Life – it can leave us feeling like a tangled knot of emotions sometimes – a messy scribble on a blank page. Overwhelmed. Lost. Searching for a way to untangle the chaos within. This is a great time to find art therapy.
Now please don’t get the wrong idea – it isn’t crafting a museum-worthy masterpiece… It’s about letting go in a world of colours, textures and shapes. Where feelings can finally take flight.
“I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” – Georgia O’Keeffe
What to Expect With Art Therapy
Imagine this: you’re curled up in a quiet sunlit art studio. Surrounded by a rainbow of paints, smooth clay begging to be moulded and a gentle art therapist guiding your way. It’s a sanctuary where your soul could finally exhale. No judgement. No expectations. Just pure unfiltered expression.
You dip your brush into a pool of cerulean blue, a colour that called to you on this particular occasion. Swish. Swirl. The brush moves across the canvas. Each stroke a touch of release. Suddenly the weight on your chest lifts. Colours merge across the page and a sense of serenity washes over you. It was like Bob Ross said: “There are no mistakes, only happy accidents.” In this world every splash of paint, every line drawn is a step closer to understanding yourself.
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” – Thomas Merton
Art therapy is a conversation with your soul. Any hues, each line, every smudge is a word in your emotional vocabulary. It’s a way to “wash away from the soul the dust of everyday life” as Picasso so eloquently put it. These ideas tie heavily in to the world of abstract art.
You don’t need a fancy studio or an art degree to start on this journey. Your kitchen table can become an artist’s haven. Your journal a canvas for your soul. Your phone a digital palette.
The Application
Here’s a glimpse into how I use these teachings:
- The Art Journal Odyssey: My journal became my confidante filled with messy doodles, vibrant collages and raw emotions. It was a safe space to let go of stresses, laugh or simply be.
- Dabbling and Discovering: Finger painting? Yes please! Pottery? Why not! I embraced every medium, each one a new language to learn and a new way to express myself. After all, as Einstein said “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
- Kindred Spirits: I stumbled upon a local art class not just to learn techniques but to connect with fellow creatives and makers. We laughed, we bonded, we painted our hearts out. It was a pure form of human interaction.
Art therapy has been nothing short of transformative.
- Stress? Melted away. Creativity became my meditation, a way to silence the noise and find solace.
- Confidence? Soaring high. Expressing myself through art has given me a voice and a greater sense of empowerment.
- Mind? Sharper than ever. Creative challenges have awakened my curiosity and expanded my horizons.
- Coping skills? Acquired and thriving. I’ve learned to channel my emotions into my creations, which is a satisfying outlet for life’s ups and downs.
Try It Yourself
So if you’re feeling the weight that life can sometimes bring or you’re simply craving a creative outlet – I urge you to look into using art as therapeutic release. Grab some crayons, paints, clay – whatever you like or have at hand. Show your inner artist.
Bare in mind, art therapy isn’t just about creating art. What it’s really about is creating a life that’s as colourful and authentic as you are. As Mary Cassatt wisely said “I don’t think about art when I’m working. I try to think about life.”
Embrace the journey. And remember: “Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” – Albert Einstein
