Xiaohongshu
Second-year Human Sciences student Rina destresses at an artsUnlocked painting class
One of the goals I set for myself this year was to be more open-minded, take risks, and explore new experiences. I am now halfway through my degree at UCL, and I have generally gotten involved in many amazing opportunities and activities. However, I always want to keep an open mind to trying new things while also prioritising rest and balancing my studies and social life.
Pressing pause
When I came across the “artsLates: Painting” class by artsUnlocked, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out a new hobby while also unwinding from my busy schedule. Term 2 has been especially hectic so far, not just for me but for many other students as well. Between group work, overlapping deadlines, and extracurricular commitments, it can quickly become overwhelming. All of this is made more difficult by the gloomy weather in London, where short days and grey skies can really affect my mood and motivation. I was excited to attend this class as I thought it might be therapeutic, and it felt like a chance to pause and spend some time off screen.
The atmosphere in the class was calm, welcoming, and refreshing. There was no expectation to produce something perfect; it was just an invitation to experiment and enjoy the process. The class focused on painting tomatoes, using two contrasting backgrounds: one with warm tones and the other with cool tones. I really enjoyed playing with colour temperature and discovering how the same object could feel completely different depending on its background. Mixing paints, layering colours, and paying attention to small details required a kind of focus that felt very different from academic concentration, in the best way possible.
Switching off
What particularly stood out was how immersive the experience became. Being away from screens and working with my hands felt grounding, especially during a term where so much time is spent staring at a laptop. The act of painting felt meditative, and provided a quiet space where the usual stress of busy schedules faded into the background.
The act of painting felt meditative, and provided a quiet space where the usual stress of busy schedules faded into the background
Trying something creative alongside university reminded me that not all time needs to be productive in an academic sense to be worthwhile. Truthfully, stepping away from my studies for a couple of hours made returning to them feel less daunting. After the session, I felt calmer, more present, and re-energised. Reflecting on the experience, I am so glad I stepped outside my comfort zone and attended the artsLates painting class. Even though painting is not something I usually do, it offered exactly what I was hoping for in this busy term: a time away from screens, a therapeutic break, and a reminder that creativity can be a valuable way to cope with the pressures of university, especially during the long, cold winter months.