Painting with Punches: How Boxing and Art Collide at Wicked Rae’s

Julie McVey
Jun 20
3 min read

Jules punching her hoodie and throwing paint at her canvas during an Action Painting Session.

When Art Needs to Hit Different

Not all creativity is calm. Sometimes healing looks like throwing a punch - with a paint-covered glove. Or slamming a balloon filled with neon at a canvas. Or beating a drum so hard it splashes color across the walls.

At Wicked Rae’s, we created Action Painting for people who feel big things - and need a bigger way to let them out.

What Is Action Painting?

It’s a sensory-rich experience that combines movement, music, and color to let your body speak before your brain does.

You’ll:

Punch or hit a bag with paint-filled gloves
Sling paint with tools and sponges
Stomp on bubble wrap
Smash paint balloons with tennis rackets
Drip, flick, throw, and swirl pigment across canvas

It’s not about painting “something.” It’s about painting through something - anxiety, heartbreak, stress, burnout, or just the noise of everyday life.

Why Talking Isn’t Always the Answer

Holding in stress doesn’t just weigh on your mind. It impacts your body too. Science tells us that chronic emotional suppression is linked to:

High blood pressure
Sleep apnea
Immune system dysfunction
Headaches, fatigue, and insomnia

And yet - talking isn’t always easy. Sometimes, you don’t have the words. Sometimes, language is too small for what you feel.

That’s where Action Painting steps in.

When the World Goes Quiet (And You Go Loud)

You step into the splatter room solo. UV lights flash. Paint glows. A punching bag hangs in the center like a challenge you’re ready to meet. Heavy metal plays in the distance, drowning out the noise of the world. Your heart syncs with the beat.

Paint drips from your fingers. You smash color across a canvas and a hoodie. You lose yourself. And in the process, find something beautiful you didn’t know was there.

You see your soul in the end - and it’s bold, raw, and radiant.

The Science of Catharsis Through Motion

Studies in art therapy and somatic psychology show that:

Repetitive physical motion (like drumming or punching) reduces cortisol
Bilateral movement (using both sides of the body) helps regulate trauma and emotion
Creative self-expression boosts serotonin and dopamine

When combined, these practices create what’s called a flow state - where you lose track of time, tune into your senses, and emerge feeling lighter.

Who It’s For

People who “don’t do art” but want to feel something
Anyone holding tension in their body
Adults dealing with stress, transitions, or burnout
Teens needing an outlet that doesn’t require words
Couples or friends who want to unleash together

Why It Works

"I walked in angry. I walked out glowing."

"I didn’t think art could feel like boxing and therapy all at once."

"It was the first time in weeks I felt like myself again."

Your canvas and hoodie become the place where your stress goes. And when the session’s done -you take it home as proof that even your chaos can become something beautiful.