By Devin Melching
If you were lucky enough as a child, you might have some very fond memories about receiving a box of brightly colored pencils. Maybe you got them as a birthday gift, or as a back-to-school supply. In any case, something about those colored pencils seemed awfully special. They felt so much more grown up than crayons, without the risk of staining that markers posed. They somehow reminded you of something a real artist would use. I thought the same thing about paint as a kid, too, but I could take my colored pencils with me wherever I went. And I did!
As grownups, staring down a blank white page can give some of us serious anxiety. Kids, on the other hand, see that big blank space as an open lot to let their imagination run wild. There was nothing like seeing a bright rainbow of colors pop off a crisp white sheet of paper as you watched your creations come to life. Even coloring became a professional art with colored pencils. I spent hours making the pages of a coloring book as perfect as I possible could, getting in between every little line with precise detail.
Let’s not forget everyone’s favorite thing about colored pencils: sharpening them! Trying to get the longest shaving curl from a colored pencil in a hand sharpener was a great way to pass the time at home or in school. Crank pencil sharpeners offered the perfect excuse to get up from your seat in class. My grandparents had a crank sharpener mounted to the wall in a hall closet, which added an extra layer of fascination to the neat little machine. And did I ever flip my lid when my parents brought home an electric pencil sharpener. I’d sharpen my pencils just to try and fill up the little drawer that collected all the shavings.
All fun aside, something wonderful was happening as you spent time drawing with your colored pencils. Something you weren’t even aware of. Drawing exercises the right side of the brain. The right side of your brain is responsible for things like imagination, creativity, intuition, and empathy. Developing the right brain in childhood can help children grow up to be more resilient adults who are able to readily access their right brain qualities. The adults may even require less stimulation in order to feel satisfied, which can aid in preventing disorders like depression, anxiety, and addiction, to a degree.
The good news about colored pencils is that they are hardly a thing of the past. Many adult artists rely on colored pencils for their portability and versatility. Colored pencils can be used lightly for shading and soft effects, while firm pressure or layering produces bold lines. Several colors can be layered on top of each other for an extensive palette that fits inside a little box. They can also be used on a variety of surfaces, from sketchbook paper to canvas. Of course, you don’t have to be a professional artist to use them as an adult.
If you’re feeling nostalgic, why not pick up a box of colored pencils and lay out a fresh white piece of paper, or try out an intricate adult coloring book. You might find that you rekindle a relationship with an old flame, even if it’s just with your pencil sharpener.
