“…. sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which are inherent in a human situation.” ~ Graham Green
As the German poet and writer Graham Green put it in his famous quote, no one can escape the desperation and the inherent melancholy of our day-to-day lives without being connected to any artistic expression of creation. It can be any form of expression to vent out our suppressed desires, anguish, dreams, or aspirations. Being fluid, art can take any form—one can take up a paintbrush, a chisel, or a pen—or be creative in all sorts of ways he or she can imagine under the sun. It is a continuous therapeutic process that helps in reducing stress and connects us with the universal rhythm that is harmonious, beautiful, and sublime. So, we feel at peace with ourselves and the nature around us. It feels great to be connected in some way or another. Yet, it liberates! That is the paradox of intrigue!
Art as a Liberating Force: Learn the Tricks of Healing Through Art
Beyond the realm of mere profession or persuasion, creating has a tremendous effect on our mental health and psyche. It allows one to be mindful of what’s happening around, not only in the physical world but also in the subliminal and inner world—and that is the most striking thing of all. We get to know ourselves better and more profoundly through our creations, and that is how we can feel the emotional connection and resilience with the pulsating universe around us. All we want is to feel the bliss and the happiness that our creation brings. Being a liberator, artistic pursuits let our souls be free of all melancholy and despair; free as a creator and benefactor, in both ways.
Express Yourself through Artistic Forms: Be the Genie and the Master
There are times when words are not enough; we grope for the perfect catchwords and phrases to describe something intricate and deep-rooted. Only through art and artistic creations can we establish that much-needed connection and rapport with the world; we can speak of the unspeakable. It is the work of a poet, a painter, a sculptor, or an artist to come up with such an instant craft through the formation of lines, curves, contours, and the use of colors that we have been struggling to express verbally. So, in that way, we can call upon our creative Genie and be the masters of our fate, which is not self-limiting but attuned to our inner self, which is devoid of any pretension and inhibition—we can ‘just be ourselves!’ While we see ourselves through the lenses of art and visual expressions, we see ourselves as pure and unadulterated. We do not have to wear masks!
Benefits of Art Therapy for Mental Health: Do the Magic with Paintbrushes
It is quite easy to tap our unconscious minds through the mediums of artistic expression. And we cannot undermine the benefits of painting as a hobby in this context. Paintings unfold an unexplored terrain of our emotional world and latent ideas, giving them shape and color. Through this external process, a painter journeys through a world on its own and ends up with the process of internalization, walking through the corridors of reflection and self-introspection and opening the doors to self-awareness and wisdom. This often helps painters get over their past experiences, which are painful and full of negative inputs. It also makes a painter almost as divine as a seer, a visionary for the future, and they learn to handle the challenges that are yet to surface.
Painting Benefits: Giving a Voice to the Unheard
This is true for someone struggling with a speech impairment or those who are autistic and cannot abide by established social norms and behaviors. When he or she paints, it is the ultimate way to express their latent expressions, justifying their repetitive ways. Here we can see the magic unfolding with a non-verbal medium that is ruled by colors and moods of their choice, and that is how they get their voices heard. Art is the perfect platform for those who might be limited by their worldly conditions, social standing, or physical imperfections.
We have a galore of established and prominent painters who were born with blindness and could not see the world as seen by others. One of the profound names includes artist Binod Behari Mukhopadhyay, an Indian artist, and painter from Viswa Bharati, Shantiniketan.
There are artists and muralists like John Bramblitt and Keith Salmon, or one can think of an imminent Italian painter like Giovanni Gonnelli from the 16th century period who created through his inner eye. Even a master artist like Michelangelo had bouts of eye-related hazards while painting the iconic dome of the Sistine Chapel. But that could hardly stop him from crafting such an illustrious canopy of the celestial world. And the rest was history!
Creating an Identity: Art as a Road to Self-Exploration and Boosting Happiness
When someone is engaged in playing with colors or molding clay for a piece of sculpture, enjoying the repetitive rhythms of a brush stroke, or keeping a close eye on the camera lenses, they are mindful of the present and are far away from any kind of distraction and past occurrence. All the debilitating forces will recede, and peace will reign. It is such a relaxing emotion. Our brain will cease all the negative impulses to flow and start working on the right brain impulses, which are more focused on creativity. It will take an artist away from all sorts of anxiety and depression. Happy hormones will surge. Yes, art can make that happen. It has been proven time and again.
Art as the Interpreter of Maladies: Tap into the Wonderful Benefits of Artwork
It pays to be creative because not everyone can use a doorstop as anything other than a doorstop! It takes a lot of artistic inclination, intuition, and an eye for detail to create and come up with something that is more than ordinary, intriguing, and in the end satisfying. The feeling of satisfaction comes through an artistic creation, and it opens the door to emotional healing.
When we see art as a powerhouse of possibilities, we can also think of art as an act of meditation. An artist is fully immersed in their creations and oblivious to the mundane string of happenings around. The challenges are unique: to find the right color, the right texture, and to visualize the form that an artist is struggling to come up with. But the rewards are no less encouraging. In the process of coping with these creative challenges and obstacles, they will find the way to self-exploration and liberation of the right brain neurons. They will learn skills of problem-solving. The acquired skill and confidence will reduce the stress hormones, rejuvenate a creator, and liberate them from all kinds of self-doubt.
In a world that is fraught with malevolence, complications, and anarchy, let art break all the boundaries and create a platform to connect souls without any language, geographical barrier, or social bindings. Everyone can communicate in the realm of artistic creations without any VISA, passport, or stringent immigration rules. It is a free forum to join, connect to the souls, and create a scope of empathy and emancipation where colors are plentiful and emotions run blind with engaging brushstrokes.
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