Mini-Guide to Art Healing: Part 1
I’ve always believed that creating (or even just appreciating) different types of artistic works can have therapeutic health benefits, so I was happy to discover that I’m not alone. Scientific and medical communities are also now recognizing that art therapy and the enjoyment of creative works can promote healing and help stave off certain types of physical and emotional illnesses and conditions.
If you are wondering why I am so passionate about promoting art as a healing mechanism, it’s an easy question to answer: Art helped me tremendously before and after my separation. I’m interested in anything that can healthily help myself and (you!) deal with the stress related to post break-up trauma. After all, your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and if art can help you heal our psyche AND our bodies, I’m all for it!
Remember, the goal of pursuing art for healing purposes isn’t to sharpen high-level artistic skills and become the next Michelangelo. Rather, it’s to tap into these creative outlets as a means of self-expression and release. Art healing focuses on your inner psyche, (feelings, thoughts, perceptions). It’s about letting an ”art zone” experience help you create a sacred space where you can be free to express yourself however you want, with no fear of judgment or caring about others’ expectations. If nothing else, it’s about creating a time and place in your life where you can simply declutter your thoughts.
There are so many forms of art that I have decided that splitting this topic into several posts will provide the most value to you. As I add additional posts I will be linking them all together so that you can easily find everything you need on the subject.
Before I share my favorite art practices for post-break-up trauma healing and recovery, I feel a need to address the elephant in the room. Yep, I’m talking to all you ladies who are silently thinking: “But Kya, I don’t have an artistic bone in my body. I’m completely non-creative.”
My answer to that is, that’s just not true. In fact, it is complete bullshit. Let me make myself clear: when I use the term “art,” I’m not just referring to traditional arts like painting, drawing, and sculpturing (although they are included too). I’m talking about art forms that extend into other creative areas, such as journaling, playing music, creating pottery, making jewelry, writing poetry, etc. When you expand the definition of “art” to include these forms of expression, you might discover that you are the DaVinci of, say, cake decorating!
And even when referring to the classical notions of art, no one should criticize what art is or isn’t. There is no right or wrong way to “do art”. Your style may be different than something you have saved in your Pinterest folder…but it is beautiful. Your work has meaning. Your work has worth. Your work is yours…do not let anyone take it away from you.
Some of the most noted artists are famous and are going down in history for creating art that was completely unlike anything the world had ever seen. Basquiat and Picasso come to mind right away as two artists whose styles didn’t fit in to any molds of artists before them. Now, their style has become so famous that it is quite easy to point out when someone is using a style similar to these aforementioned artists.
So, let’s MOVE ON GIRLFRIEND and start talking about how art healing can benefit:
Adults dealing with severe everyday stressPeople who have suffered a traumatic event such as a divorce or break upVictims of emotional, physical and sexual abuseIndividuals living with depression and anxiety
Art healing projects and therapeutic art hobbies can benefit virtually anyone who needs an edifying and productive pastime (that has nothing to do with a smartphone or food, lol). Tap into your creative side and learn how to tell a new story about your life by re-imagining your interests and applying your natural talents.
As a first step, think about and notice the art forms around you that you might want to pursue. Again, you don’t have to have traditional art skills to embark on an art healing program. What are some artistically creative things around you that you appreciate? Do you live close to a beach? Why not try your hand at making driftwood and seashell dreamcatchers or some sand glass paperweights?
(If you are in an area where you can go outside and be in nature then please do take advantage of this. Find out more about the benefits of the outdoors and other simple healing helpers here.)
Are you in an urban area? Ask your local municipality if you can hand-paint some fire hydrants or garbage pails in a neighborhood park.
When it comes to art for healing purposes, you need to remember one important rule: THERE ARE NO RULES! As unique as your fingerprint, there’s no such thing as “good” or “bad” art. Your art is perfect art.
Want an easy way to get the benefits of art healing? Try my D.I.Y. Canvases on for size. They are available in several sizes and are perfect for individual sessions or ‘Paint n’ Sip’ parties with your besties!
