Art is healing.

One of the things that I use in my life to help maintain balance, wellness, sanity, grounding-- is art. I go into my studio and I put on an audiobook (has to be one that brings about good feelings) and I dive into another dimension. To me, making art is the greatest form of self-care. It is when I can sit in my space, uninterrupted, and just be. I never have an expectation that I am going to make something great. I often do not even have plans when I go in there. It’s almost as if I turn off my expectations switch and just melt into “be” mode.

This is generally the time when I can have some “aha” moments about what is happening in my world. It is also a time when I cry. My nervous system can relax, and I get the time and space to be and feel. I’m able to be present and let the tears come out, let the frustrations come out, or let the sorrow just be.

This space has taken me a long time to get to. I used to go into making art with intention and a plan and then getting frustrated when it didn’t work out or I got interrupted. When my second child was born, I made intentional space to go out into my studio and make art during nap times. For those without children—this nap time is often short and can be unpredictable. As a ceramic artist, for me to plan and prep the clay to throw on the wheel is actually quite a production that takes a long time, and you cannot stop in the middle and come back to easily. I had to figure out how I could work on projects during naptime that I could drop in moment’s notice and come back to. This is where I started my “mom series”. These are projects that are hand built where I can pause in the middle and cover and come back to the next day.

Little did I know that changing this mindset to let go of expectations about “getting better” at my art and just being present and making what I can with the time I have would be life changing. My lil’ baby taught me that redirecting my focus and being present with what is in front of me can bring about so much joy.

Today when I finished my audiobook, Forever, Interrupted — by Taylor Jenkins Reid (definitely my new favorite author) I was surprised by a conversation with the author at the end of the book. Despite the book being a “heart warming and heart expanding” book about the layers of grief, she said this amazing quote:

“I really do believe there are times when we are in pain and we cannot access our own grief in our body. And when there is art, whether it’s a TV show, or a movie, or a book, or song that is able to unlock that for us, it can let go of our grief too”.

Thank you @taylorjenkinsreid for the reminder today that ART IS HEALING. Whether it’s creating or consuming art—it is healing.

What type of art brings out the feelings in you?

p.s. gratitude to my friend Caitie for sharing this quote in the image above. <3