Students met with Osprey Village resident assistants for Paint and Pause, an event made for painting and reflection.

During this event, students could express their creativity using watercolor paints and mini canvases to explore their artistic expression.

Unwinding through self-expression

Students joined Osprey Village resident assistants to paint and pause to express their creativity in a low-stress environment while practicing self-care and interacting with their peers, according to the UNF events calendar website. 

Ellis Titilope was the event organizer and is the residence life coordinator. 

According to Titilope, “Pause and Paint is a program that everyone who resides in Osprey Village is invited to get involved with in order to support the well-being of students at the end of the semester.” 

“During typically high-stress times in the semester, this program allows students to pause, reflect, and decompress,” Titilope said. “During the event, residents are invited to the game room to creatively express themselves through painting.”

“In addition to the creative activity, we will share stress management strategies and provide information about UNF CARE resources,” Titilope said. “This will encourage help-seeking and overall wellness.”

On the tables of the common area, there were watercolor paints and blank mini canvases on wooden easels. Students practiced self-care and connected with one another. There were watercolor palettes, acrylic paints, and puffy paints available at Paint and Pause.

“I enjoyed the painting. It was soothing and relaxing,” said Resident Assistant Waynetia Henry.

Painting is a practice that promotes mindfulness and concentration. It provides a natural way to reduce the burden of daily stress by directing the mind toward the creative process, as reported by the Atelier School of Art. 

The Atelier School of Art states that when in this highly focused “flow state,” painting can feel like meditation.

UNF resources

According to Titilope, the purpose of this event is to promote healthy coping skills as well as to increase public awareness of the support services that are available on campus.

Group counseling is available to students, as stated on the Brooks College of Health Counseling Center Groups webpage. 

According to the website, the creative process, the resulting artwork, and group dynamics contribute to students’ self-understanding and development of effective communication skills. 

Several groups are offered at the counseling center, which focus on common challenges in anxiety, relationship dynamics, and the journey of self-discovery based on the Counseling Center’s Groups webpage. Students who identify with these difficulties can gather and interact within the community spaces provided. 

Information about the Expressive Therapy Process Group, which takes place weekly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, is available on the Brooks College of Health Counseling Center’s Groups page for students. 

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