There are plenty of ways to incorporate art healing into your daily life and routine. Here are some of my favorite ideas:
ART JOURNALING:
Life is full of new events, conversations, feelings, emotions, stresses, and experiences. With so much going on in your post-break-up world, you might need an outlet to help keep track and document everything you are going through. Keeping a journal can be a therapeutic way to process all the experiences you are going through.
For some people, the idea of writing journal entries on a frequent basis is daunting. And a journal is good for nothing if you never take the time to work on it. One tip I have for succeeding at journaling is to do it in micro-steps. I’m all too often the victim of getting super excited about a project, get off to an amazing start, then fizzle out by weeks end. (This is me during every 30-day challenge I have ever attempted. #facts)
To overcome this, it is better to do the absolute minimal amount of any new project. In this case, instead of attempting to write pages each day, limit yourself to only writing 4-5 sentences. It sounds insignificant, but imagine a year from now how all those 4-5 sentence entries will add up. Little steps are the key to most successful endeavours. By doing a little and forming the repetitive act of journaling chances are that you will begin to write complete pages before you know it. Work that muscle, woman!
However, if you’re one of those people who doesn’t like writing too much, consider starting an art journal.
An art journal is a fun and edifying way to express yourself creatively; a private place where you can draw, write, paint, or paste anything that will fit in the book that you choose to use. The pages in your art journal can be filled with playful, serious, joyous, and informational images; it’s your space to use as you wish!
As with a written journal, an art journal will only be an effective means for healing if you actually start and maintain one. So, make sure that as you begin to explore your choices, you come up with artistic options that are doable. In other words, if it takes you 30 minutes to assemble your materials, you might find that it’s cumbersome to keep up with. So, think about your art journal for healing in terms of simple things you can frequently do and without too much preparation. Collages? Watercolors? Sketches? Scrapbooking? Doodles?
Doodles? Did somebody say doodles?
DOODLES:
Scribbling is so much fun and it takes very little time and effort and virtually no special materials. Just a couple of pens and a few minutes and you’re good to go!
While you can certainly doodle as part of your art journal, you can also focus on doodling as an artistic option for stress relief and healing. To do that, try to make a point of creating a morning and an evening doodle routine.
Ideally, before you even begin your day, try doodling positive affirmations and thoughts about how you intend your day to go. If you keep a doodle pad on your bedside table, you can start to doodle before you even set your feet on the ground. The pad and pens on the nightstand will also come in handy while you’re lying in bed getting ready to go to sleep at night. When you doodle in the evening, try to include images that will help you reflect on how your day went, and what things you’d like to resolve for the next day. Remember to doodle about your feelings and sentiments, in addition to doodles about the actual events that occurred throughout the day.
WRITING SONG LYRICS:
Songwriting is one of the healing arts, and songs themselves are one of the most potent cures on the planet. Songs have a way of creeping into the crevices of our hearts and minds and getting us through the best of times and the worst of times.
Most of the world’s most memorable love songs were written by people experiencing the heights of romantic joy or the depths of heartbreak and pain.
Who can forget cheerful and loving songs like Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You” or Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful To Me”? Now, contrast those tunes with these infamous wistful melodies like Prince’s “Nothing Compares to You,” Whitney’s Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”. I remember being on a roadtrip in the U.S. one summer in the mid-90’s and Alanis Morrisette’s “Oughta Know” was all over the airwaves. I didn’t know anything about relationships back then, but damn her words were so powerful and gut-wrenching:
“And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me
You’d hold me until you died,
Til you died, but you’re still alive.
And I’m here, to remind you,
Of the mess you left when you went away,
It’s not fair, to deny me,
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me.”
So, if you enjoy the written word and find yourself gravitating towards poetry, perhaps you’ll find your artistic calling in songwriting. Songwriting can help you feel empowered because it allows you to share your innermost emotions with others (if you choose to let others read your words or hear your tunes).
