September 22 marked this summer’s final PaintWell session outdoors at Canal District Kendall. We put our phones away and spent the evening painting, laughing, and soaking up the first day of fall in the scenic plaza of Henri Termeer Square.
PaintWell is a creative wellness workshop designed to tap into the restorative power of painting. Inspired by art therapy and mindfulness practices, each session began with gentle breathwork, body movement, and guided visualization as a tool to guide their painting experience. Rather than focusing on technical skill or creating a perfect finished piece, Maya Alia – PaintWell Instructor & Founder of AIRI – encouraged painters to slow down, follow their intuition, and simply enjoy the process.
Maham, a recent attendee, said “I truly have had a creative block for months and she [Maya] successfully reignited my creativity and passion to paint again.”
Maya Alia has been a creative arts instructor for three years – curating beginner-friendly craft workshop experiences throughout Greater Boston and the Cambridge-Somerville area through her brand AIRI. PaintWell is a deeply personal project for the artist, being the first of its kind to fully delve into connecting art with wellness. The concept stemmed from the pandemic days when Maya hosted intimate paint nights with friends as a way to connect, talk about life, and focus on mental well-being. Art got her through those hard times, and now fast forward, those hard times are just in another form as she navigates motherhood, changing relationships, and work-life balance. Naturally, Maya had an urge to turn to the canvas as a way to process and ground herself, but this time she wanted to do it while building capacity for restoration in others – encouraging healthy coping skills in communities.
At the first session, Maya told participants, “I am working through this with you.”
That sentiment captured the spirit of the series. PaintWell wasn't about having all the answers or producing beautiful artwork. It was about creating space to pause and reconnect with oneself alongside others.
The outdoor setting became part of that experience. Inspired by the trees and greenery, painters explored themes of growth, identity, and personal reflection. One exercise used the rings of a tree as inspiration, inviting painters to create colorful rings representing their own experiences and where they are in life. The exercises were intentionally open-ended and non-technical to center deep breathing, calm focus, and creativity.
“If you follow along, you will learn some basics about watercolor,” Maya told the group. “If you lean into it fully, you will feel the restorative power of art.”
The group of painters were invited to breathe through the expectation to create, and accept the invitation to feel. PaintWell is one of those things that everyone experiences differently, the exercises are meant to evoke emotion.
Another attendee described Maya’s approach as “soft, calming and reassuring” saying it helped her get into her creative flow.
By the final session, PaintWell had become more than a series of watercolor workshops. It had created a space where strangers could gather, slow down, and reconnect with their creativity.
We are grateful for this wholesome experience and BioMed Realty for sponsoring this series to provide access to community wellness. All photography and videography is provided by Rose Visuals.
