A New Jersey organization says that art is a great way for people to alleviate some of the stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey offers some art classes to help with the anxiety of the pandemic. Organizers say that the classes aren’t just for people who have artistic talent.

“It doesn’t matter what it looks like in the end. It’s about the process,” says Sarah Walko, director of education and community engagement at the center.

Walko teaches meditative drawing, which she describes as a way of setting aside the stressors the pandemic has caused.

“So, your mind is not racing from the past activities. It’s not racing into the future activities. Your mind is very present with your body,” Walko says.

It is just one of the techniques taught by the artists and therapists at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey.

Taped sessions of the classes are available online and are free to the public. Polls taken during the pandemic have found that many people feel increased family, financial and job stress.

Walko says that even a few minutes focusing on drawing repetitive shapes and taking some deep breaths can help relieve the stress.

More information about the Art and Healing Program can be found on the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey’s website.