Unless you have been humming a tune in your head, (or if you have musical talent and can play an instrument or sing), you don’t have to worry about fitting the words to a melody. That can come afterward. And just like the other forms of artistic expressions I’ve listed here, there’s no correct or incorrect way to write a song… just write what’s on your heart, and you’ll top the charts! (and I won’t be offended if you want to cut me a cheque for inspiring you!)
OTHER OPTIONS OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION
If you don’t like to draw, paint or write, maybe you’ll enjoy one of these other creative ways to explore art healing.
CLAY ARTS: POTTERY & SCULPTING
The clay arts, whether pottery or sculpting, can be a therapeutic and relaxing activity that can open the mind to new ways of thinking and experiencing the stress and tension of everyday life.
In the case of pottery, while your hands are spinning the clay, your brain and your body begin synchronizing and working together to create a piece of art that has absorbed all your natural energy. The rhythmic movement of the potter’s wheel is one of the ways that this art form helps to dissipate excess nervous or negative energy.
When sculpting as well, the clay itself will absorb the brunt of your emotions, whether positive or negative. As you mold the clay with your hands, transfer your fears and worries into the forms and designs; there’ll be no judgment there! And if you’re feeling upbeat and positive, allow the clay to be transformed into joyful images and shapes that tap into your excitement about new possibilities on the horizon.
NEEDLE ARTS: NEEDLEPOINT, CROSS STITCH, LATCH HOOKING, QUILTING, KNITTING, CROCHETING.
Knit 1…purl 2, knit 1…purl 2, the repetitive motions and rhythmic hand movements of knitting (or crocheting) provide just enough focus and concentration to keep your mind distracted from fears, worries, stresses, and concerns. As you spend time in the art of knitting or crocheting, you are in the process of creating something new, useful and exactly to your tastes. And as you meditate in the process, think about knitting together a new post-break-up life that can also be something tailored to your tastes. What you knit is not as important as HOW you knit, but undoubtedly it’s nice to end up with a beautiful finished project that you can use for yourself or give as a gift.
Cross stitching and other needle-based stitching hobbies such as quilting or needlepoint are also healing arts that are incredibly relaxing and meditative. As you pull the different colored threads through the fabric and repeat the same stitch over and over, you’ll gain a sense of calmness and serenity. After a while, the repetition can be a spiritually healing action, much like a chant or a prayer.
Your physical health will benefit from needlework art too — the repetitive movements can induce a relaxed state similar to those associated with meditation and yoga. Once you’ve gotten past the learning curve and can build up a rhythmic “beat,” doing needlework for healing can lower your heart rate and blood pressure and reduce stress hormones known as cortisol.
While traditionally, knitting, crocheting, and other needle-based art forms have tended to be solitary pastimes, that’s not quite true these days. Aside from the many online communities, forums, and social groups that are dedicated to these activities, there are also in-person get-togethers where you can stitch or knit alone in small groups.
The list of art-based activities that can be used for healing purposes is endless. I’ve only touched on just a few here, and admittedly, these are some of my personal favorites. But just as there are no “rights” or “wrongs” when it comes to creating art, there are also no “rights” or “wrongs” when it comes to selecting the category of art healing that you feel most comfortable in pursuing. And you don’t have to limit yourself to just one art-healing category…you can combine them as you see fit. If you write a poem in your journal or art journal, there’s no one to say that you can’t tweak it slightly to become song lyrics. And if that poem becomes song lyrics, there’s no reason that you can’t take up an instrument and set it to music.
The key to any form of art healing process is to claim it as your own and to stick with it for as long as it is helping you. Maybe it will be something you do for a week or two to get you out of a crisis or funk, or perhaps you’ll discover a hidden talent or a newfound enthusiasm that you’ll want to continue pursuing well after your post-breakup trauma. Whatever it is, enjoy yourself to the max, and feel free to share some pictures or posts about your creations. I’d love to see them!