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

Drawing Mindfully

Still Life with Drinking-Horn, 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.”

“I really feel like I was there, in the painting for a moment”. 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 – 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."  

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