Mindful Creativity in the Art Room: Simple Practices to Support Well-Being and Authentic Expression
Includes a Live Web Event on 05/13/2026 at 7:00 PM (EDT)
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Register
- Non-member - $49
- Member - Free!
Mindful Creativity in the Art Room: Simple Practices to Support Well-Being and Authentic Expression
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
FREE for NAEA members; $49 for nonmembers
Art classrooms offer a powerful space for students to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and engage more deeply in the creative process. This webinar introduces practical, time-efficient strategies that blend mindfulness, intuitive artmaking, and SEL-informed practices to help middle and high school students reduce stress, build emotional awareness, and express themselves with greater confidence.
Teaching art and mindfulness together creates the mental space students need for creative thinking to flourish. Mindful routines help students settle their minds, ease anxiety, and access their imagination more easily, while process-focused art prompts encourage authentic expression without the pressure of perfection. These small shifts can transform the studio environment—improving focus, supporting self-regulation, and strengthening students’ ability to understand and communicate their emotions through art.
Explore ready-to-use ideas that fit naturally into existing lessons and daily classroom flow through this webinar. Learn how simple mindful moments and sensory-based check-ins can enrich studio routines, and how intuitive mark-making prompts—such as expressive drawing, guided visualization, or nonrepresentational response exercises—can help students bypass self-judgment and tap into their creative impulses. Discover the connection between present-moment awareness, creative confidence, and emotional well-being, offering concrete strategies that encourage students to feel more grounded and more connected to their own artistic voice.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to integrate quick 2- to 5-minute mindful routines—including breath work, sensory check-ins, and “slow looking”—to help students transition smoothly into artmaking.
- Intuitive art prompts that emphasize process over product, allowing students to explore, experiment, and express themselves without fear of making mistakes.
- Strategies for supporting emotional regulation and SEL through arts-based practices that help students understand, communicate, and manage their feelings.
- Approaches for fostering a calmer, more focused studio culture, where students feel safe to take creative risks and engage more deeply with materials and ideas.
Raine Valentine
CAN Teacher Leader, Caucus on the Spiritual in Art Education Past Chair;Art Educator, Ridgely Middle School, Baltimore County, MD; Adjunct Professor, Notre Dame of MD
Raine Valentine is an award-winning art educator, intuitive painter, and former Chair of the Caucus on the Spiritual in Art Education. A leader in the NAEA Connected Arts Network, she is committed to uplifting mindful, culturally grounded, and student-centered creative practices. As the National Middle Level Art Educator of the Year, Raine brings over 15 years of experience integrating Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB), SEL, and Indigenous teachings into transformative art experiences. Her work empowers young artists to connect with their inner voice, regulate emotions, and embrace intuitive expression, while helping educators implement meaningful, time-efficient strategies that support holistic well-being and creativity.
Jane Dalton
Professor of Art Education, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Jane Dalton’s work integrates studio art and teacher education, emphasizing transformative learning through contemplative pedagogy, mindfulness, and the expressive arts. Grounded in learning science and neuroscience, her research shows how meditation can reshape brain function, behavior, and focus. She examines how contemplative art practices support emotional balance, self-awareness, and personal growth. Her recent book, The Mindful Studio (2023), adds to her three coedited volumes on contemplative practice and pedagogy in education. Dalton has authored multiple peer-reviewed chapters and articles, presented widely at conferences, and maintains an active studio practice alongside her academic scholarship.
Upon completion of this NAEA webinar, you may earn 1 hour of professional development credit as designated by NAEA. Once the webinar is completed, you may view/print a Certification of Participation under the "Contents" tab. You may also print a transcript of all webinars attended under the "Dashboard" link in the right sidebar section of the page.
Clock hours provided upon completion of any NAEA professional learning program are granted for participation in an organized professional learning experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction and qualified instruction, and can be used toward continuing education credit in most states. It is the responsibility of the participant to verify acceptance by professional governing authorities in their area.
