As the coronavirus pandemic continues, people have sought hobbies and skills that can keep them occupied at home – from solving puzzles to learning dance moves – there are plenty of activities they can engage in to entertain themselves during this period.
Undertaking new skills during lockdown could help enhance both your professional and personal lives once the pandemic passes. Here are a few suggestions to get you going.
Drawing
Drawing is a skill anyone can pick up. Learning this craft can change your life in many ways and turn downtime into productive time spent rather than passively watching TV or playing video games. Like any skill, drawing takes practice to master. Set aside 15-30 minutes each day for drawing exercises; soon, you will notice the results of your efforts and may discover skills you hadn’t anticipated having when you started – that’s a fantastic result!
Drawing is an expressive medium that allows you to discover your creativity and imagination while giving you a different way of seeing the world around you. Drawing also sharpens observational skills, which are vital in becoming an artist; classes or YouTube tutorials on drawing can teach this skill.
Edge detection is one of the essential skills required of an artist, as it enables you to recognize objects by their outlines and identify what makes them distinct – this skill makes a drawing look authentic rather than sketchy.
Space recognition is another essential drawing skill. This involves distinguishing what exists from what does not, which helps make drawings appear three-dimensional and realistic, as well as capture objects’ light and shadows accurately.
Constructive drawing is the foundation of all drawings and is essential to producing realistic three-dimensional works as well as creating natural environments and landscapes. While it is an invaluable skill to possess for artists at any skill level, beginner artists may struggle with it initially.
Cooking
Cooking can be an immensely fulfilling hobby while simultaneously increasing creative capacities. From thinking up unique food combinations and tweaking existing recipes to creating brand-new ones from scratch – cooking provides the ideal space for our imaginations to run wild!
Cooking can also teach us the value of being meticulous with our measurements. A slight alteration to a recipe could turn an otherwise delicious dish into something disgusting; hence, all ingredients must be measured accurately before being combined into a pot.
Cooking helps develop problem-solving skills as part of its therapeutic value. Kitchen environments can often present unique challenges for beginners; you may need to improvise meals due to missing ingredients or an overheated oven, so quick thinking will be required in these instances to find solutions quickly.
Cooking can be an engaging and fulfilling pastime that helps alleviate boredom and loneliness during lockdown periods. Cooking provides an opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones or even earn some extra income if you sell the meals you make! In addition, it offers physical activity for your body as opposed to sitting around watching television or playing online games, making cooking one of the more engaging hobbies to try during lockdown periods.
Knitting
Knitting is an age-old handcraft practiced by people from all levels of society for centuries. You don’t need any special equipment besides yarn and needles to begin knitting; the coronavirus lockdown has provided many with an opportunity to fill their time while feeling productive from their homes without leaving home. Knitting also serves as an excellent hobby to cultivate creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Beginners to knitting should begin with a basic beginner pattern in order to become acquainted with knit and purl stitches, binding off, and casting on. When comfortable with those fundamentals, more advanced designs require knowledge of colorwork/lace work techniques as well as reading knitting patterns as well as various cast-on methods for neater edges.
Most knitting patterns will include a skill level rating that informs knitters if the design fits their current skill set. Beginner knitters typically require 1 or 2 skill level patterns, while intermediate and advanced knitters can usually handle 3-6 level patterns.
Advanced knitters typically possess skills in knitting in the round using more complicated stitch techniques such as steeking. They may also create clothing and accessories such as hats, scarves, and shawls while possessing knowledge of lace designs such as cables.
Hobbies can play an essential part in maintaining mental health, so finding something you enjoy and strive to master in your free time can help keep your mind occupied during a COVID-19 pandemic as well as develop soft and hard skills you’ll use later in your career and life after the lockdown is lifted.
Painting
Painting is an enjoyable hobby that allows individuals to express their creativity and explore their artistic side. No matter if you prefer watercolors, oils, or acrylics – painting can be both therapeutic and relaxing; additionally, it has been found to improve mental health by relieving stress and anxiety.
Painting as a hobby not only increases hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills but can also stimulate different areas of the brain that encourage creativity, concentration, and logical thought. Furthermore, painting helps connect you with people while making new friendships; making painting an excellent way to socialize while sharing your passion for art!
Remind yourself that painting isn’t all about perfection! Practice and experimentation will allow you to discover your style and become a more talented artist, as well as inspire more creativity in other areas of your life.
Are You Searching for a Fun New Hobby? Consider Painting! Painting can be an engaging way to relax while exploring something new – make sure that you have all of the right supplies and equipment before getting started, and be prepared for lots of messy fun!
While learning how to paint, it’s essential to remember that art is about creativity rather than perfection. Although your first few paintings might not come out the way you planned, don’t get discouraged; keep practicing, and soon you will become an expert artist! For beginners, starting with pencil and scrap paper is best; once comfortable, you can move onto canvas or watercolors.
Photography
Photography can be an immensely fulfilling hobby. It allows you to express yourself creatively while simultaneously exploring your environment in new ways. Many who enjoy photography develop a distinct personal style through which they express themselves and their interests through photos. While becoming technically proficient can be learned quickly, cultivating artistic vision takes practice and time.
Many of the skills required to draw and paint apply equally well to photography. People who can visualize a scene in their mind can quickly convert that mental skill into photographic composition. Photography can also serve as an excellent way of keeping in touch with friends and family living far away, be it through social media or photo books; by sharing your photographic experiences and skills, you can keep loved ones close by sharing your photos.
Along with learning the ins and outs of your camera, lockdown is also an excellent opportunity to master editing and perfecting images using Photoshop. From removing hair to increasing the clarity of ideas, creating amazing-looking pictures requires only practice! Photography makes lockdown an engaging activity that will pass the time quickly!
So don’t waste this opportunity for relaxation: take this chance to pick up one of those hobbies you have been neglecting! From baking and drawing, photography and more – now is an excellent time to begin learning and perfecting those skills! If you don’t already take photography-specific classes, why not consider enrolling in painting lessons to learn how to capture beautiful scenes?
