center stone is lab-grown. Double-check with the company you’re purchasing from — you shouldn’t have to pay more to have your entire ring be ethically sourced!

Bold Stone Cuts

Princess-cut diamonds move over! Bolder stone cuts are making a big entrance in 2020. Many soon-to-be brides will be sporting emerald-cut stones that give the illusion of depth pooling at the center of the stone. Emerald-cut stones are perfect for those who want to make a bold statement without having to purchase a giant stone at exorbitant prices.

You might also see Asscher-cut stones making an appearance. These rounded-square cut stones are unique and aren’t often chosen by the masses. That said, those seeking bolder cuts this year will likely flock to this cut.

As always, make sure your diamond is certified! All diamonds, even the fancy cut stones, should come with a grading certification at purchase. This will not only ensure the diamond was lab-grown, but that it was graded using the four c’s — cut, color, clarity, and carat.

Thin Bands Paired with Large Stones

Thin bands that are paired with large stones create the perfect balance of subtle and striking. Together they can give the illusion that a stone is simply floating on your finger, especially from a distance. Jenna Dewan’s engagement ring is a perfect example of this phenomenon.

Jenna Dewan and Steve Kazee got engaged after announcing that they were expecting! Kazee proposed with a gorgeous ring with a giant oval stone and a thin gold band that makes the ring look as if it’s being held up by nothing but air.

By purchasing a lab-grown diamond, you can save up to 40% compared to if your stone was mined. This gives you the opportunity to buy a stone that is up to 40% larger than what you expected to get with a mined diamond!

Final Thoughts

Engagement rings aren’t immune to the shifting tides of fashion that cause new trends to be popularized from year to year and even from season to season. That said, it’s important to choose a ring that suits your sustainable practices and matches your partner’s style – regardless of whether your choice is in step with current trends.

Being in lockdown for extended amounts of time is draining and stressful. Along with the isolation, there are also money problems, health concerns, political debate, job insecurity, and shortages of common household items. That is a lot for anyone to be dealing with at a time. You may also have other concerns not listed due to your personal circumstances. 

No matter who you are, you are dealing with a lot of added stress which can put a strain on your mental health. It is important with everything else you have going on to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being as well. Here are some tips depending on your personality type and some general tips as well to help you make the most of your time in lockdown. 

General Tips

No matter who you are you should not cut yourself off from friends and family. Make sure you are reaching out for support when you need it and seek professional help if you are really struggling. You should also be sure to take care of your physical body by eating healthy, exercising, drinking water, getting enough sleep, and showering regularly. This is a basic baseline that everyone should start with no matter their personality. 

The Do-er

Some people feel better when they are busy and still accomplishing things. While it is important to relax, it is maybe even more important for these people to feel like they did something with their day. If you are a do-er, you are not going to feel well mentally if you just sit around all day not doing anything. 

There are many ways you can be sure you are keeping busy. You could learn a new hobby like crocheting or something artists. You could also try your hand at baking or cooking new recipes. You could try a new way to exercise that seems interesting to you by following videos on YouTube. You could also spend some time doing home improvement projects that always seem to get put off until later. 

Another area you may want to look into is starting a small, online based business. There are so many ways to do this, that there is something to fit everyone’s skill set. With more people spending time online and that business addresses are now affordable, it is easier than ever to test your entrepreneurial skills out. 

The Worrier

Some people have a predisposition to worry a lot. If you fall into this category, then you are probably pushed to your mental and emotional limits right now. You need to prioritize relaxing. Make time to take a break from everything you are trying to juggle. Even if you can only take a break for 15 minutes, this is a good place to start. During this time, you should do something that you enjoy that helps you relax and not focus on everything there is to worry about. If you don’t have any ideas, then starting with a mindfulness meditation or yoga routine can be very helpful. 

The Social Butterfly

If you are usually the one hosting or attending a gettogether as often as possible, you may be going a little stir crazy right now. There are still ways you can remain social during lockdown. Finding ways to stay connected to others in meaningful ways is going to be key to your mental health success. 

Some ways you can stay connected to other people is via technology. Video calls or conferencing software helps people connect one-on-one or in large groups. There are also many Facebook groups designated to help people feel more connected. You may even want to think of ways to see your friends and family members while still following social distancing guidelines. Probably a combination of all of these things is what you will need to stay happy and connected. 

The Empath

Like the worrier, you also have a lot more going on emotionally than most. Everyone is so worried and feeling so many deep emotions, that yours are practically fried. It would also benefit you to practice some mindfulness and deep breathing exercises to help restore what is drained. 

You may also want to limit your time on social media or the internet. Constantly scrolling through everyone else’s problems and concerns is only going to drain you more. Consider taking a break from social media, or at least limiting the amount of time you spend on it. 

Take time for yourself to recharge and work through your own emotions. Things like journaling or other forms of writing are a great way to get big feelings outside of you. You should also find someone you trust to talk to once in a while about how you are feeling.