Professor Samaras: March 2026

Emotional Regulation Through Art

Professional Learning, Trenton, NJ

With Triada Samaras MA / MFA Master Level Teaching Artist

with Michelle Marigliano, Senior Director of Education and Equity

and Robert Keyes, Arts Supervisor, Trenton Board of Education

3/11/2026

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This interactive workshop introduces mindful visual arts practices that support emotional regulation and student/teacher well-being. Teachers will explore techniques such as neurographic art, slow drawing, mandala creation, mindful doodling, and collage, using hands-on materials to cultivate focus, reflection, expression, calm, and connection. Teachers will learn how to guide students in using these practices to reflect on their emotions and experiences, fostering self-regulation. Activities can be brief exercises to support focus before lessons or assessments, or they can form the basis for full art lessons, making the workshop suitable for K–12 art and other content-area teachers. Teachers will leave with practical strategies to foster creative agency, student voice, and responsible engagement in any classroom.

Target Audience: K–12 Teachers

Aligned Standards: New Jersey Visual & Performing Arts Standards, Social-Emotional Learning Standards

General Resources:

Meditations to calm the mind and emotions:

Mindfulness Guided Meditation - 5 Minutes

Grounding Exercise for Racing Minds: Calming Meditation with Dora Kamau 3 mins

5 Minute Five Senses Practice | Emotional Balance | Mindfulness

Breath-Drawing: Using meditation to ground the artist. In the classroom, this helps students regulate their nervous systems before putting pen to paper.

*5 minute Mindfulness Drawing Meditation | Easy Drawing the Breath Meditation Art Tutorial to Relax

One minute drawing for relaxation

*1 min Drawing Meditation and Mandalas Art for Stress Relief | Simple Doodle Art for Beginners

Mindful Art Quick Exercises

*Mindful Art Meditation Tutorials - YouTube

Riffing on breath drawings

eg. Drawing the breath in different directions. Using color between the lines. Drawing the breath on a pre-painted surface. Breath drawing using music.