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By CCTV correspondent Cathy Yang

In Hong Kong, stressed out expats and locals alike are turning to a new type of stress release. ’Art jamming’ is taking off at the start of the year as a form of therapy, helping¹ folks express their thoughts and feelings on canvas, as well as increase their productivity and confidence at work.

No rest for the weary in busy Hong Kong, a city that works hard and plays hard. Finding stress release at the gym -- and drowning it all at “Happy Hour”. But others have a found a better way to chill -- through art.

"Art jamming" is taking off at the start of the year as a form of therapy

One company ensconced in the back streets of busy Central that claims to have brought this communal² means of artistic³ release in Hong Kong is Art Jam. Its creator Betty Cheung calls it “paint-ertainment”.

“Most women are a little more showing, open, more willing to be expressive⁴, while men in general are concerned about how they express, so they’re going to hold back a little bit more. But we do have a lot of men, and when they experience it, what’s really interesting is their experience is much bigger than all the women because they experience much more of an epiphany. It’s a bigger and more extreme reaction,” said the creator of ART JAM Betty Cheung

Those working at Art Jam do not claim to be therapists, but clients find it cheaper than visiting a shrink. For at least 60 U-S dollars, one finds artistic relief from all their stresses at work.

And for Art Jam client Cathy Cole, who works as a consultant⁵ in Hong Kong, this sensorial experience has helped her improve her confidence.

“Fantastic. You walk into the door here, and be able to release with the colours and the paints, kind of you tap into some kind of inner creativity you didn’t know. So I always feel after I’ve left here just like I’ve had a massage⁶ or something. It’s like I’d spend a couple of hours here and completely, it’s like having meditated,” said Cathy Cole, a client of ART JAM.

CCTV correspondent Cathy Yang tries her hand at it.

So I decided⁷ to try my hand at it, wear my ART JAM apron⁸ --

"It’s my Mr. Bean Moment!"

And release that inner Picasso’.

It’s not about being Pablo or Leonardo. It’s about being you. It’s about expressing yourself, releasing your artistic prowess. The piped-in music you’re hearing? Well that’s meant to set the mood to get your creative juices flowing. Now let’s see what I come up with!

Participants dive into the activity with all the essentials in tow.

One gets to choose his or her own first canvas or bag with a wide selection of painting tools -- free flow of colourful acrylic paints and a wet paint box to take away with one’s freshly-painted artwork.

ART JAM is hoping to open its maiden⁹ shop on the Mainland -- but is still looking for the right place and time. For now, Betty manages two shops in Hong Kong.

And that - is a wrap! My own creation and with my palm prints. As they say around here - no paint, no gain. Now it’s time to wash up!