Processing through Art

I’ve noticed lately, that there are so many things, that have been going through my mind…and in many ways, it also affects my heart and my inner emotions.

This week, I’ve revisited an older painting that I haven’t touched in some time.

I haven’t touched it because I wasn’t in the right space emotionally.

But, ironically, I revisited this work, because of the fact that I don’t feel like I’m in the perfect space emotionally.

Go figure.

Sometimes, an artist should step away from the work, before they allow negative emotions and states of mind to transfer into the work.

This could lead to the work changing, and becoming a new expression that represents that moment, opposed to the overall intention and path that work was charting.

But sometimes, an artist must paint, to process this inner emotion.

For “Yin-Yang Dragon,” I see a path for it. And my aim is to honor it.

It’s entirely free-hand, drawn with black acrylic marker, reminiscent of my style of drawing when I was younger. I have to be careful to be mindful and intentional when I work on this piece, for there are clear decisions I must make on this one.

Each decision, directly affects the trajectory of the work. And I’m really loving it and where it is going.

But lately, I’ve been doing a lot of praying, walking, meditating, and grounding—sitting outside in nature barefoot, with my soles connected to the Earth.

This is a time of great transition for me— identity searching, and entering into a new season of motherhood.

My heart is wide open.

And truthfully, I feel more vulnerable than ever.

I’ve found that this work, Yin-Yang Dragon, which has many elements of meditative moments, has been a sound way to channel my energy.

As I work on a piece, I tend to contemplate that work, especially as it pertains to my life in that moment.

The Yin-yang symbol, shown in the work with the use of black and white, represents balance and harmony…through a constant flow of energy utilizing all aspects of the Self—masculine and the feminine / action and being.

The Dragon is such a lucky and also a powerful image—reminding one of the power within, oneself, and also outside of one’s self.

These are my interpretations of the Yin-yang and Dragon as symbols.

And I’ve found it very necessary and personally soothing to work on this.

It led me to write about it in Memoirs, for I think this is the real importance of art—for me.

To work through my emotions, my thoughts, my fears….and process them in a healthy way.

This is something I’ve done for as long as I could remember.

And it’s comforting to know that this is something available to me to do as a means to being okay, even during the times when I don’t feel okay.

When it comes time to share art with others, whether just showing another soul, what you’ve made…there’s a re-telling of the story—the pain, the sadness and hopefully also the triumph.

It’s so healthy to channel one’s emotions, and create something where its outside of ourselves, to where it no longer belongs to us, but has become an object—an object one can look at, and see from a different and new perspective.

And perhaps through sharing it, we also discover we are not alone in our experiences.

I see why art is therapy for so many. And it’s definitely for me.

Art is something I’m so very grateful for.