14.5 Mindful Creative Art Activity: Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco

Activity: Imagine and Draw Your Special Place

In this mindful creative art activity, kids will practice using their imaginations to travel to a "special place" in their minds, that is an actual real place!

Today's visualization is: Palace of Fine Arts, in San Francisco.

First, we’ll start with our Heart Circle breathing practice—a simple, soothing technique to help everyone feel relaxed and centered.

Next, kids will close their eyes and listen to a guided visualization, where they'll explore a real place in their imagination.

Afterward, they'll get to draw the place they pictured in their minds, capturing all the details they saw, heard, and felt. This activity encourages creativity, mindfulness, and the joy of bringing inner worlds to life through art!

At the end, it's great to show  kids a picture of the real place so that they can then compare it to their imagination!


Intro/Outro music by Jef Shadoan

Transcript

Magical Journey to the Palace of Fine Arts

**Hello there! Welcome to Big Belly Breathing!**

My name is Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely, and I’m so excited to share a creative drawing activity with you today! We’re going to take a moment to settle in and breathe, and then I’ll describe a spectacular place for you to picture in your mind, and once you’re done listening then it’s your turn to be creative and draw what you imagined. Are you ready? Let’s dive in!

To start, find a cozy spot in your classroom or at your desk where you can relax and focus. Maybe you want to sit up straight or lean back comfortably. Close your eyes or take a soft gaze and take a deep breath in through your nose, filling your belly like a big balloon. Now breathe out through your mouth, letting go of any worries like leaves floating down a gentle stream. Let’s practice our Heart Circle Breathing: Place your hands gently on your heart. As you inhale deeply, move your hands in a circle, and then reverse the circle as you exhale. Let’s do this together a few times, feeling calm and ready for our adventure.

**Activity:**

Now that you’re feeling relaxed, I want you to picture the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California, in your mind. This is a truly magical place that looks like something out of a fairytale! Let’s imagine it together!

First, visualize the grand palace itself. It’s a magnificent building with a large, elegant dome at the top, surrounded by tall, beautiful columns that stand proudly in front of it. The columns are painted a warm, sandy color, and they create a stunning entrance to the palace. The dome has a beautiful pastel color, reminiscent of pink and peach, making it look like it’s glowing under the sun.

As you approach the palace, imagine a smooth path leading up to it, lined with soft, green grass. The gentle sound of water trickling from nearby fountains fills the air. You can hear the sweet songs of birds fluttering around and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. It feels peaceful and serene here!

When you reach the entrance, take a moment to look around. You’ll see an enormous lagoon in front of the palace, reflecting the stunning building and the bright blue sky above. Picture the shimmering water sparkling like diamonds as graceful swans glide across the surface, their feathers pure white and their movements elegant. They leave gentle ripples in the water, and you might even see them dipping their heads to take a drink.

As you step closer to the palace, imagine how the columns are adorned with beautiful carvings of leaves and flowers. They look like they’re reaching out to the sky, inviting you to explore. Picture the dome on top of the palace, which is shaped like a giant mushroom and painted in lovely pastel colors.

Now, let’s take a moment to enjoy the atmosphere! Breathe in the fresh air, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and sweet grass. Imagine the laughter of children playing nearby and the sound of families having fun together. Everything feels joyful and bright!

You might also see artists sitting on the grass, capturing the beauty of the palace with their paintbrushes. Imagine what it would be like to create your own masterpiece right here in this wonderful place!

Once you’ve captured all these amazing details in your mind, it’s time to grab your drawing materials! For the next 15-20 minutes, draw what you imagined at the Palace of Fine Arts. Remember to include the grand building with its tall columns and stunning dome, the shimmering lagoon with swans gracefully gliding across, the beautiful flowers, and the joyful atmosphere around you. Don’t forget to add all the details that make this place so magical!

When you’re finished, you can look up real pictures of the Palace of Fine Arts and compare them to your drawing. How did your imagination match up to the real thing?

Thank you for joining me on this enchanting journey! I can’t wait to see your amazing drawings. Enjoy your time creating, and remember to breathe and have fun!

And, if you want to send me your drawing- I’d love to see it!

Take BIG Care, see you soon, and remember the BBB motto:

Breathe Move Eat Rest

Respirer Bouger Manger Se Reposer

Thank you! Bye! Ciao!