For sophomore Vivian Liu, hands-on projects weren’t always a hobby. However, after seeing content creators online post videos of creating sets of nails, Liu decided to pick up nail art as a hobby.

“I got into DIY art because I saw a bunch of people on social media doing nails, I just thought that looks so fun, I really want to do something like that,” Liu said. “I bought myself a basic kit with a lot of the things you would need to get started, and then as I did it more and more, I bought more materials to do more advanced stuff.”

Liu believes that hand-on crafts hold value in stress management methods, and said that working on her various projects helps her take her mind off of more stressful topics.

“Doing nails helps me take my thoughts off of school,” Liu said, “I’m usually so tuned in to the design at the moment with a video playing in the background so it’s like a double distraction when I’m waiting for the polish to cure and stuff.”

Liu is one of many individuals who seek methods of relieving stress through hands-on art projects. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, almost half of adults in the U.S. have experienced stress, and sought hands-on crafting methods of relieving stress. Additionally, 71% of Americans identify as crafters.

Art teacher Andrew Murray said while teaching his classes, he tries to help his students hone their specific skill sets, while also allowing them their creative choice and expression without the pressure to perform well in one specific department.

“All of the things that we do in (the art classes) are kind of based off of two big pillars, and the first one is going to be skill sets. Everybody that’s in these classes, drawing, painting, digital, anything in between, is in here for different reasons,” Murray said, “the second pillar is maintaining that student choice in creativity so that they can apply their skills to what they’re interested in instead of kind of being shooed into a specific area.”

Murray believes art is a great way to destress and keep one’s mind off of other more stressful topics.

“If you’re not studying for a test or you’re not accomplishing a task that maybe you’re not interested in doing, you’re going to wind down,” said Murray, “For me, art is the wind down. So it’s a way to kind of regulate.”

When asked, Liu agreed with Murray, stating that doing nails helps her to take her mind off of the stress daily life presents.

“I usually don’t have the mental capacity to think about school stuff when I’m doing nails,” Liu said, “(I just focus on) how I want the (nails) to turn out.”

Sophomore Joyce Tang said she became interested in her craft in a similar fashion to Liu.

“I saw cool jewelry on Instagram reels,” Tang said, “so I took some paper clips and used them as the metal, and then I found a jewelry making kit with some beads to get started.” 

“I like making jewelry because it means that you can wear this piece of art,” said Tang, “sometimes that art is a big process, so I’ll sometimes be stressed while making it, but seeing the end result makes me much happier, especially when I can give it to my friends.”

Murray agreed with Tang, stating that he always enjoyed drawing in his downtime.

“I’ve always drawn. I can remember in elementary school drawing my own comic book characters. I could vividly remember it,” said Murray, “And I just kind of never stopped. It was like when I had downtime, people would do different things.”

Murray stated each individual has different things to work on, and encourages students to attempt new things.

“Go wide, try everything, because within that’s gonna be what works specifically to you,” Murray said, “And be careful falling into the trap of what works for others, not working for you or thinking it’s going to, and it may not just because it works for other people.”