Dr Christina Bradstreet Courses and Events Programmer The

Dr. Christina Bradstreet, Courses and Events Programmer, The National Gallery Christina. bradstreet@ng-london. org. uk @artandperfume

Millais, The Blind Girl, 1854. Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery.

Relax with Paintings

Lessons in Wonder Aelbert Cuyp, River Landscape with Horseman and Peasants about 1658 -60 Jan van Huysum, Flowers in a Terracotta Vase, 1736 -7.

Drawing Mindfully

Seize the Day Willem Kalf, Still Life with Drinking-Horn, about 1653.

Impressionism and the art of walking mindfully Caillebotte, Le Pont de l’Europe, 1876. (Musée du Petit Palais, Geneva)

Silent Night: Art and mindfulness

The Art of Concentration

Silent Night before

Silent Night after

Ad Reinhardt, 1947 Moving towards a more learner-centred approach

Relaxing /Wellbeing “A very relaxing experience and combined with artwork it was a powerful experience. More knowledge is taken out of it and more appreciation of art. Please keep up with it. ” “It was an unexpected experience for me. Needed it. Thank you. ” Everyone should try this workshop. GP prescription? !! “I enjoyed the calm effect it had in me - I was less anxious about not finishing my drawing than I expected to be. “It was a very helpful technique for relaxing and not judging yourself. ”

Deeper, longer looking “Two hours about one painting! It was amazing how we could understand the painting in such depth. ” “This was a very enlightening session that revealed a much deeper way of approaching appreciation of painting, encouraging me to move from a mainly cerebral response to something much more satisfying. ” “Looked deeply at the paintings, which were not in a style I like The whole experience makes me looker and deeper. I will try to use mindfulness. ”

Immersion “I really feel like I was there, in the painting for a moment”. “A different way to appreciate the experience of art and through the senses and emotions, rather than the intellect. Lovely. ”

New skills/ life-changing “A whole new beginning for me of an approach. I look forward to practising on future visits. ” An interesting approach to drawing which I’ll try to continue to use. ” “I used to draw obsessively as a teenager but this was the first time I felt brave enough to draw again for about 10 years. So thank you. The guided journey across the painting was especially helpful, thank you. ” Safe learning environment “I felt really safe. ” “Felt like a safe environment without judgement. "

Fun and playful! “Thanks for a great evening! Fun, Fun & fun! It taught me that there is no right or wrong way to draw and due to the exercises, I was able to be free with my drawing. "A very enjoyable experience and a great opportunity to rediscover my creativity and the pleasure of playing with the process of drawing.

Special experience “Magic – loved the bubbles!” “Magic comments about the painting!” "I really thank you for this special moment at the National Gallery. Great combination: art and mindfulness. I felt really well guided in both parts, in mindfulness and art. "

Gratitude “Please thank the curator for allowing this quiet space for mindfulness. Thank you”. "I really thank you for this special moment at the National Gallery. Great combination: art and mindfulness. I felt really well guided in both parts, in mindfulness and art. "

Stay in touch! Dr. Christina Bradstreet Courses and Events Programmer Christina. bradstreet@ng-london. org. uk