By LINDSAY LANDSBERG, MARIAM KHAN, KATIE MARGOLIS and RACHEL SCHREIBSTEIN
With all this extra time at home, it’s a perfect opportunity to rediscover a favorite hobby such as drawing and painting. Throughout all of the stress regarding coronavirus and the enigma of the unknown, art is a safe haven for self expression. Channeling pent-up anxiety and boredom into creating something special can help to stay positive. Here are 70 easy canvas painting ideas for beginners to try, along with painting tips and tricks. Or, if painting isn’t for you, here are 60 easy drawing ideas for beginners.
Another great activity while stuck in the house is painting your nails. There are very few required materials; all you need is some nail polish and a flat surface. Painting your nails is actually a lot easier than you might believe. It can be as simple as one solid color, or you can add some designs if you are feeling adventurous. YouTube is a great resource to find beginner tutorials on nail art. There is no stress about messing up because in quarantine you have all the time in the world, and there is always nail polish remover.
Learning a new language is a creative gateway to experiencing different cultures, and there are numerous online resources available that allow you to accelerate in the language you want to learn.
Duolingo is an online platform, and one of the most popular choices for new language learners. It involves a variety of components such as listening, writing, speaking along with fun activities and exercises. It’s available as an app and a website, making it flexible to use on a variety of devices.
Take advantage of Netflix’s foreign movies and TV shows. Listening to content in a different language can help you practice your pronunciation.
Music is another great way to improve fluency. It allows you to remember words easily as you frequently listen to the lyrics. Music streaming services such as Apple music, Spotify and Pandora all offer hundreds of songs to browse through in foreign languages.
Not only will you have proficiency in another language at the end of this PAUSE, in the future you can visit a country where that language is spoken, and utilize the speaking skills you gain.
Great ideas!